Preaching, Teaching, and Notes

The Woman at the Well

John 4:3-4, 6-7 “He left Judea, and departed again into Galilee. For he must needs go through Samaria.
Now Jacobs’s well was there, Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.”

Why is the woman at the well important?
Because she came to the well when no one was around, because of what she was; and yet sought Truth from this Jewish stranger that was there, even though she was what she was.

“Why do you a Jew ask a drink of me, a Samaritan?”
It seemed a simple question, for the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans, thinking them defiled.

Christ Jesus came to save all those who would believe and receive His life. So, instead of pressing His right to a drink again; Jesus speaks to her about “living water”.
If you had known Who asked you, you would have asked of Him, living water, so that you never have to thirst again. (John 4:10, 13-14)

Her reply was very practical: “Give me that water so I won’t have to come and draw from this well.”
So Jesus brings her a step further toward real life: “Go get your husband.”

Would she tell the truth?
She replied, “I have no husband”.
“…Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said I have no husband: for thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.”

What would she do now? Run away? Spit on Him? Throw water on Him?

But instead she considered the truth, instead of her feelings; and spoke to this man, now, of worship. Of what was right, in God sight.
“Were they right to worship in this mountain, as their fathers did? Or were the Jews right in saying Jerusalem was the only place to worship God?”

Odd conversation for a woman who had been looking for satisfaction elsewhere.

Jesus answer was of the future; after He was crusified and risen again:
To worship God would be in Spirit and in truth.
Right here, could have been a problem; if she did not really want the truth.
(Maybe this was what she had been searching for in those 5 husbands she’d had.
But to want the truth, generally, and to face the truth for yourself is two different things.)
Yet, here again, she does not back away from getting the truth, getting that living water; even when it came to what He would say about herself.
John 4:25-26 “The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will teach us all things.
Jesus saith unto her, I that speaketh unto thee am he.”

Jesus had revealed Himself to very few people; but to this woman who wanted the truth, He did.
How this shows us the great value the Lord Jesus puts on Truth, and truth seeking.
(John 1:17 “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
When truth is faced, grace is always given)

Afraid of people, and how they treated her, brought her to the well, and Jesus; but the truth sent her into town to tell all that she would meet about the Man who was, she thought, the Messiah.
John 4:29 “Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?”

By her witness, many came to believe on Jesus, too:
John 4:39-42 “And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified , He told me all that ever I did.
So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.
And many more believed because of his own word.
And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”
What of us? How much do we value the truth, especially for ourselves?
Have we hidden lives we do not want to admit to?
Have we doctrine that we adhere to, and that is enough?

The truth is that everyone who comes to Jesus can find the water of life…real satisfaction and know for themselves that He is the Savior of the world.

Preaching, Teaching, and Notes

Empty your Hands
What is that in thine hand?
Have you ever considered what hinders you from doing the work the Lord wants you to do?
Are you hanging on to something that you need to let go of?
Or are you hanging on to “the rod” , which will never be used for God, till you give it to God?
Exodus 4:2 “And the Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.”

Moses had been a prince of Egypt, a defender of his brethren, a fugitive, and a shepherd.
But now he was called of God to go and bring out the Israelites from slavery, to take them to the promised land of Canaan.

But how was he going to do this?
The Lord first called him, then showed him one of the means he was to use, to do the work.

Of course, this rod was not the only means, Moses used to deliver the children of Israel out of Egypt.
But it was in his hand at the time God called him. So it would have to be set aside, for other means; or sanctified to God’s work.
Exodus 4:3-5 “And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.
And the Lord said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:
That they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared into thee.”

God chose to sanctify the rod for His work: so it was given to Moses for a means of deliverance for the children of Israel.

I remember how often, as a child, a older person would tell me to “empty my hands, so you can pick up that other thing.”

Here, the Lord is telling Moses that it is time to let go of the life he had in Midian, and to do the next call.
Now we can not fill our hands with God’s work, if we will not empty them of other things.
Exodus 4:21 “And the Lord said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.”

“Which I have put in thine hand.”
Only the things God puts in our hands are for His work.

Sometimes they are for a specific work and then to be laid aside. Sometimes they are for our whole life work.
The means are all at God’s disposal, not ours.
Our job is to empty our hands, and fill them with what He puts there.

