The field of ditches

2 Kings 3:16 “And he said, Thus saith the Lord, Make this valley full of ditches.”

This is an interesting story. Jehoshaphat ruled Judah. He was a godly king.
And Jehoram ruled Israel. He was an idolator. The only good thing he did was to put away Baal, a god of his mother and father. Yet he followed the false worship of the golden calves.

The situation is that when Jehoram began to reign, Moab who had given tribute to his father….rebelled and refused to pay.

So, the king of Israel gathered his men, and asked that the king of Judah come with him, and he agrees. The king of Edom (Esau’s descendants) also came…and let these armies go through their land.
(this is one of the few instances, since the kingdom split into the ten tribes of Israel, and the tribe of Judah, that they fight together…not against each other)

In this agreement, Jehoshaphat was wrong…..alliance with the wicked is never right….but it is noteworthy to see God’s mercy extended here.

The armies “go around”….coming round, to another way into the Moabite country….which neighbors Edom, which was less fortified.

This took seven days….and they ran out of water….for the men and animals.

2 KIngs 3:9-11 “So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days’ journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them.
And the king of Israel said, Alas! That the Lord hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!
But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord, that we may inquire of the Lord by him? And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.”

Notice the attitude toward God…of these two kings: the wicked king of Israel blamed God.
The godly king of Judah sought to get help from God’s servant, the prophet….to know God’s Will.

The three kings go down to see Elisha….(now Elisha was a prophet to Israel, as Elijah had been. Though the wicked did not hear, yet there were righteous in the country which he ministered to.)
….and in faithfulness, Elisha rebukes them, for the wickedness of the king of Israel.
Yet in mercy, for the righteous acts of Jehoshaphat….he finds out what God wants done….and speaks it.

2 Kings 3:13-14 “And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? Get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother…..
And Elisha said, As the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.”

God’s ministers and pastors and teachers are to equally show the wicked…their wickedness…and to rebuke them in it. As well as to preach good tidings of peace to those who would seek God and righteousness.

2 Kings 3:15 “But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him.
(Some believe this to be to soothe Elisha, because of the knowledge of the sin of Israel’s king. And we should feel the awfulness of the vileness of the evil around us. It is against our loving Lord, and though we should not be angry….we should be faithful to His Word.
I believe, instead, that the minstrel and song was to make them wait. Certainly it would have been a psalm or song about God. Let them hear of mercy, before God gives it.)

2 Kings 3:16-17 “And he said, Thus saith the Lord, Make this valley full of ditches.
For thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts.”

(This of course was a miracle…..but God does not stop there. His mercy is wonderful. They had come to put the Moabites back under tribute….so God gives them the victory! Then Jehoshaphat can go home, away from these men.
Mercy is God’s goodness to the sinner….those who do not deserve it.
There are temporal mercies to al (Matt. 5:45)l…..but spiritual mercies are for the elect.

2 Kings 3:18, 20 “And this is but a light thing in the sight of the Lord: He will deliver the Moabites also into your hand.
And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat offering was offered, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.”

Notice that it was after the morning offering. Probably done in Jehosophat’s part of the camp, maybe even done by Elisha.
Water started to fill the ditches that had been dug the night before….from next to Edom’s land…throughout the whole valley.

2 KIngs 3:21-24 “And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them, they gathered all that were able to put on armor…and stood in the border.
And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood:
And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely salin…..now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.
And when they came to the cap of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward smiting the Moabites, even in their country.”

The Victory was given….

But sadly, even though Jehosophat was a godly king….the last few years are silent.
We need to watch our alliances….our friendships.

God is merciful….yet many times, though He gives a victory, we will rebuke us for our choice of companions.

When I was a little girl, I heard a preacher say: Dig a ditch and God will fill it. That’s true if the ditches are dug by God’s Word.
The ditches that were dug here….were by God’s appointing. If we do indeed do what God appoints….even though it be digging ditches all night….then certainly God will fill them.

They did not see rain, nor hear the wind…..but the water was given, by the Word of the Lord….in mercy.

We may not see the way of deliverance…..but, be assured God’s mercy endureth forever.

We certainly do not deserve the least of HIs mercies (the first time mercy is used is in connection with Lot. Genesis 19:16, 2 Peter 2:7-9)…
….yet HIs Word assures us that “all the paths of the Lord are mercy” (Ps. 25:10)….and that “mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” (Ps. 23:6). His mercy shall “compass him about” (Ps. 32:10). God shall “send forth HIs mercy and His truth” (Ps 57:3)

And the greatest mercy to us is Christ Jesus….
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 the renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior.”

What does it mean to Overcome? 

To Overcome means to subdue,  have the Victory,  prevail , or conqueror.  

For us, as Christians, we are called to overcome everything which stands in the way of our doing the Lord’s Will.

