Are we enjoying a love relationship with The Lord Jesus?

Song of Solomon 1:2 “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.”

You can only kiss one person on the mouth at a time. This shows the personal relationship we should want, and have with our Lord Jesus.
Have you found His love so? Some have, and wanted more of the same sweetness of life, only this relationship can give.

Revelation 2:4 “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.”
Our first love should be the Lord Jesus Christ, who loved us and saved us from our sin.

These are two opposites. Which do you fit in to?

When we are in love with Jesus, we want to spend time with Him.
We come, not just with a list of wants (for us, or others); but to spend time in fellowship with the One who “loved me and gave Himself for me”(Galatians 2:20).

Ephesians 5:2 “And walk in love, as Christ also loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.”
This fellowship is strengthening, comforting, and most of all fulfilling.
This is that abundant life Jesus told of:
John 10:10 “The thief cometh not but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

The word love is used more in 1 John, in the New Testament; than any other book; so we will see about this relationship there:

First, our love relationship brings joy to our lives:
1 John 1:3-4 “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.”

To have fellowship with the Father and Jesus Christ brings joy. “Fellowship” in the Greek means the social relationship between close friends; and husband and wife.
In fellowship with Jesus, we spiritually lean our head upon His chest, and tell Him everything. He, in turn, uplifts us by the Arm of His strength; and gives us courage, the courage only the friend of Jesus can have.

Second, our love relationship helps us be obedient:
1 John 2:5 “But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.”
(Jesus said this to John years earlier: John 14:21 “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”)
Obedience is absolutely necessary for our Christian walk; but it is not only a duty, when the love of Jesus calls us: It is a privilege.

Third, our love relationship purifies us from the world’s influence.
1 John 3:1-3 “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, (in God’s sight), and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: (we are not what we ought to be): but we know that , when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”

Pure is to be consecrated; or blameless. One speaks of our setting ourselves aside for God’s use. The other speaks of our attitude, of living peaceably with all men, and not rendering evil for evil.
Romans 12:17-18 “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceable with all men.”
Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount, that “the pure in heart shall see God.” This means now. We shall “see” Him in every moment of our lives, He shall be there with us in a personal way.

Fourth, our love relationship keeps us from fear:
1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”
Our love of God, and our knowledge of His love for us, brings with it such peace and joy, that we are unafraid of coming before Him with any confession, any petition, any need of help.
We know He will not only hear us, but desires to help us with all we ask.

What is love?
1 John 4:9-10 “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
Herein is love, not that we love God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
1 John 4:19 “We love him, because he first loved us.”

Love is Agape. And it is the fruit of the Holy Spirit within us.(Galatians 5:22). He works that love within our hearts and lives, as we yield ourselves to Him.
God’s love for us sent His only begotten Son to die for us.
Our love to God will lead us in the paths of righteousness, forsaking the world, and self, for His companionship.

The Picture of Christ found in the Tabernacle

Exodus 29:43, 45-46 “And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the Tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory.
And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.
And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the Lord their God.”

The Tabernacle was the dwelling place of God, among His people after He had brought them out of bondage, across the Red Sea. They needed a dwelling place to come and meet with Him as they crossed the wilderness, to go to the land of Canaan. (The Promised Land). This was the Tabernacle.

It was erected according to the pattern God gave Moses in the mount of God, or Sinai (Exodus 25:8-9). The Ten Commandments had been spoken to Israel, and they had made a covenant with Him to do what He said.

Exodus 24:7 “And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient.”

The Tabernacle was divided into three stations.
The first was the court of the Tabernacle. Here there was Natural Light to shine for the work to be done by the priests.
The first piece of furniture to meet the petitioner when they came was the Brazen Altar.
Exodus 27:1-2 “And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be four square: and the height thereof shall be three cubits.
And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with brass. ”
(Brass speaks of judgement. Judgement for sin must be made. Either on the sinner, or upon a substitute.)
Here was the sacrifice made. And the blood pour out by it. (Exodus 29:11-12). There was to be a continual burnt offering.
Exodus 29:42 “This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the Tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord, where I will meet with you, to speak there unto thee.”