One of the means we are always to use is His Word. It is always right at hand, and it is for our instruction in righteousness.
2 Timothy 3:16-17. “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, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

Another means we are to use is grace. Grace is the unmerited favor of power. Power for what we need in this circumstance. Given by God at the time we need it, as we ask for it. (Hebrews 4:16). Grace can be strength, courage, words, and /or whatever we need at the time.
2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”

Faith is another means we have. Faith is given to us at new birth; and increased as we follow after Christ in believing obedience. It is to be used: (“I believe, help my unbelief”. Mark 9:23-24).

The means for God’s Work, are God’s.
Our job is to empty our hands, and fill them with what He puts there.

Preaching, Teaching, and Notes

Jesus Christ Stands Without the Church, Knocking

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.”

In the letters to the Churches in Revelation, Jesus is sending messages to instruct them about what they were facing in their times, and what they should about it.
The last one, Laodicea, was given more proof that He was speaking, and more correction. For He could not find anything to approve, in this Church.
Yet He also set one of the greatest rewards before them, “if” they would respond to His Voice.

Let us look at the proof He sent, of Who Spoke. He uses three Names: to none other Church He authorizes, like this one.
Revelation 3:14 “And unto the angel of the Church of Laodiceans write; these things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.”

All of these Names are Christ’s.
He is the Amen: He alone is the affirmation and confirmation of God. He declares God in all His perfections and purposes; and then proves that God is faithful in them.
So Christ is the Amen to Laodicea, who is so far from God, they didn’t recognize He wasn’t in their midst.

He is the Faithful and True Witness: This Church is on trial, and as such the Witness against them is not of the world, but Christ, Himself. He witnesses that He knows their hearts, and minds; and finds wretchedness, instead of holiness or zeal.

He is the Beginning of the Creation of God: From Eternity Past God the Father and God the Son made an Everlasting Covenant. This concerns Christ’s becoming the Man, Christ Jesus; and coming to the earth they would create, and saving a people for Christ’s Name sake.
So in the very beginning of thought concerning Creation, there was the Plan of Salvation: which first included the agreement of Christ to become our Redeemer by His Sacrifice; and the agreement of God the Father to give Christ a people for a reward, because of His becoming the Man, Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him (that is us) endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
They knew all that would happen to the Creation they made; and made full provision for it. That provision was Christ Jesus as set forth in the Everlasting Covenant.
Hebrews 13:20-21 “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the Everlasting Covenant,
Make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
This is Christ as the Beginning of The Creation of God.

Now these Names begin in manifesting God, and then go to witnessing against our lukewarmness, to finally; stating His purpose and provision for those He saved “before the world began”.
2 Timothy 1:9 “Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began;”

Christ gave ample proof that He was speaking. Then He moves on to the corrections:

Revelation 3:15-17 “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold or hot; I would that thou wert cold or hot.
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold or hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.
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:”

He corrects them, because they are lukewarm.
Now we think: Lukewarm isn’t so bad. We think it is just good enough to get us by.
But not so Christ’s thinking.
He died that we might be saved to the uttermost (Hebrews7:25). Since they are not, and not going to be, since they are so conceited as to be in “need of nothing” (Revelation 3:17), they will be spewed out of His mouth.
In other words Jesus Christ will vomit out these lukewarm Laodiceans.
How can He spew out a Christian?
I don’t know, but He said He will, if we won’t repent.

(I personally believe, that for these Laodiceans who refuse to hear and obey the Voice of Jesus Christ, and repent; that the little bit of salvation that they had will wither and die, the Holy Spirit will be grieved for they will not submit to Christ and they will stand as rebels against God, instead of servants of Him.
They will be “spewed out” by their own choice in turning their backs on His offer of peace.
They will find, then, that His Salvation was not just a salvation from Hell, but from sin, (which they would not give up.). And self, which is true liberty of spirit. To be saved from every proud, angry, bitter, and hateful attitude, which eats away at our souls. He saves to the uttermost, He saves all of us–spirit, mind, heart, will and body; or nothing.)