This is a battle.  We are to do battle with our lusts, our self life, and the world, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

First, Christ speaks of His Overcoming:

Luke 11:21-22 ” When a strong man armed keepeth his palace his goods are in peace:

           But when a stronger than he shall come upon him,  and overcome him,  He taketh from him all his armor wherein he trusted,  and divideth his spoils.”

This is speaking about Christ Jesus’ overcoming the Devil and releasing his prisoners.

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

This is speaking about His overcoming the world.

Both of these He overcame for us.  On the Cross, when He said, “It is Finished”,……the Victory was won.

The Devil would have to open his prison house for those who received Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior.

The World and it’s influence, would not be able to persuade the Christian, who truly obeyed Christ; to follow it’s corruptions.

1 John 2:15-17  “Love not the world,  neither the things that are in the world.  If any man love the world,  the love of the Father is not in him.

         For all that is in the world,  the lust of the flesh,  and the lust of the eyes,  and the pride of life,  is not of the Father,  but is of the world.

         The world passeth away,  and the lust thereof:  but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.”

The Victory is won;  but we still have to enter into it, for ourselves, personally.  This is the Battle.

We have to exercise the faith Christ gives us, in our lives, today.  

For faith lays hold on God and His promise of Victory, and brings down from God the needed grace,…..that we can have it.

1 John 5:4-5 “And whosoever is born of God overcometh the world:  and this is the victory that overcometh the world,  even our faith.

            Who is he that overcometh the world,  but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”

Faith looks to God.  It says that God will, with Christ, “freely give us all things.”

Romans 8:32 “He that spared not His own Son,  but delivered Him up for us all,  how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”

In the letters to the seven Churches;  Christ Jesus commands those who have ears to hear;  to “Hear what the Spirit says”. (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26-28,  3:5, 12, 21-22)

From the times of the Apostles, who warned of “wolves in sheep clothing” (Acts 20:29)…….to the present age,  Christ Jesus is saying:

“Follow My Holy Spirit,….by hearing what He is saying to you;…..and overcome that which stands in the Way of doing My will for your life;…..My Spirit will show you all that hinders you, and how to remove it from your life.”

Revelation 3:21 “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne,  even as I also overcame,  and am set down with My Father in His throne.”

Just as the Man Christ Jesus, overcame every obstacle that stood in the Way of His Father’s Will for Him, here on earth….

(He went to the Cross, was Resurrected, and received all power in heaven and earth for His Church. Matthew 28:18-20)

….So must we overcome everything which stands in the way of Christ’s Will for our lives

He gives the faith which overcomes,…..the light which makes the darkness in our lives flee away,…..and the grace, by the Holy Spirit within, to finish the work He has given us….

….within ourselves, and….

…and the work of the Spirit in us,  by us, and through us…for others.

Let us not be weary in well doing

Galatians 6:9 “Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

The creature must find a resting place.   And that resting place is in the Will of the Creator.

(I use creature and Creator here, because our first responsibility to God is as God.   Of course we can only find rest for our souls in Christ. [Matthew 11:28-30]. 

     But to rest in God as Creator….is to know and surrender to:  He created,  He chose,  He purposed,  He willed.   If we find rest there….it is rest of being…and that translates to surrender and joy of our own life.)

“Weary” is to be weak or fail in heart….to feel so tired from labors that you can not do anything…

…and as Christians, we are not to let this happen.

2 Thessalonians 3:13 “But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.”

But how does it happen, that well doing, can make us tired….weary?   Because we forget to love Jesus in them….and only perform right actions.

The Lord said:

Jeremiah 31:25 “For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.”    

“Satiated” means to bathe, to abundantly satisfy, to fill.   

       We sometimes forget that the Lord is our only satisfaction in this world…our only way we are filled in our empty places in our souls and lives (Matthew 5:6)

(I am going to use an example the Lord used:  Luke 7:36-50

Jesus had come to Simon’s house by invitation….as a guest.   Simon…or his servants….should have washed Jesus feet.

      This was a tradition….based on goodwill.   Everyone wore sandals and the roads were dusty.   To enter a house,  the house owner would wash the dust and dirt off the guests feet….to show how welcome and glad they were that they had traveled there.

      Yet Simon had not.   He had let Jesus come…..invited Him……true, he had prepared food for Him there.   But no welcoming kiss….no washing of the road’s dust away.   

      Just sit down……and let me look good.

But then a woman….a sinner came in and washed Jesus feet with her tears….and kissed his feet.   Jesus forgave her sins!

       Oh my! Thought Simon…..but then Jesus showed him the real lesson he needed to learn.

        Simon, Jesus said…..this woman had many sins.

Yet her sins,  which were many, are forgiven…for she came to Me in sorrow for them….and in love for Me.

       You have sins, Simon….but you have not sorrowed for them….nor shown love for Me….even as a house guest.   You have gone on, in show,  but the real value of Me here, at your supper, you have missed.

       I pray that we will not miss out of Christ’s visiting us….fellowship with us….or forgiveness.)