Here God would meet the sinner, or petitioner, and speak peace by the blood. So we who believe, have peace with God through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 4:24-25, 5:1. “But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”
The next piece of furniture was the Laver. It is also of brass, symbolizing judgement. Our judging ourself, that we might maintain fellowship with Christ.
Exodus 30:18 “Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein.”

The priests hands would be bloody after working at the Brazen Altar, and their feet dirty from the bare ground; so they were to wash their hands and their feet before going into the Holy Place.(Everything in the Holy Place symbolized fellowship with God, for the sin question was dealt with outside.)
As Christians, we too, should “wash” our hands and feet, so we can maintain fellowship with our Lord.
We do this by confessing our failures: the failures of our service (our hands); and the failures of our walk (our feet).
We are to be in the world but not of it, and we are defiled by walking around in this world. (How much filthy language, hatred, rage, etc. we come into contact with every day!)
We confess our sins, so we can come before the Lord, in fellowship, and prayer.
Peter learned this when, at the last supper, Jesus washed his feet.
John 13: 8-10 “Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
Jesus saith unto him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, But is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.”
Jesus did not say, If I don’t wash you, you’ll have no part in Me. But He said, You’ll have no part with Me.
Peter was clean, just needed the washing which would show his fellowship with Jesus. That Jesus did.
We do the same when we come to Him to get “washed, and cleansed” from our sins, so we can have fellowship with Him.
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
The second section of the Tabernacle was the Holy Place. Everything here was covered with gold, which speaks of God.
Everything here spoke of fellowship. Only the priests could enter here, and minister.

There were three pieces of furniture:
The Table of Shewbread.
The Lampstand.
The Golden Altar of Incense.

Exodus 25:23-24,30 “Thou shalt also make a table of shittim wood: two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.
And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown to the border thereof round about.
And thou shalt set upon the table showbread before me always.”

The Table of Shewbread spoke of Christ, The Son of God manifesting Himself as the bread of life. He sustains us, as we have that fellowship with Him we need. He manifests Himself in His glory, and Kingship for us, as we fellowship with Him. (the breads were sprinkled with frankincense, which is the spice of Kings. One of the wise men presented Christ with it at His birth.)
Exodus 25:31 “And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knobs and his flowers, shall be of the same.”
Exodus 27:20 “And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.”

The Lampstand or Candlestick is of one piece of gold, beaten into the seven lamps atop one candlestick. The bowls were filled with pure olive oil and burned.
They were to be continually burning, and had to be filled and seen to morning and night.
This speaks of The Spirit of Christ, who in the time after Christ has ascended to heaven, Lights the darkness, that we, as priests, may minister before the Lord.
He shows us the things of Christ for our lives, and work.
John 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
Exodus 30:1,3 “And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it.
And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, the top thereof, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof; and thou shalt make unto it a crown of gold round about.”

The Incense Altar was gold. It was to have the fire from off the Brazen Altar put into it, and special incense burned upon it every morning and every evening, when the Lamps were filled and see to.
Also on the day of Atonement, blood was to be brought in and touched on the horns of the Golden Altar.
This speaks of the Intercession of our Risen Lord. He is our Mediator. (1 Timothy 2:5)
His prayers for us are always effectual.
Hebrews 9:24 “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, when Christ are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:”
(Everything speaks of Christ; but to the glory of Christ Jesus, we are to pray for all men to be saved; and especially pray for the household of faith. 1 Timothy 2:1, 8.
Colossians 4:2)

This is the Holy Place, and this, for Israel was as far as any could go, except on the Day of Atonement, when the High Priest would crawl under the Veil between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies with blood for the sins of the people.

In the Holy of Holies, the third section of the Tabernacle was only one piece of furniture:
The Ark of God, covered with the mercy seat. This speaks of the Presence of God, for over it the glory of the Lord dwelt.
The Ark was a wooden box covered in and out with gold. In it the Ten Commandments, and the testimony of their journeys was kept.
On it, rested the Mercy Seat, made of pure gold, with cherubim of gold looking inward where the blood would be poured.
Exodus 25:10-11, 17-18 “And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.
And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about.
And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.
And thou shalt make two cherubim of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.”