Now, it is true, we are often in need of correction; but it is HOW we take Christ’s correction, which shows Salvation.
Do we “murmur and complain” continually; for the children of Israel did, and lost out.
(Hebrews 3:10-11)
Or do we: “Come let us reason together” (Isaiah 1:18) with the Lord.
We will not always like what we hear from Jesus. How often did He rebuke His disciples?
But if we are going on with Him, we will not lose out.
Jesus said this:
John 8:31-32 “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

But Christ does not just correct, He gives life, to those who follow His way of life:
Revelation 3:18 ” I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear, and anoint thy eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.”

Many people disagree with Christ here, and say He should not have said “buy of me”.
But, the articles He refers to, are those of righteousness. The righteousness which we are to do, not be. If we are truly born again, then we ARE righteous, because we are in Christ Jesus.
But we are also to DO righteousness, because we have His Spirit within us, enabling and directing us.
The “gold, tried in the fire” speaks of God (and gold always speaks of God) manifested in our life. We are to show forth our new nature, the nature of God, within us in our daily life. We are to deny ourself and pick up our cross and follow Him into a life of Godliness. Receiving the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), and using them.
If we don’t, we are refusing Him.

The “white raiment” is the obediences to His Word by love, which show forth what He has accomplished within us.
We are naked without these obediences; still trying to sew fig leaves to cover our shame (Genesis 3:7).

And the “eye salve” is honesty, which tears away the veil of our own conceit; so we see ourselves, the world, and our place in it clearly.
This, the Holy Spirit helps us with. We are such dishonest people without His help. But with His help, we see.

The means to get these is clear: “buy”. But with what do we buy?
It is obedience to the next verse, simply stated by Jesus:
Revelation 3:19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous therefore, and repent.”
Repent: in other words; do what He tells us.

But even here, He does not desert us. He goes on to call us with His arms of love outstretched:
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.”

This is a personal call, to individuals in the Church. To open their lives to His Voice, and let Him in, to lead them on, (yes, in correction and instruction), in fellowship with Him.
Promising one of the greatest rewards, “if we will”.

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.”

We are to overcome everything which stands in the way of doing Christ’s Will for us.
His power is there for us: remember He saves to the uttermost, those who come to Him.
Christ requires not an answer of words, but of a life open to and receptive to Him.

We may not be the greatest Christians, but are we going on with Him? Or refusing His Voice?
He has made it clear what He will do. What will you do?

Preaching, Teaching, and Notes

Psalm 138:8 “The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth forever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.”

His mercy is a wonderful character of God. It is the benevolence of God to those who are fallen sinners.
(We, who are called to follow Him are called to show mercy to others, remembering that God has shown it to us.)

Mercy is the kindness of God to those who are sinners.
Mercies for mankind in general, include: light, heat, rain/water, food. The external mercies for life.
Matthew 5:45 “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”

But to His beloved Church, His mercies are internal, as well. He brings them closer by His love and Care, by the mercy He gives. This mercy includes their Salvation: Titus 3:5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost”
(The first time “merciful” is used is with Lot, [Genesis 19:16] who was saved from the destruction with the rest of the wicked in Sodom and Gomorrah. “The Lord being merciful unto him”.)

The mercy of God lifts up the trembling sinner, to see God, in the face of Jesus Christ.
And brings comfort and knowledge to those who are following after, seeking a closer relationship to God.
James 3:17 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”

God’s mercy completes (perfects) the work He has started within us: He will not desert us, because we often fail Him; rather, in mercy, He sanctifies us, and preserves us by His Word, that we may be kept in the love of God.
Jude 20-21 “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

God’s grace holds us up in power; God’s mercy puts His arm around us in love, and keeps us close to Him and His life for us.

We, who are called to follow Christ Jesus, are called to show mercy to others, because God has shown it to us:
Remember the Good Samaritan? The only one who showed mercy to a wounded man on the road?
Jesus was using this illustration to a man who asked about Eternal Life. (Luke 10:25)
When Jesus asked him (for as a lawyer [one who knew the law, and was to interpret it to the people] he should have known: “What is written in the law?”
He answered, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy souls, and with all thy strength, and with al thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.”
(Perhaps if he had left the last part out [and how many of us do], he could have walked away in pride; But, putting that last part in there made him responsible in a way that had to be seen)
“So who is my neighbor?”
Jesus then tells of the Good Samaritan. He had not only stopped in a place of robbers to help this man, but paid with his own money to get him well.
So, Jesus asks this man: Which one was the neighbor to the man that fell among thieves?
In other words, ” Which man acted in God’s Way?”