We sometimes grow weary….even in the well doing of religious things….because we are busy for Christ…..but not in love with Christ.

       Without love for Christ, we become weary easily.

As Christians, we need to see, that world is not our friend….we are only traveling through it….to glorify Him.

First, we are working in a world that hates us….as it hated Christ.

      1 Peter 2:20-21 “….but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

       For even hereunto were ye called:  because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps:”

Second we are working in a defiled world….one which eagerly wants us to join it…..and there is the battle.  

      We are walking in a “dirty, dusty” world.   And we need to be cleansed by Jesus Christ every day….from the defilement of the world.  Like the dust of the road….it clings to us….even though we do not roll in it.

      1 John 1:9-10 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

      If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”

Third,  we often forget that God will correct us,  even as His children.

       Proverbs 3:11 “My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord;  neither be weary of His correction:”

       Hebrews 12:5 “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children,  My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him:”

Fourth,  we often forget to stay under His shadow,  but venture out where we should not….and often get “burned”.

        Isaiah 32:2 “And a Man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest;  as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great Rock in a weary land.”

Fifth,  we forget that we will fail….and are to repent and get up and go on with the Lord.  

        We are to grow in grace…..reaching out to the goal of Christ….and let Him teach us…as He will…”here a little, and there a little”.

        Isaiah 28:9-10, 12 “Whom shall He teach knowledge? And whom shall He make to understand doctrine?  Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.

        For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept: line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

       To Whom He said,  This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest;  and this is the refreshing:…”

Again I want to stress that our rest is in Christ….in God.

       We are to find this rest….and maintain that fellowship with Him.

Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;…”

How?

…..”they shall mount up with wings as eagles;”   (they shall have support to be above their circumstances…and understanding, as one which sees the way God sees from above.)

…”they shall run, and not be weary;”   (They shall be enabled to run their course without giving into the trials and troubles around them.)

….”and they shall walk, and not faint.” (They shall continue learning with Me until the end.  “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”)

The Son of Man

Hebrews 2:9-10 “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that He  by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

        For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”

I did not for a long time,  understand why the Lord Jesus called Himself the Son of Man….

…my thinking was influenced by the world.   I thought….

           “Show Yourself as the Son of God…let people know Your the Messiah….keep before them how great You are….and they will believe.”

       

(Wow!   even looking at it, I wonder how I could have thought this way….for God’s Ways of doing things are not like this at all.    

       Belief does not come by manifestation of power…..but by revelation of Christ Jesus to our hearts.)

Jesus was the Son of Man from Eternity Past…..by the Covenant He made (called the Everlasting Covenant,  Hebrews 13:20-21)….concerning the plan of our Salvation.

When He said the Son of Man,  He was referring to this great contract about the purpose of God….for man’s redemption….

…..for from eternity past, the Godhead knew the need for man’s salvation from sin….and that would be through the Son of Man.

        As man, He had to live a perfect life.

        As the perfect man, He had to die a sacrificial death for all.

(Romans 5:17-18 “For  if by one man’s offense  death reigned by one;  much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.

      Therefore as by the offense of one  judgment came upon all men to condemnation;  even so by the righteousness of one  the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”    

      This was the work of the Son of Man…..and He fulfilled it.)

There are many aspects of Christ being the Son of Man which is amazing.

HIs understanding of our situation…today….is of course divine,…yet it is also because He walked here.

       Hebrews 4:15 “For we have not an high priest which can not be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

       He was sometimes hungry,  often tired or weary,  seeing the worst cases of illness and disease, both spiritually and physically…..waiting on others,  explaining His Words again and again.

       Though the Son of Man was a postition of humility and service,  yet He had joy, and rejoiced in the Father’s Will.  (Matthew 11:25-26 “…I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth….Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in Thy sight.”)

       And He wanted His disciples and us  to receive His joy.  (John. 15:11 )

John 17:13 “And now come I to Thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.”

       Though walking in a world which rejected Him…..yet He never stopped amid temptations and trouble….till He had finished the work of His Father’s plan of redemption.    (“It is finished” John 19:30)

        And He calls us to do the same…..finish our work…..”If any man will, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24)

Hebrews 1:8-9 “But unto the Son He saith,  Thy throne, O God,  is for ever and ever:  a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Thy kingdom.

        Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity;  therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness, above Thy fellows.”

“Oil of gladness” is a name for the Holy Spirit (Psalm 45:6-7)

        How that should make us think about the joy Christ had…even here, in His humility…..looking forward to fulfilling the Salvation Plan for everyone of us….

…redeeming us from our sin, and giving us His life, HIs peace, and His joy.

John 15:11 “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”

….. the joy we should have, because we have received this “oil of gladness” or the Holy Spirit, too.  

Romans 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink;  but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

Romans 15:13 “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

Eighty-three times in the gospels,  once in Acts, and twice in Revelation…Jesus Christ is seen as the Son of Man.