The Veil was between these two sections, separating Israel and God. But when Christ died on the Cross the Veil was rent from top to bottom, showing the way to God was open by His sacrifice.
Matthew 27:50-51 ” Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;”

Access to God by faith in Christ Jesus is now possible. The Atonement was made, and we can come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
Hebrews 10:10-14 “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifice, which can never take away sins:
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”

The Tabernacle showed forth Christ. Yes, it was not a clear picture; but for all who believed God, they looked forward to Christ’s coming salvation with joy.

The Walk of a Christian should be “Onward”.

1 John 2:12-14 “I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.
I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
I have written unto you fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.”

Here, the Apostle John is writing to the Church; and to the different spiritual ages of believers in the Church.
Some are little children in the faith. They know the Father through Jesus Christ their Lord, and their sins are forgiven.

Some are young men in the faith. Overcoming by the Name of the Lord, and becoming stronger in the faith; leading others on in it.

Some are fathers in the faith. They have experienced the life of faith through trial and joys, and can show forth the knowledge of God; Who He is and what He will do for a believer.

These are the stages of the Christian walk:
The child stage, the servant stage, the warrior stage, and the elder’s stage of union and communion.

Genesis 17:1 “And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.”
Though Abram was ninety-nine, he was still a babe in walking with God. He had much to learn, so God comforts him with His Name.
“I am the Almighty God”, what a comfort to Abram, who was living with his family among the unbelieving nations of Canaan.

“Walk before me”, is as a child before his Father, would walk and run ahead, playing in the presence of his Father; conscious of his safety and security, because his Father is just behind him. This is the child stage of our walk.

Then he tells him to “walk before me, and be thou perfect.” In the scriptures, when perfection is mentioned it means complete, or to be finished. Perfection, then for Abram, meant that he was to walk before God, and complete the purpose God had for him.
(Of course, perfection for God, is His completeness in Holiness, Power, Grace, and every attribute! He is Sinless, and Complete in Himself….Perfect.)

As children of God, we are to grow in grace, and the knowledge of God. This Abram was called to do, and so is everyone who believes.
2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.”

We are to walk before as children, and grow.
But some never leave this stage. They want to remain children, taken care of, never having any responsibilities: just seen to.
This, God never intends. He want us to walk through life with Him.
Yes, it is step by step. And the steps may be small; but it should always be forward.

The Next stage is covered by “young men, who are strong and overcoming”.
This does not just happen. We grow in grace (the unmerited favor of power), and by the knowledge we gain, and apply to our own lives, we become strong in faith.

But it happens in two stages: first, there is the servant stage.
This begins as we realize our calling, or He calls us to follow Him. (Usually this is in some specific thing, where He calls us to obey Him, and come after Him, and not the world.)
Matthew 16:24 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
To learn to deny ourselves is the servant stage.
We “walk after”, as a servant following his Master, being told to do; and yes, at times, to our shame, being made to do.

We must learn this, or we do not grow up into Him and have more of His light of life.
John 8:12 “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the Light of the world, he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

If we will not obey Him, we do not love Him.
John 14:21 “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”
Amos 3:3 “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”
No, we can not walk with Jesus, if we will not agree with Him.
So, as a servant, we learn these “agreements”, for our lives.
If He rules within our hearts, then we will agree with His paths, and ways for our lives.
If we like stubborn children, do not agree, we stop all progress forward, and can, in some cases, go backward.
Jeremiah 3:14 “Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord;…”
Or as in the case of the Corinthians:
1 Corinthians 3:1-3 “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as babes in Christ.
I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”

The Corinthians Church was “behind in no gift” (1 Corinthians 1:7); but refused to grow up. “Carnal” means fleshly, or childish behavior.

The servant stage is a time of learning we are completely dependent upon God, while using everything He gives us to His glory, and not our own.
These are hard lessons for proud men and women, but necessary, for God to trust us with His power.
He will not empower rebels, or children.
He will empower those who continue to grow up into Him, and continue to obey (despite many failures), and continue to follow Him(despite the trials, and temptations of their way).