Luke 10:37 “And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus, Go, and do thou likewise.”

This is mercy: The kindness of God to us who are sinners; And the kindness of us to others. God’s mercy should lead us to be merciful to others.

The Lord will complete my education in His school of life, and bring me to have His likeness, by His mercy; for His mercy endures, and lasts through my whole life experiences; for He will never forsake His work in me.

Preaching, Teaching, and Notes

Manna, or the old corn of the Land.

Joshua 5:11-12 “And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the marrow after the Passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the self same day.
And the manna ceased on the marrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.”

On this day the manna stopped. They did not need it any more. It had been God’s miraculous food for His people, in the wilderness. But now there was the old corn that the Canaanite stored up from their harvest.
When they entered Canaan, the people had fled into Jericho, and had left this supply of food behind.
Now Israel had a supply, not from heaven each morning; but from their enemies.
Certainly, both supplies came from God.
One was directly from Him, each morning.
The other was from Him, because of the fear He placed in the hearts of the people of the land, when Israel came to cross the Jordan.

These supplies were also different in the way they were presented to feed Israel.

The manna was on the ground, right outside the tents of each Israelite. So he could walk on it if he so chose.

So Christ when He came in His humiliation as the Man Christ Jesus, was presented in an earthly manner. (John 6:33-35 “For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life; he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”)
He came as one of them, presented Himself as the Son of God, and was despised and trampled on, as often the manna was to Israel. (John 6:41-42 “The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am bread which came down from heaven.
And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?”)
As the manna was given directly from heaven, but placed upon the ground round their tents for them to honor and receive, or walk on; so Jesus Christ came to this earth to be received or rejected.

The old corn of the land was discovered, as they came to possess their possessions in the Promised Land.
And when discovered it, the manna ceased.

It was part of their inheritance, which this generation wanted, and so they received it with thanksgiving.
This is like Christ being presented as Lord and Savior to a lost and dying world; after He had ascended into heaven again, receiving all power, and set down at the right hand of God.
Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and , lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Christ Jesus was presented to the lost world, and where it was received, it was with thanksgiving.
Was their battles? Yes, in both cases: Israel in Canaan. And the Gospel of Christ to the world, yet Christ is our inheritance; let us give thanks for His Salvation, and all He has done for us.

Christ is still the Bread of Life. He is still being presented to the world.

Both supplies of food represent Christ; one sent from heaven to be presented to Israel.
One sent by heaven through the enemies they were to overcome.
Let us praise God for all the ways He sees to us, to His Gospel, and to the honor of His Son.

Preaching, Teaching, and Notes

Triumph in Christ.

2 Corinthians 2:14-16 “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of His knowledge by us in every place.
For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
To the one we are a savor of death unto death; and to the other the savor of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?”

2 Corinthians 2:14-16 GNFMM “But thanks be to God, for in union with Christ we are always lead by God as prisoners in Christ’s Victory Procession; like a sweet smell that spreads everywhere, God uses us to make Christ known to all men.
For we are like the sweet smell of the incense that Christ burns to God which goes out to those who are being saved and to those who are being lost.
For those who are being lost, it is a deadly stench that kills, for those who are being saved, it is a fragrance that brings life. Who then is capable for such a task?”

These verses speak about the triumph of Christ over us, so that He can use us to manifest the sweetness of His knowledge to everyone we come into contact with. To some it will give light and life. To others it will do nothing but leave them in the darkness and death that they choose.

These verses are pictured after the Roman General’s Victory Procession into Rome after a great conquest; where he brings many captives home to Rome.

Paul had seen these, and uses this picture here for Christ, to illustrate His own Victory Procession.
The verses in the Good News for Modern Man picture this as it would happen.

First along the march were incense bearers. This incense was the same smell for those who would live, or die.
Then the banners of the legions of His armies came next.
Then the General, on a big white horse. A long chain coming back to all those He has had the victory over. He is leading them in His Victory Procession.
1st, behind Him were the kings and generals, and the people of importance: wise people.
2nd, the chains would go right on down to the simple people and slaves.
All to be brought back for the glory of Rome.