      It is a testimony of God’s great purpose for us….as man….

…..to be saved and brought back to Him,….in heart, mind and will….in life and purpose….and joy.

And it is encouragement to fulfill our own ministry of….”…righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”….for His sake. 

      

Ears that hear, and eyes that see…the Lord hath made both of them.

Revelation 3:22 “He that hath an ear,  let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”

Proverbs 20:12 “The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them.”

The first thing I want to stress is….the Lord hath made both of them.

        So you see we are responsible to hear because He has given us hearing ears.  We are responsible to see, because He has given us seeing eyes.

Both are in the Eternal Life in Christ.

Revelation 3:19-20 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten:  be zealous therefore, and repent.

        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.”

For all who hear HIs rebuke and repent….a great deal is promised.

       Constant fellowship and overcoming authority.

But what is it that we need? And how is it that we repent?

      What we need is reality….and where we need to repent is our lukewarmness.

Do we want HIs constant Presence (“I will come in and fellowship with him”)?

       Or would that interfere too much with our plans….today,  tomorrow?

(Would some of the thoughts we think and some of the things we do, cause too much embarrassment if we knew He were there with us?)

Philippians 3:7-8,11 “But what things were gain to me,  those I counted loss for Christ.

        Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord:  for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

        If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.”

Paul thought Eternal Life was worth the loss of all things.

What of us?    Is it worth anything to us?

Revelation 3:17 “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:”

We think we have all that we could ever need.

        And know not, that we are…..wretched,  and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.

        Now the Lord says we are all of these and this is the Word of the Faithful and True Witness.

And we are blind to it!    That is why He says:

Revelation 3:18 “I counsel thee to….anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.”

Lord, where can I get such eyesalve?

        The hearing ear and seeing eye the Lord hath made even both of them.

(Well Lord, they hear a lot more than I do.   Maybe that is because they are listening harder.

Yes, Lord, he sees more than I do.     Maybe he is just trying harder to see.)

We refuse to see ourselves as we are,….to go to God and get these hearing ears, and seeing eyes….

….so to anoint our eyes,  we are going to have to get honest,…..with ourselves and with God!

We receive as much light as we are obedient to,  so be zealous therefore and repent.

       To repent means to turn around….a complete about face.

The eyesalve of honesty comes from a good and honest heart….which takes it in…and keeps the Word which is heard.

Luke 8:15 “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the Word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”

Good only because it is honest.

       “Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life.”

This thing of being honest,  we have to work at it…..in our prayers,  in our thoughts,  in our actions and reactions.

Get honest….really honest.   If we don’t work at it, it will not get done.  

       

But if we do…..like Paul, we can reach “forth to the things which are ahead….the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)

Our Lord’s Pleasure

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.”

For Thou hast created all things for Thy Pleasure:
So let us consider our Lord’s Pleasure.

Ezekiel 18:31-32 “Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.”

The Lord has no pleasure in their deaths, at all.
His pleasure is that they “turn…and live”. The turning is to Him….the casting away their transgressions. In doing so, a new heart and spirit would be given them….and they would live.
(Transgressions here means an offense, a revolt. They knew what should be done, they simply did not do it. Turn and live.)

Malachi 1:10 “Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? Neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.”

I have no pleasure in you….better no sacrifices, than vain, empty ones.

Proverbs 16:4 “The Lord hath made all things for Himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.”

Evil days come and it is through His Sovereign Will that they fulfill His Purpose….but He hath no pleasure in them.

According to the Word of God,…. Judgment is His strange work….He has no pleasure in it.

Isaiah 28:21 “For the Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim (2 Sam. 5:17-20), He shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon(Joshua 10:10), that He may do His work, His strange work; and bring to pass His act, His strange act.”

God sees everyone He created. Every soul. His Pleasure is that they know Him….

Psalm 147:11 “The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in HIs mercy.”

We are to fear….reverential awe…Him. We are to hope in HIs mercy….which is the goodness of God to sinners.

And Christ is the One through which we receive this pleasure of God:
Isaiah 53:10 “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He that put Him to grief: when thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.”

Through turning to Christ, we enter into the Lord’s Pleasure for us…..and live.

Luke 12:32 “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.”

As His adopted children (Eph. 1:5)..…He then makes known unto us His Will, according to His good pleasure. (Eph. 1:9)….
…and more, He works that good pleasure within us (Phil. 2:13)….that our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in us:
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 “Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of His goodness, and the work of faith with power:
That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

One day before the Throne of God we will sing of our Creator and Savior, Jesus Christ…and acknowledge Him that it was His good pleasure that He created us…..and created us again with a new heart and spirit!

“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.”

Our Lord’s Pleasure is that we know Him, and love Him.

He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. But calls to those that see the vanity of their worldly life….to turn to Christ Jesus and live.

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
John 1:12 “But as many as received Him (Jesus Christ), to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:”

Forgive me, O Lord, and Restore a Right Spirit within Me. 