Which leads us to the second half of the “young men who are strong and overcome” stage:
Becoming soldiers, and walking with as friends.
To do this we need to “Quench not the Spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 5:19)
“Quench” means to put out the fire of the Holy Spirit within you. To choke Him when He impresses you to do something.
(Oh, that can’t be for me. No, I don’t think I should do that now.). These, and other thoughts or attitudes, “quench” or “stifle” the Holy Spirit.
(When the Lord showed me that I was quenching the Holy Spirit, I said, Yes, I was doing it; but what was I to do about it?
Then He showed me that the answer was in the verse up above. It is right up there, He said.)
1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In everything give thanks: for this the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
To give thanks for everything; to accept, as from the Father’s Hand all that comes to you. This is to quench not the Spirit.

To become friends, we need to know what God wants us to do, by His Holy Spirit within. (Whether He uses Scripture, Preachings, or an internal Voice; He speaks, and we need to obey.)
John 15:14-15 “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Henceforth I call ye not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends, for all things I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.”

To become soldiers, we need to stand. For this is how we overcome. We hold the ground won for us by Christ Jesus. We hold; not go out and take territory; But hold on to what Christ, by His Victory, on the Cross, has won for us (individually, and as a Church).
Ephesians 6:10-11 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.
Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
We stand, as good soldiers of Jesus Christ, against the tricks and temptations of the devil, the world system, and the weakness of the flesh. (That is why we need His might, and His armor)
2 Timothy 2:3-4 “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

Then there is the father stage, or the elders of the faith: Those who have known Him that is from the beginning.

These have come through many battles, and are still standing. They know–and this is the word that is stressed for them–they know Him.
They have been born again, and as children of God, sought to grow in grace and the knowledge of Christ.
They have learned to know His Will for themselves, and obeyed.
They have learned to stand, leaning heavily on the Lord’s Arm of Strength, and fight the good fight of faith.
And they continue to know Him, Whom to know aright(in all the circumstances of life) is to have Eternal Life. Eternal Life is a condition of Life, now and for eternity. God’s Life within your life.

Here are the stages of our walk onward. And it is a Progressive Walk, with Christ.
Onward! “Hold fast till I come” (Revelation 2:25)

Wisdom from Above

James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

Wisdom is from God and of God. Man gains knowledge, and can get very smart; but wisdom is only from God.

God says that if you don’t have the wisdom for this situation; you can ask Him. He will not rebuke you for not knowing, but will give you the wisdom you need.

James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

God gives light, which is knowledge, and understanding. He shines His light on a situation, and the truth is seen. The way it really is; and how it really affects us.
Wisdom is that light so we know what to do, and wisdom also empowers us to do, as we yield to Him.
(I remember a situation where I was getting worked up about what I thought was going to happen. I imagined all sorts of scenarios in my head about what I would say in return, and what would ultimately happen. [Not good, I can tell you that].
“Ask the Lord!” It seemed like it was shouted in my ear. When I asked, He simply told me to stop worrying; that I was to stay out of any retaliation; in word, or action! That, in fact, I was to keep my big mouth shut, no matter what the other person said.
It worked! [should I have been surprised?]. God gave me wisdom: to know, and yes, to do.)
Wisdom for that situation is what we are to do about it, and the power to do it.
This He gives liberally, or generously. He is not a miser. He wants us to know His Will, and gives us what we need to find it out, and to do it.

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.”
Remember this comes from God, to you.
Wisdom is first, pure. There is no mixture of many opinions, but truth, plain and simple.

It is peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated. It seeks the good of all.

Full of mercy and good fruits. Forgives other people’s mistakes, and would help them set them right.

Without partiality, and without hypocrisy. Does not argue to win; or defraud another.

Proverbs 3:21-23, 26 “My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.”

This is wisdom; and God gives it to any who want it, abundantly.

Spiritual Warfare: Our thought Life.

Our thought life is important. We often just think that what we do is important, and it is. But what we think, and what we allow ourselves to think on, is important to God.

2 Corinthians 10:3 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: ”

Our flesh is our natural self life. It is what we have become over the years as Adam’s children. It is our habits, our desires, our plans, and our way of thinking; all of which make us do, and say, and act, the way we do.
This is the flesh.

When we become born again, and Christ’s life is within us by the Holy Spirit, then our flesh fights against the new life; so that it will not have to obey Christ, but can continue to do what it pleases.

A warfare takes place within us:
Galatians 5:17 “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: these are contrary the one to the other, so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”

“The things that ye would”, are those things that Christ leads you in, for you are born again, and want to serve Him.
But, because there is warfare within, it hinders the joy of service, and often the service is marred.