Now Paul uses this to set forth Christ’s Victory Procession over us, His elect, His Church; and those who will in that day kneel and confess that He is Lord, but then be thrown into the Lake of Fire for eternity.
Philippians 2:10-11 “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.”

This Victory Procession, Christ is making up now. Those who subject themselves to Him, as their King, are those He uses to manifest Himself to men, now.
It is a subjection of love, for those who are born again (given His eternal life: and become a sweet savor of life to others).

It is not us having the Victory over our circumstances or other people, presented here. But Christ having the Victory over us, and leading us in His Victory Procession, for God’s Glory.

Sometimes we forget that we are saved to shine forth His Light; to honor and glorify Him.
That He helps us in our circumstances, and comforts us in our troubles, by His Blessed Holy Spirit with us, is a certainty every Christian should know.

But here, Christ Jesus is the Victor; as Paul always liked to preach on.
Christ was Victor in His life; though He was “despised and rejected of men” (Isaiah 53:3).
Christ was Victor in the Garden when He said, “Not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke22:42).
Christ was Victor, Who “before Pilate witnessed a good confession” (1 Timothy 6:13).
Christ was Victor on the cross, for He paid the full price of our salvation, that we might be fully redeemed. When He cried, “It is finished”, it was. (John 19:30)
Christ is Victor now; for He is calling out a people for His Name’s Sake.
He is having the victory over them: their rebellion, their fear, their addictions, their wills and ways. He is giving them Eternal Life, and leading them into the glory of His Victory Procession, for all the world to see.
We have the inestimable privilege to send forth the savor of life, to those who seek life.

We have a place in Christ’s Victory Procession. We will give out our sweet smell, to bring some to Christ. Or will we be only dragged on in the Procession, till the end. (How much we will have lost, that we could have been rewarded for?)
God’s glory should always be our goal. Where are we in the march? The chains which bind those who march to Christ’s glory behind him, are chains of love.
“We love Him, because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)

Have you felt His love constrain you lately? To move on, forward with Him? His love is the greatest motivator for our lives, if we will yield to Him.

Preaching, Teaching, and Notes

Do you want direction for your Life?

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thy own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him; and he shall direct thy paths.”

Notice, this is for our hearts and our heads. We need to trust God, for our lives, that is our hearts work. And we need to acknowledge Him, Who He is and what He has already done for us, in our heads.

In other words, we need to: want God’s direction for our lives; and we need to be willing to obey it, when we receive it.

If we will only acknowledge Him in all our ways! To “acknowledge God” is to consider Him in every decision. What He wants for us, and to know that He can bring to pass what He wills for us.

We acknowledge His presence in this set of circumstances: 1st: He knows we are in this situation. 2nd: He is with us. 3rd: His Power is able to guide us through it, or to get out of it. (1 Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”)

There are a lot of circumstances I’ve never been in….so if you think: they don’t know MY circumstances…that is true. BUT THE LORD JESUS DOES.

And He was tempted like we are. Hebrews 4:14-15 “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not a 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 misunderstood by most, from the first to the end.

He was loved, and hated. He had phony friends ( John 6:60-66): and family who didn’t believe Him.(John 7:2-8).

The religious rulers, who should have welcomed him, didn’t; for greed of place. (John 11:48 “If we let them thus alone, all men will believe on him; and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”)

The civil authorities gave Him up to crucify Him, to protect their position.(John 19:12, 16 “And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar. Then he delivered he him therefore unto them to be crusified. And they took Jesus and led him away.”

He died, deserted by most friends, surrounded by mockers; yet forgave them all. (Luke 23:34 “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them: for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment and cast lots.”

In His agony, he did not seek to mollify it, but undertook the full service, His Father in Heaven required of Him, to save us from our sins. (Matthew 27:34 “They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he tasted thereof, he would not drink.”)

He has gone before, as a Good Shepherd, for us. Leading us into Eternal Life, which is a condition of life, now and for eternity. He has taken the sting out of all we go through, because we can go through it by the enabling of the Holy Spirit within. He gives grace, guidance, help, comfort, and peace. He is joy within us.