In Psalm 51, David pours out his heart to God for forgiveness.

He had sinned terribly, by adultery; and then, the fixed murder of the woman’s husband.

Worse, he had refused to seek forgiveness for it,  trying to hide it;  until God sent someone to show him that God knew, and was very displeased.

Sin is rebellion against God.  It is seeking my will over His Will;  seeking to have me as ruler of my life, even in just this one thing.

This is what happened to David.  It started innocently enough.  He had been home from the war with the Ammonites.   

And he wanted to stay home;  to have a little more rest and relaxation than God wanted.  It was the time for kings to go out to war, and he should have been at the head of his army.

2 Samuel 11:1 “And it came to pass,  after the year was expired,  at the time when kings go forth to battle,  that David sent Joab,  and his servants with him,  and all Israel;  and they destroyed the children of Ammon,  and besieged Rabbah.    But David tarried still at Jerusalem.”

But instead, he stayed in Jerusalem, and “took time off”.   He was sleeping all day, and got up;  and went on top of the roof of his house, when he saw Bathsheba.

If he had been at the battle, all the other things would not have happened.

He first lusted after a little more rest. (Was his army “resting”?  Did he think because he was king, he could skip his duty?)

Then he lusted after a woman.   And when lust was conceived:  sin.

Instead of setting it right,  he continued in it for months;  for Bathsheba told him she was “with child”.

Then, came the choice of a lifetime.   David comes up with the plan to dupe her husband into thinking the child was his.

This did not work, so he plans it, that the husband would be killed by the enemy.

2 Samuel 11:15 “And he wrote in the letter,  saying,  Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle,  and retire ye from him,  that he may be smitten,  and die.”

David, even now was not repentant.   

You wonder how a man so close to God, could be so overcome with sin!   

But, the truth is, we underestimate the power sin has on our life.  It’s power grows as we refuse to deal with it.   

Had David stopped, and sought forgiveness after the first sin with Bathsheba;  God’s power would have easily overcome the power of the lust; and saved him from continuing on to deceit, and murder.  (2 Samuel 12:9)

He went on, till God had to send someone to him.  First the rebuke, then the chastening.

David was forgiven;  but suffered by illness, and rebellion in his children because of his sin.  

He was not paying for his sins;  but reaping what he had sown.

Galatians 6:7 “Be not deceived;  God is not mocked:  for whatsoever a man soweth,  that shall he also reap.”

Though David sinned terribly,  yet he repented greatly.    True repentance comes, as we come to God,……without merit of any kind from ourselves,  to get an answer from God,  Himself.   

Not to just be satisfied with the seeking of forgiveness;  but the word of forgiveness from God,  personally,…..and the cleansing of the heart and conscience.

Psalm 51:1-2 “Have mercy upon me,  O God,  according to thy loving kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

Wash me throughly from mine iniquity,  and cleanse me from my sin.”

David calls upon God for mercy.   

Mercy presupposes sin.  And David had sinned.  And he knew it.  He had known within his heart for months, and he had known it by the word of the Lord through His servant.  

The rebuke brought about the right results.  He sought for spiritual mercy.

It is the benevolence and kindness of God to a sinner,  who seeks forgiveness, and salvation from their sins.

In God’s mercy, was his only hope, and so David’s faith reached out to that character of God, and cries for God’s mercy.   

It is only in God himself that the wiping away of sin could be found.  (For the promise of the coming Messiah, who would bring victory over sin, and sin’s consequences, was known.  And all who trusted in God, looked forward to Him.)

David could do nothing.  There was no sacrifice for the sin he had committed, “else he would give it” 

Psalm 51:16 “For thou desirest not sacrifice;  else would I give it:  thou delightest not in burnt offerings.”

The mercy he asks of God was “according to his loving kindness”; according to the character of God. 

He did not know whether God would hear his cry;   for David had turned a deaf ear to God.

He wasn’t asking because he had earned it,…..even with the repentance.

He was asking God to do according as His character was.

And David spoke plainly concerning his sin.

“Blot out my transgressions”, or “revoltings”.   These acts he had committed were not “slips”,  or just defective obedience.   No, they were acts of rebellion against God.

David had revolted against God’s rule in his life, and wanted to do his own will.  

His actions were great perversity;  the twisting of God’s grace into sin.   

God had given David the kingdom, and great help in all that he had done; and with God looking on, David had misused the grace, and despised His goodness.

What would God do with him?

He wanted forgiveness;  he would not be able to come before God without it;  but he wanted complete removal of all this defilement within.

To be throughly washed from  the mass of his filthiness, and iniquity!

Here is a way we can all test ourselves and “our repentance”.

Are we content if we just ask for forgiveness, and not to seek cleansing?

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.”

It is forgiveness and cleansing.

God had sent a man to rebuke him.  This was a great grace, not to let him continue in his rebellion.