What to do? Can we eradicate the flesh?
No, we can not get rid of the flesh, it will always be with us; but we can win the battles to bring it into subjection to our King, Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
(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 every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

What are these “strongholds”? They are those thoughts that take hold in our minds and do not let go.
They could be presented by strong argument or reason; or by the emotions flowing and giving sympathy to a motive. In the Spirit, we may know it is not right, though we can not tell how; but how ever it comes; if it is not dealt with, it builds a fortress in our thoughts.

It could be about the value of a certain thing. Simple in itself; but given power over the thought life by the flesh, in reason or emotion; and then built upon again and again, because every time you go to get rid of it; and don’t, it’s value becomes stronger.
(I once knew a Christian who became convinced that there was no hell. He, of course, did not want to think about some of the people he knew who would go to hell, because they were not born again. It became a big snare in his life; and dulled his sense of urgency where dealing with the lost was concerned.)

If you refuse, once, to deal with it; then the Adversary inflates the object with all sorts of affections, or opinions to keep it.

“Casting down imaginations”. Our imagination is a faculty which brings to view in pictures, the things we are dealing with.
It can be a big snare; when it is not kept under control of the Holy Spirit.
We can let our thoughts “go”, and pretty soon, we are in a world of our own making; no reality; where the truth is what we want it to be. Dangerous, because the truth then can be twisted to be what the Adversary wants it to be.
Casting down imaginations is tearing them down, to reveal the Truth that is in Jesus for this situation.
It can be a tough fight, if we have let our imaginations begin to rule us.

But again the fight is not with carnal or natural weapons, but mighty through God, by His Holy Spirit, to cast them down in our view and affection; so that we can be free from the influence of the Adversary through them.
In a world where “virtual reality” is accepted everywhere, we need to be especially careful, if we want to please the Lord Jesus Christ; Who is the Truth.

John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Or we may end up like those Paul warned of:
2 Timothy 3:5 “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

The power of God is mighty to pulling down strongholds with in our minds; and to cast down imaginations which have given a alternate view of Reality.
The power of God through the Holy Spirit.

“Every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God”.
God will tell you something; through His Word, the preaching and teaching of ministers, or personal communication. Then you hear, “You don’t really believe that do you?”
That is a high thing which is exalting itself against the knowledge of God.

God has said something to you, He is dealing with you about this situation; and the Devil would sent a doubt, and a hesitation, or a “very good reason, not to do what God said”.

What is it that we must do? Try and reason with the Devil? No! Eve tried that and sin was the result.
We can not reason in the flesh, or try and work up affections for God in the flesh; but we can yield to the Holy Spirit within us, and let Him lead us, in bringing every thought and affection, into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
When we do, we will be captives of God’s reasons, And captives of His love.

If ye love me, keep my commandments; Jesus said. (John 14:15). And when we do love Him, we will. This is where God’s power comes in.

His Power is given to us as we bring ourselves into captivity by the Holy Spirit to have His Life.
To have His Light, to see reality.
To have His love shed abroad in our hearts. (Romans 5:5).
To have His peace, shelter us.
To have His joy, make us strong.(Nehemiah 8:10)

We can make ourselves our own lord; and every time we refuse to yield to the clear command of God, that is what we are doing.
But that is bondage of the worst kind. Strongholds, Virtual Reality for Reality, and a form of godliness.

Or we can yield to the Holy Spirit, and have the power of God, which is mighty, working within us, to bring us into the captivity of the Life of God.

Which will we have?

Translated to Our Inheritance

Colossians 1:12-13 “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:”

Translated is a military term. When it suited the purpose of Rome, Rome would move one of those City States from one place to another.
They would take the whole state; people, government, and trades; and move it from one place to another.

Here Paul is saying that we, as Christians, are so translated: brought out of the Kingdom of Darkness, into the Kingdom of His Dear Son.

This is our inheritance, but we must avail ourselves of it, practically, in our everyday lives.
It is done by the Power of God for us; but we must implement it in our lives, practically.