To acknowledge Him in all our ways, is to look to Him for everything. It is not just the big, important things, but the little everyday things as well. He goes with us, as we do acknowledge Him, in a special way. It is personal direction for “my path”,today.

Our path in the places and people He directs us to. It is a personal relationship with the Godhead. God the Father’s will for us. God the Son’s provision, by His attainments. And God the Holy Spirit’s Presence, and power for us, now.

Trust is the holding on to Him and His word to us. O Lord, let us hold on fast in this day, to You.

Preaching, Teaching, and Notes

The Valley of Dry Bones.

Ezekiel 37:1 “The hand of the Lord was upon me and carried me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,”

Ezekiel is a captive of Babylon, and called to prophesy to the captives of Israel there. He has done so faithfully; rebuking the pride of Israel, and warning them to repent of their sin.

But he also tells the people of hope, if they do repent. This is one of these “hopes”.
The valley of dry bones was Israel:
Ezekiel 37:11 “Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, are bones are dry, and our hope is lost: we are cut off from our parts.”

That was their state under the chastening hand of their God, but God also promises:

Ezekiel 37:12-14. “Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God: behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you out of your graves.
And shall put my Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord.”

Ezekiel was sent to see a valley of dry bones. Israel was in just such a state. Dry, so dry that there was no life in them.
But God was not going to leave them in this state. He was going to revive them, and commanded Ezekiel to prophesy to these dry bones; for that was the means God was going to use to bring them back to life.
(How often we think the ministry of the Word of God; or the preaching of His Word, is useless. We see no immediate results. But God has said:
1 Corinthians 1:21 ” For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”)

Ezekiel 37:4 “Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.”

So Ezekiel, who had been faithful to his call to the people of Israel in captivity, speaks to a valley of dry bones.

Ezekiel 37:7-8 “So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together; bone to his bone.
And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.”

To just look like you have life, without God’s Spirit, is still to be dead.
But God’s instruction to His prophet was not done:

Ezekiel 37:9 “Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, Son of man, and say unto the wind, Thus saith the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.”

God does not do things in halves. His Purpose for His people in every age, is life. A life with Him.
Israel refused such a life, therefore they were driven out of the land God gave them, and were in a state of death, spiritually.
But now, God was going to revive them; through His Words, and by His Spirit.

Christ Jesus said when He was here:
John 3:7-8 “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou nearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”
(You can see the results of the wind: leaves blowing, things blowing in the wind; but you can not see the wind. To be born again is the same: you can see the results of the new birth within the life of a true Christian, but you can not see the Holy Spirit tangibly)
John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
John 11:25-26 “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall live:
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”

Again, Ezekiel obeyed God’s command:
Ezekiel 37:10 “So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceeding great army.”

Real life comes through God’s Spirit coming within us, as He tells Ezekiel.

Ezekiel 37:13-14 “And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you out of your graves.
And shall put my Spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord hath spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord.”

God’s Purpose for His people in every age is life; His life, and a life with Him.

Romans 8:11 “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”

To have Spiritual Life, is to have His life, by the Spirit of God within you. He is there, and gives us a life full of peace, joy, strength, and purpose.
Even if you are as dry as this valley of dry bones, He can give you life, true life, in Christ Jesus.

Preaching, Teaching, and Notes

Now Unto Him

Ephesians 3:20 “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”

“That is Able.” This is the first thing to consider.
But today it is so often changed into: “Who probably could if He really wanted to.”

This is the way we act, even if we say we believe He is Able.

But what does “Able” mean?
Able to give us just enough to squeak by? No! That is not what the Scriptures say.
Able enough to just get us to heaven? No!

“Able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think”. God is not bound by anything, but His Will.
What is His Will for you?
He will not give you power to do anything that will eventually harm you or your relationship to Him.
He will do more than we can ask Him for, or even think about, when it comes to His Will for you, “according to the power that worketh in us.” According as we are allowing the Holy Spirit within us to work; according to that measure of yielding, He will give you power, and power above all that we ask or think.