God had made David willing to confess, so he asks God to finish the work of grace within him.  To forgive and cleanse him.

Psalm 51:9-10 “Hide thy face from my sins,  and blot out all mine iniquities. 

Create in me a clean heart,  O God;  and renew a right spirit within me.”

God’s “hiding” His face from our sins, is putting them away. (Psalm 103:12)

So David prays for a new life.

“Create in me a clean heart”  cries out for a new heart within him.   David realizes that he will revolt again, if God does not give him clean affections.   And God needs to create them within him.   

Give me a submissive heart, and make me steadfast to You.

Psalm 51:11-12 “Cast me not away from thy presence,  and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation;  and up hold me with thy free spirit.”

Do not leave me to my own way.

Do not throw me away; or take away Your Holy Spirit from me.

David had know the joy of God in His life, and he prayed that it would be restored.

And that he would be kept (“lead me not into temptation, and deliver me from evil”, as the Lord Jesus taught us to pray.  Matthew 6:13) from falling into evil again.

To be free from sin is true freedom indeed.

Sin is the worst bondage.

Though some call it “freedom”;  it enslaves, by a constant growing desire for “more, more, more”.

With each step forward, the slave is “unknowingly” sinking.  

As quicksand does not suck the victim in immediately, but slowly brings him down, till the mire covers his head in death;  so sin does the same.

Only God can free us from sin.  

First, He brings us to repentance:  a “repentance not to be repented of”.

2 Corinthians 7:10 “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of:  but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

Do we want to be free from our sin,  or just the consequences of it? 

Second, He leads us to Christ

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:”

Third, He leads us in the desire for true liberty of Spirit,  which is the freeing us from the power of sin over us.

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

But we all,  with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord,  are changed into the same image from glory to glory,  even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

David’s faith in God,  led him to cry to God, for this forgiveness and cleansing.

For he desired to be able to worship, and come near God again.

Is this what we want, as well?

Christ’s Sacrifice is able to cleanse us from all sin.

Will we seek it from Him?

Reality, or Virtual Reality;  Which?    

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,  but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;  

                                       Casting down imaginations,  and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God,  and bringing into captivity ever thought to the obedience of Christ;”

What is the difference?  They both have reality in them, don’t they?

Reality (and we are talking about Spiritual Reality, here) is truth.  It is what I have in my experience….not what I want….or even what I believe the scriptures say…..but what I have in my experience.    

Spiritual Reality is to have in your experience, what you think you have.

We are born again.  

We are growing in grace, and in the love of Jesus; both to Him and His people.  We are denying ourselves, and picking up our cross.   

We are being obedient to His Will.

Imaginations plague everyone….there are carnal imaginations we must place on the altar to God (“casting them down”,  as the verse says,  or they can build “strongholds” on our hearts.)

And there are spiritual imaginations….

…we dream about doing great things for God….but never do them. (Or perhaps we begin, with great enthusiasm, but never finish)

We speak about doing great  things;  but we put them off, for “a while”. 

(Hesitation is a wile of the devil that often works, because our minds say,  “yes, I should think about this”…..or our hearts want to know what the reaction of others will be.   Hesitation is stealing the time of power from the Holy Spirit….for doubt,  quenches Him.)

Paul is encouraging these Corinthians to finish what they started:

2 Corinthians 8:9-11 “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,  that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor,  that ye through His poverty might be rich.

                                      And herein I give my advice:  for this is expedient for you,  who have begun before,…

                                      Now therefore perform the doing of it,  that as there was a readiness to will,  so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.”

(Here, Paul is speaking about a gift for the poor brethren;  but I have had the Lord use these verses on me about a job I needed to see done.  Like I spoke of:  I had started,  then just put the rest off.   I needed to finish it.)

Virtual Reality is to believe you have something,  you do not.  

This is to believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ,  but never submit to His power……to bring me into obedience to His teaching.

2 Timothy 3:5, 7 “Having the form of godliness,  but denying the power thereof:  from such turn away.

                               Ever learning,  and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

How do they “deny the power thereof”?

Certainly, it can be unbelief at work.

Many people believe in God, but not a personal God which has fellowship with His people.  A God that probably is up there somewhere,  but would not take any notice of things here,  especially specific people, especially them.

But it can also be  an deliberate choice to keep God away from “interfering” in their lives.

They sit and hear the Word of God,……and let it flow over them…..

….they hear the doctrine;  but never let it take root in their hearts.

There are those who…

……let one lesson, push out the other.  “Ever learning”,  and yet never coming to the place that they have in their experience what the Lord Christ has for them…….what He has already said to them.

Usually this type of decision is made because the heart is “taken up” with something else.   

There is no room for Christ Jesus,….for they choose to continue in this life of Virtual Reality. 

(No this is not the video games;  but it is the “games” people play in their minds.)