Paul’s commission on the road to Damascus, as he testified of it before king Agrippa, was this:
Acts 26:15-18 “And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest,
But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light , and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”

Paul’s message was of this Power of God in the lives of those who were saved by faith in Christ Jesus.
“Of the saints in light”. Light is what we are given when born again. Light comes as the dawning light to our souls, which shines more and more unto the perfect day. (Proverbs 4:18)
That dawning light comes by the Holy Spirit, which is the earnest of our inheritance:

Ephesians 1:13-14 “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,
Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

An earnest is the down payment of all that will come in our inheritance.

And again what is our inheritance?

Ephesians 1:17-20 “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,”

Our inheritance is the power of God in our lives, by the Holy Spirit, through the means of light, wisdom, revelation, knowledge, etc.

Our task, then, if we are to have the Reality of which this sets forth, is to see that we are so translated.
To get everything we have out of the kingdom of Darkness; into Christ’s Kingdom, and under His control.
Anything left in the kingdom of Darkness, will cause an occasion to the Adversary of our souls, to use on us to trick us or tempt us.

And what does everything mean?
It means everything. Our lives are made up of our thoughts, our emotions, and our wills.
These all must be put under the control of Christ, by yielding to the Light from the Holy Spirit.

He works within us to do it:
Philippians 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
But we are to will with Him in it.
He hath translated us. But now He calls for our willing cooperation with Him to work it out.

Philippians 2:12-13 “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

Our inheritance is the power of God in our lives, to bring us to the place where we have the power of choice. To be enabled to do what we ought.

How many times do we go to do the right thing; but fail to see it done?
How many times do we say, “We won’t do that again.”; but soon, do?
How many times have we gone where we know we shouldn’t?

The power of choice is the real Power of God in my life, to make freedom from sin and darkness a reality.
It is our inheritance; “hath translated” is the reality where God is concerned; and He is faithful.
But on our part, we need to enter into the glorious inheritance, by our wills, willing with the Holy Spirit.
He has the power, He will work within us. Will we let Him, by our willing obedience?

The Family Prayer

Matthew 6:9 “After this manner therefore pray ye:…”

Here Jesus is speaking in the Sermon on the Mount. He had just corrected the view of prayer, which was to stand on the street corner to be seen of men. Or the view of prayer, which says to repeat and repeat something over and over, as though God was hard of hearing.

Both of these were not what the Heavenly Father wanted.

Then he begins to teach them the right way to pray:

Matthew 6:9 “After this manner therefore pray ye:…”
Luke 11:2 “And he said unto them, When ye pray, say,…”

Jesus said that we should pray this prayer. (I believe, and we do pray this prayer in our Church services, for we want His kingdom to come within us, and through us, in all our lives)
(It is also a model of the prayers we should come to God about, as a reminder of what Jesus said was real prayer. It has all the elements, briefly stated, that we need to pray.)

Prayer is talking to God about His will; to know it, and to get the ability and means to do it. It is telling God our needs, confessing our sins, and asking for help against the many pitfalls and enemies in this world.

“Our Father which art in heaven,”
The first thing Jesus teaches, is that we need to come to God on the basis of relationship.
Our relationship to His Son. We are to believe and receive Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and then His Father is our Father. (John 20:17)
And we can come to Him as “our Father which art in heaven”; He is in Heaven, far above every situation; and it charge of them.

“Hallowed be thy Name.” This is to acknowledge His Holiness and give reverence to Him. His Name signifies all He is; so we are to reverence and to honor it, because it represents Him.

“Thy kingdom come.” This is to pray for His kingdom coming within our hearts, now. That we would be obedient subjects of our King Jesus; and show how wonderful being His servant is.
And we should pray for His kingdom to come to this world, which will come at His second coming.
(The world will know no peace, until Christ rules.)

“Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” We are to pray for His will to be done in our lives, “in earth”; that we would know it, and fulfill it. In heaven it is done joyfully, and speedily. So are we to pray for it to be done with in us, the same way; and seek to do it in the same manner: with joy.

“Give us this day our daily bread”. We are to ask for our daily needs to be met. This is not the luxuries; but the needs we have each day. This teaches us that today we may have plenty; and tomorrow we may be in want. Or the opposite. Our asking each day, brings us before His throne, with today’s needs. It gives us the opportunity to realize what He did for us yesterday; and in faith, believe Him for today.