Jesus said the same thing to His disciples when He was here:
Luke 11:11-13 “If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”

The Holy Spirit is the power within us, bringing about God’s Will in us. Enabling us by His grace to have the fruit of the Spirit within the circumstances of our individual lives, no matter the provocation. (Galatians 5:22-23)
And enabling us to make the changes in our lives that He wants.
But He won’t give us look alike answers to our prayers. And that is what the Lord Jesus was talking about. A stone for bread. A serpent for a eel. A rolled up scorpion for an egg. A father would not do this. And our Heavenly Father would not give us look alike answers, for the things we need.

How much of that Power is at work in us? Making us what we ought to be?
Is it enabling you to deny yourself and pick up your cross and follow the Lord in your life? (Matthew 16:24)
How much of that Power is at work in us, saving you from yourself and sin, with His sanctifying graces?
For Christ came to save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)
How much of that Power is at work within us, to give us subjection to His Will for our lives?
For it is God which worketh in us both to will and do of His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)

There is a vast reservoir of Power by the Holy Spirit, open to all of us; if we follow His way to have it.

Matthew 6:10 “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

God’s Name is glorified here, in us; only in the proportion in which His Kingdom comes to us, and His Will is done by us.
God can not be honored in us, until we submit to His Rule over us.
For nothing dishonors His Name more than self-will.
Rebels despise His Kingdom within, seeking to make it mean the kingdom which will come; and nothing for now. (Which is what they object to)
But it says “in earth”.
Yes, He will come and establish His Kingdom on earth one day; but here, in this prayer, it is His call to His disciples to pray for the things of our lives now:
We are to pray for His kingdom to come within us.
We are to pray for “daily bread”; for forgiveness, as we forgive.
We are to pray that we will be kept from temptation; and for deliverance from it, if we fall into it.
These are all things of here and now for each individual follower of Christ.

God is Able. And more, He is willing. What will we do?
Let us yield, and receive His kingdom and the power of the Holy Spirit for our lives.

Preaching, Teaching, and Notes

If any man Will
Will is the determining factor of our lives. But it is influenced by our reasoning (our minds), or by our wants (our hearts).

By our will, we push ahead to the next step, in our walk through our lives.
In the Natural man, this is all for himself. The attitude of the Natural man is to see to Number one. Sad, because if they would but come to Christ, He would see to them.

Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

In the Spiritual man(one who is born again, and yielding to the Holy Spirit within), our will is the power that helps us to do the Will of God in our lives.
We will with the Holy Spirit, and the grace of God comes to us, to do His will.

Philippians 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and do of his good pleasure.”

Every man will come to judgement before God.
Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement:”
Romans 3:19 “Now we know that what things so ever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”

Every man will come to judgement before God. Every mouth will be stopped. There will be no excuses why God’s Will for their life, was not done by them.
They have a will, they could have exercised it for God. Did they?

Will God bring to mind the reasonings that they followed, rather than following God? What reasons have influenced your life?

Will He bring before them the emotions which lead them into the wrong paths, instead of following God’s ways? Who or what takes first place in your affections? And where do they lead you?

Paul says that God will work within us both to will and to do; and he exhorts them to “work out their own salvation”.
Philippians 2:12 “Wherefore, my beloved, as he have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling:”
(Salvation as we know, is four fold: Saved from the love of sin (conviction by the Holy Spirit). Saved from the guilt of sin (being born again. John 3:3). Saved from the power of sin (which is Sanctification [which is what Paul is talking about here]). And saved from the presence of sin (being taken to Heaven through death, or in the Rapture).
God does work within, as we want His will. He gives understanding to know His Will, and He gives power to do His Will; as we will with Him.
This is to “work out” what God “works” in.

Man (and of course, women) have three faculties of the soul. Reasonings or mind, Affections or heart, and will.
We all have placed within us that desire for the things of eternity. That is our God consciousness. That is the light that lighteth every man (John 1:9). It is placed within us by the true Light, Christ Jesus; for He would not leave Himself without a witness in man that He created.
But, it is what we do with that light that makes us responsible to God.
Yield to it, and follow it to Christ?
Or refuse it, and follow our own ways?
Romans 1:19-20 “Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them.
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.”

All are without excuse before God; for all we have to do, is come to Him and yield to Him.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this the whole duty of man.”

So you have a problem with God, and His ways? Then hear what He says about that:

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

“Talk to Me.” He says. “Give Me your reasons, lay them out before Me, and see if I will not forgive you from your sins, and make you clean.”
What will you will?