2 Timothy 3:14-17 “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of,  knowing of Whom thou hast learned them;

                                   and that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

                                   All scripture is given by inspiration of God,  and is profitable for doctrine,  for reproof,  for correction,  for instruction in righteousness:

                                    That the man of God may be perfect (complete) throughly furnished unto all good works.”

Paul wrote Timothy, encouraging him to continue in the Word of God,……because God will make it profitable to those who truly choose to follow it.

God’s Word is a Living Word….when we hear it,  the Holy Spirit takes it and applies it to my situation,…..my attitude,….the people around me.

It cleanses, not just by showing me what is wrong…..but the Spirit moves in me to seek and reach out in faith, to what the Lord wants….and as soon as we do, we feel enlivened….seeking forgiveness and power.

Reality is that what we have….for then we are able to use it…for Christ’s sake.

The Blind Man   

Mark 10:46-47 “And they came to Jericho:  and as He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great number of people,  blind Bartimaeus,  the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.

                            And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth,  he began to cry, and say,   Jesus, Thou Son of David,  have mercy on me.”

Going up to Jerusalem, going toward the end of His ministry here, Jesus goes through Jericho.

On the side of the highway, where he could be seen, sat Bartimaeus.  He was a blind man.  He was a beggar, and he did not want to miss an opportunity for anyone to give to him.

He heard the crowd passing, and eager to get a coin,  he asked what the procession was.

It is interesting to note,  that after three years of ministry,  Jesus’ name is well known.

As soon as Bartimaeus hears Who is passing by, he knows this is his opportunity for healing.

This is belief.  He believed that this Jesus,  Who he had heard about, could heal him.   He called Him “the Son of David”,  for this was one of the titles of the Messiah to come.

The Savior would come as the Son of David, and Bartimaeus believes that Jesus is He.

Mark 10:48 “And many charged him that he should hold his peace:  but he cried the more a great deal,   Thou Son of David,  have mercy on me.”

“Quiet!  We are going up to Jerusalem.  We have important things to do,  we don’t have time for a blind beggar.”

But….

Mark 10:49 “And Jesus stood still,  and commanded him to be called.  And they call the blind man,  saying unto him,   Be of good comfort,  rise;  He calleth thee.”

But Jesus did have time.   

Jesus had waited to give others the opportunity to bring him……to show kindness to a blind Israelite.   (Deuteronomy 15:11)

But they only told him to be quiet…..which he wasn’t……he yelled even louder trying to make Jesus hear him….which He did.

Mark 10:50-51 “And he,  casting away his garment,  rose,  and came to Jesus.

                    And Jesus answered and said unto him,  What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?     The blind man said unto him,   Lord, that I might receive my sight.”

Notice how the blind man, when he knows Jesus calls him;  how he throws away his garment (his outer cloak).    

He wanted nothing to hinder his step to Jesus.    He was sure that the old garment of a beggar,  he would wear no more.

“What do you want me to do for you?”  (How many times, when we have come to Jesus in prayer, do we believe He will hear, and act for us?)

“Lord” (one of the most important Names of Jesus Christ.  

Lord:  when you say it, it is almost like you are bowing before Him).  

“That I might receive my sight.”

Mark 10:52 “And Jesus said unto him,  Go thy way;  thy faith hath made thee whole.    And immediately he received his sight,  and followed Jesus in the way.”

“Go thy way;”.   You can go home,  you can stay here in Jericho.   

But Bartimaeus  chose the best way:  he followed Jesus.

“Thy faith hath made thee whole.”  

Jesus healed because of his faith in Him.  

What the blind man had heard of Jesus, caused him to believe that He was the Son of God,…..so he put his trust in Him to heal.

And that faith led him to cry out to Jesus, and be healed;  but also led him to follow Jesus.  

The blind man was blind no more;  not in eyes…..or in heart.  

True North

Proverbs 29:28 “Where there is no vision,  the people perish:  but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”

There is on the compass….a magnetic north, which is not True North.

True north is the fixed point where the lines of longitude meet at the North Pole….somewhere out in the Arctic Sea. (The North Star is fixed over it, and was used for centuries.)

You can navigate with a compass,  for short trips….

….but to navigate accurately for long trips over any time or distance, you have to ascertain True North.

So for the long distance trip….which is our life,  we need to ascertain True North.

And just what is True North for our Christian lives?

Just what should we use for the long journey of our lives?

For most people, our moral compass is True North….but for Christians, True North is

….that Jesus Christ is your Lord. 

This is to ascertain True North.   This is to have our guide till the end of our days.

The term “Lord” means many things to the people of the world…

….but what it means in the Bible, is “God,  controller”.    We know God controls everything…but it must come to a personal 

knowledge.

In other words:  God is in control, by a deliberate act of my will, in my life.

Now when I say this,  that does not mean He is just like a boss,  to tell me what I need to do, so I can get the work done…..

But  Lordship is in every area of my life,……He is in control of the circumstances I have been,    am,    and will come into.

I preach on Matthew 16:24 a lot,…..