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors”. We are asking that the trespasses we have committed against His Will, would be forgiven us. They are debts against His Holiness, and goodness. We are to seek forgiveness for them.
We are to also forgive others, as He forgives us; which has been in abundant mercy.

“And lead us not into temptation”. This is asking for the Holy Spirit’s protection against the things which tempt us everyday; and those, especially, which we are prone to.
We are asking Him to keep us out of harms way; and away from those things or people which lead us into harms way. (Of course, having prayed it, we need to heed the warning given by the Holy Spirit in each situation).

“But deliver us from evil”. Some believe it means the evil one, the devil. We have three enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil.
So we ask for deliverance. When we have been tricked, and sinned; we ask that He will let us not fall any further; but deliver us from the sin, and the wiles of the devil concerning it.

“For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever.” Christ received His kingdom, and the power of it, and the glory He had with the Father before He left heaven and came to earth to save us; and further glory, for fulfilling the Father’s Will in everything. In this we are to acknowledge His authority and power; and praise Him for it.
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.

“Amen”. Let it be. This is to ask, that all the things we have prayed for will be brought to pass.

Jeremiah’s Call and Work

Jeremiah 1:4-5 “Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”

Jeremiah was called to be God’s prophet to Judah; and to those nations which would deal with Judah.
A prophet is one called of God, to tell His people what is on His mind, for them; for now and sometimes, for in the future.

Yet he was a young man. He thought he would not be able to speak such an important message to the elders and people, because of his age.
Jeremiah 1:6-7 “Then said I, Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.”

The Lord told him that his age would not matter, for he would go and speak as God wanted. It sounded like the Lord had a long work for him to do.

But then God dealt with the fear in Jeremiah’s heart.
Jeremiah 1:8-9 “Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.
Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.”

God not only spoke, but acted. He touched his mouth, promising deliverance from the enemies that these words would bring.

When we speak for God; preach His word, or give out the gospel; then all those who fight against God, will “fight” against us.

Jeremiah, who was of the priestly tribe, was chosen by the Godly king Josiah to go to the villages around his home town and teach the law, so that God would be honored again in Judah.
But the men of his town, including those of his own household, tried to kill him. (Jeremiah 11:19, 21-23)

He was sent by God to go to Jerusalem, and this is where his real calling began.
There he dealt with the priesthood, to get them to honor the word the Lord was giving.
Jeremiah 4:5-6, 14, 18; “Declare ye in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow ye the trumpet in the land; cry, gather together, and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defensed cities.
Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction.
O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?
Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reacheth unto thine heart.”

Jeremiah 5:1, 4. “Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that execute the judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.
Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the Lord, nor the judgement of their God.

When some went to the rulers, they became aware of his message.
It was to submit to God’s chastening through the king of Babylon. If they would, God would let them remain in the city, and in the land.
They would be under the rule of a foreign nation; but in the land. It would be humiliating, but the only way to stay in the land; the only way to be blessed by God.

Jeremiah 5:5 “I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the Lord, and the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds.”

(God had promised this when Moses was warning the people before they came into Canaan: To obey God, or suffer under the dominion of other nations. Deuteronomy 28:47-48 “Because thou servest not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;
Therefore thou shalt serve thine enemies, which the Lord shall send against thee, and in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in the want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.”)

But now the time had come to see the hand of God in all His dealings, and submit.

If they refused; they would be forced out of the land God had given them for their sin. Yet, it would not be forever; but seventy years.

When Jeremiah told the people this; the princes and rulers tried to kill him.
Jeremiah 5:11-12 “For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against me, saith the Lord.
They have belied the Lord, and said, It is not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine:”
Hidden by friends( Jeremiah 36:16-19); then put in a deep pit with mire in it (Jeremiah 38:4-6); yet he proclaimed the truth. Warning again and again, the king of Judah, and the princes to yield to the king of Babylon, because it was really yielding to God.

But they refused; and the whole city suffered under starvation, thirst, and finally the enemy breaking through,and death. Thousands of men, women and children died because they refused to submit to God’s dealings with them. Thousands of others were taken away from the land as slaves.

How often are we dealt with by God? Things are happening, and we refuse to pray about them, or just say: I know this is just to try me. When God is really trying to awaken us to what needs to be changed.
Yes, our faith is tried; but when things come to us; we should seek the Lord’s face about them. If we are being tried, He will increase our faith, by the trial.
If we are being corrected, He will let us know; and it will be our blessing to submit to the correction.

But Jeremiah, too, was in the city. He was there when the city was taken, and the Temple destroyed.

But God saw to his servant; he was given bread and water through the siege, by the very king he tried to warn (though he refused the good warning).

When everything Jeremiah had warned them of, had come to pass; he walked out of the place the king had kept him, into a city destroyed and burning.
Still, when approached by the remaining people for good counsel, he prayed for them, to get it.

But when they heard what God wanted them to do? They refused and went their own way. (Jeremiah 42:1-6, 19; Jeremiah 43:1-7)
Often we are the same; we see the very thing God has warned us of, through preaching, teaching, and Bible study; yet we still do not heed God’s warning to us.
We think, God has to take care of us.
Yes, if saved, we can never be lost. But God can allow severe chastening in our lives, because we refuse His Word.
Which, when we yield to, life is given; His life and grace is given more abundantly.

When Jeremiah first started to preach to the people; God told him:

Jeremiah 2:13 “For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water.”

Cisterns are like a whole dug, and filled with rain water; like a reservoir. Cisterns are often dry, even when not broken.
To rely on anything other than our God, for our life, is to turn to cisterns.

But our God is like a fountain of living waters. Ever springing up, ever availing.
What will we do today, with God’s Word to us?

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.

The Power of God and the Power of the Word of God

Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

John 1:1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.”

Created: God made something out of nothing. He spoke and it was so.
Christ is the Word. And He spoke all things into being; and they were as He spoke.

Psalm 33:6-9 “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and the hosts of them by the breath of his mouth.
He gathereth the waters of the sea together as a heap: and layeth up the depth in storehouses.
Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of world stand in awe of him.
For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.”

The power of God is often displayed through His Word. What He says will be, will be.
Isaiah 14:24 “The Lord of Hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so it shall it come to pass; and as I have spoken, so it shall stand:”

When God created the heaven and the earth, He was well aware by His Omniscience (all seeing ability), that the earth that He spoke into being would be ruined by the fall of Lucifer (the Devil); And the fall of Adam.
Isaiah 14:12 “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!”
When Lucifer fell, it brought chaos to the beautiful earth God created.

Genesis 1:2 “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”

Yet God’s purpose would not be altered:
Isaiah 45:18 “For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else.”

So God’s Voice rang out in re-creation. Re-making what was.
Genesis 1:3 “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”

God began to re-create with light; for darkness was upon the earth by Lucifer’s fall.

God is Light, and in His light we see light.

After re-creating the earth, forming man after His image:
Genesis 2:7 “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

No other of His creatures are living souls. They have instincts, but no souls.
Man’s soul was the faculty God gave him alone, so that man could have fellowship with His Creator. He has a mind to think after God, to understand His Words. He has a heart to love God, and want to please Him. And he has a will, to will after God’s will.
But Adam sinned, disobeying God’s Word, making all man, sinners, and separated from God. God was not surprised. His Purpose saw this, and made provision for it, before times eternal.

For in His determination and purpose, Christ would come and save out a people for His Name’s sake.
God made the first promise of Christ right after the fall:
Genesis 3:15 “I will put enmity between thee (the devil) and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed (Christ); it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heal.”

Christ Jesus came and fulfilled the Father’s Will in everything. Jesus said:
John 12:45-46 “And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me
I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness”
As God spoke light to the re-creation; He sent His Son as the Light to the world, to all who would believe in Him.
John 12:49-50 “For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.”

Christ came to reveal the purpose, and determination of God: And to present the light of Salvation by receiving Him by faith.

Hebrews 1:1-3, 2:1,3. “God , who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the father’s by the prophets,
Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”

“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;”

God’s purpose and determination is that all that believe and receive Him should be saved.
Do you believe in Christ Jesus the Lord?
Do you have the salvation He bought for you?
Are you walking in the Light He has made available?

1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

This is God’s power, for “cleanseth” is past, present and future tense. Cleanseth means forgives, and then gives power to get that sin out of our lives. For yesterday, today, and tomorrow; for every sin that comes up. Power for it!

This is the power of God and the power of His Word.