…..which speaks of denying myself, picking up my cross, and following the Lord.

For it is the beginning decision in making Christ,  Lord of my life.

And it is something we must continue to do while we are in the world,  and surrounded by so many enemies.

Our example is Joshua…for the battle of Jericho.

Joshua had a big job.   He was to take the children of Israel into Canaan….and win the inheritance God had given them….

….and the first battle was Jericho.

Joshua had done all he could…..where Jericho was concerned, so far….

…he had sent two men to spy out the city….and received their report:

Joshua 2:1, 23-24 “And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying,  Go view the land, even Jericho…

            So the two men returned,….and came to Joshua…and told him all things….And they said unto Joshua,  Truly the Lord hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.”

Now he had some information…..but he had not heard from God about this city….so…

…..he went out to reconnoiter the city….

It is interesting that Jericho….a walled, fortified city…..

….is the first battle that the Israelites were faced with!

(They say the the top of the wall was wide enough that two chariots could travel around it unhindered….people’s [Rahab’s Joshua 2:15] houses were in the wall, it was that wide.)

I believe it was to show to Israel…..and all the inhabitants of Canaan….that God is with Israel.

If it had been an easier battle (not that any they fought,  were “easy”)….then Israel might begin to feel that…..”Yes!….we can do this!”  And boast of their accomplishments.

Also,  fear of God from the inhabitants……was one thing that would be on their side…..as long as they were on God’s side.

The Way God deals with things is always amazing…..and always for the best….

……although Joshua,  looking at this towering fortress of a city…..might have had other thoughts…..

….but….though he was not sure what he would,  or even could do against such a city…..

……he knew God had a plan….and he knew the fear of the Lord was already in the city.

This is True North….to do all we can do…..always looking up to the Lord….who is  in charge….of me, first….then of everything else….leaving the details to Him.

When we do this,  God bless us with encouragement, as He does Joshua, here:

Thinking on these things he sees a Man,  with a sword drawn

Joshua 5:13-15 “And it came to pass,  when Joshua was by Jericho,  that he lifted up his eyes and looked,  and behold there stood a Man over against him with His sword drawn in His hand:  and Joshua went unto Him, and said unto Him,  Art Thou for us,  or for our adversaries?

            And He said,     Nay,  but as Captain of the hosts of the Lord am I now come.        And Joshua fell on his face to the earth,  and did worship,  and said unto Him,  What saith My Lord to His servant?

           And the Captain of the Lord of hosts said unto Joshua,  Loose thy shoe from off thy foot;  for the place whereon thou standest is holy.    And Joshua did so.”

Notice Joshua’s attitude in everything….

…he was busy looking over the city….although not looking at the problem….for he  “lifted up his eyes and looked”….

….which meant he was looking up to God to hear what He had to say about Jericho…

….then when the Man appeared….he was not a slacker,  but instantly challenged Him….”for us or for our adversaries?”…

….And when The Lord introduced Himself as Captain….Joshua “fell on his face” and worshipped….

….following that,   with the complete subjection, by taking off his shoes before the Lord.

         

This Man is the Captain of the Lord’s hosts….Our Lord Jesus in human form……already having gone before in the battle….to see His Will and glory manifest…..

…….and now ready to give instructions and encouragement to His servant.

He is there to command the battle…..not just Joshua’s troops…..but the battle on both sides…..for He is the Lord of all.   

Everything is under His control….every stone in that wall,…..every heart in that city….all is under His control.

(If you ask,   If everyone is under His control,  why then, did God let Achan sin? Joshua 7:1

And yes, “let” is the right word.   

For God deals differently with those who are His…..

….He can make anyone do anything….but for those He has called to nearness to Him….He says “If any man will, let him”….”My son, give Me thine heart”……

….He wants our hearts to obey His commands….and that requires “will you?”.

And Achan would not.)

And this is what “Lord” means in the Bible…..He commands everything around us…..and with us…..as well as us.

Have we made Him  Lord?

Our response should always be,…..worship!….

….and “What saith My Lord to His servant?”

Hebrews 2:10 “For it became Him,    for Whom are all things,      and by Whom are all things,      in bringing many sons unto glory,      to make the Captain of their salvation perfect (complete in the Father’s Will) through sufferings.”

God is the first and the last….

….and as such,  He worked out HIs Victory for our redemption,   through the Captain of our salvation.

The battle for our inheritance is won, by our Lord Jesus Christ.

He has seen to it all….

…and now,  He stands at the right hand of the Throne of God for us.

Let us fall before Him,  and worship.  

Let us subject ourselves to the Lord,  and take the instruction He has for us….

…. as how to get our personal inheritance…those heavenly blessings He has in Christ (Ephesians 1:3)….into us.

For every battle….for every encounter….for everyday.

True North in our lives is making Christ Jesus….my Lord….in control of all in my life…..in charge of all, in my life.

By this we are able to go the distance, without getting lost in the world of changing circumstances.