Our minds

Philippians 2:1-5 “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”

True conformity to Christ is a love relationship….and never truly done, until done out of love.
(“We love Him, because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19)

All these verses in Philippians is about our “mindset” in the days in which we live.
The world says….”assert yourself. You will never get ahead, or be successful unless you put yourself as number one.”

But Christ put aside His glory and “humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death,” that we might be brought back to God.

Romans 15:5-7 “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.”

And in these verses, we are exhorted to be of the same mind….to seek the good and peace of God for others,….in our home, in our church, and in the world (for they are moving at a fast pace toward Hell)

Jude 21-23 “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
(Notice both verses begin with us in Christ’s love and mercy…for ourselves. Then we can be sharers of that love and mercy)
And of some have compassion, making a difference:
And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”

Hebrews 12:14 “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:”

We can do no one any good, if we are not holy (sanctified, or set aside to God and His work)
This holiness is not imputed holiness….it is acquired holiness.
Our natural selves….must be transformed to the spiritual. It is personal and practical holiness,…
…which is not attained by standing….but by an earnest, diligent, persistent pursuit after Christ’s mind in all things.

Hebrews 12:15 “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;”

To fail of the grace of God….which is the unmerited favor of power, or the ability which God gives us.
How can that possibly happen?
It happens when we fail to use the grace we already have. Grace is given us, that we might be enabled to receive more grace….in order that we might do the required Will of God.
John 1:16 “And of His fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.”

Our lives in Christ is all of God, but it is to be attained by us, in our everyday circumstances….

Hebrews 12:28 “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:”

Let us have grace, indeed!
Let us do just that! Use this grace to acquire more. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.
For this is required at our hands, as His children. Let us love Him. Let us serve God with reverence and godly fear….
Hebrews 12:29 “For our God is a consuming fire.”

We can become zealous (Rev.3:19)……boiling hot, here….or we can, when we face the Judgment Seat of Christ….see our works of self burnt up (1 Cor.3:13-15).

God is a consuming fire, and He will “burn up” our works of our self-life here, with our cooperation….or there,…”he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

Let us have the mind of Christ and humble ourselves, having the same love, of one accord, of one mind. He humbled Himself for us….will we humble ourselves for Him?

For by grace are ye saved

Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:  it is the gift of God: 

          Not of works,  lest any man should boast.

          For we are His workmanship,  created in Christ Jesus unto good works,  which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

This is surely,  the testimony of Saul,  who would become Paul.

Yet he was not a man who sought out the truth….but he was an enemy….relentless in his hatred of “this Way”….who found grace from the Lord of this Way.

Saul, a self-righteous Pharisee….a man determined to seek out and destroy all who believed in Jesus of Nazareth…

…yet, his testimony was….

“Touching the righteousness of the law, blameless”.  

In all things concerning his love of his religion, and his good character….his zeal for God….that God was the true God…

…he was righteous.

         Yet he was fighting against God,…..and knew it not.

Saul had “made havoc of the church” (Acts 8:3), “committed them to prison”.

But their blood was not enough….”yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord” (Acts 9:1)…..

….so he took his campaign of destruction to Damascus.

Till…”suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:” (Acts 9:3)

(Later, Saul/Paul would give this testimony:

1 Timothy 1:16 “Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy,  that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all long-suffering,  for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting.”

Saul/Paul was really the preacher of the grace of God.

Grace is God’s uplifting and sustaining power given to sinners, through the merits of Christ.        “By grace are we saved”….it is the unmerited favor of power.

Saul had made his own “light” out of his knowledge of the law, and his zeal for it….there are many instances of God as light in the scriptures….and that knowledge is light….

…but he was refusing the Light God had showed him of Jesus of Nazareth as His Son……as Lord and Christ.

….until God knocked him down by light.   God made him bow….but what would he do after?

Voluntarily submit or continue in blind darkness?

(How much light do we need to see, before we acknowledge God’s Will?)

The conversation is remarkable:

Saul is on his knees, practically holding his breath,….wondering…

….and God repeats his name twice….”Saul, Saul”…showing him how hard of hearing he was…..

“Why persecutest thou Me?”    

Though there is acknowledgement of a wrong (he felt it clear through him)…

……yet he did not know “Who” was judging him in His light.

“Who art Thou, Lord?”

“I am Jesus, Whom thou persecutest”…..Saul knew that name….he had caused many to blaspheme that name,…or die for it…..

…but now he is made to bow to Him….”a light above the brightness of the sun” (Acts 26:13)

In that Light,  by Jesus Voice,….Saul is made to see that he had been fighting against Jesus….not just his believers.

And that he was blood-guilty…..he had sinned….and what a sinner he was!  A murderer.

“It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks”.  Jesus shows him the many times He had “pricked” his spirit with the light of the works of the Holy Spirit….had “pricked” his mind with the truth.

And Saul trembles (Acts 9:6)…..

…he is astonished.   His mind is whirling….he should have known….he should have seen…..what has he done!

How much blood is on his hands!

What will this Jesus do to him,….

What could he do,….what could he say….he was guilty…

“Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?”

Grace is God’s uplifting and sustaining power given to sinners, through the merits of Christ.        “By grace are we saved”

And the great change by our salvation, is worked on our will,….

….and shows (evidences) itself in the subjection of our will to Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

He has been made to bow,…..made to see the Light….made to see himself as a sinner….

….but now grace bows his heart….”Lord,    What wilt Thou have me to do?”

“Lord, what can I possible do to get this terrible blood-guiltiness forgiven?   What can I do to amend my life?”

What Jesus says here is amazing….and worthy to note.

The real battle was over…..Saul, bowed to Jesus Christ, now, of his own free will.

So Christ Jesus speaks now to his servant….”Arise,   Go,  and it will be told you.”

“Leave your life now in My hands….My grace….My light….

….I will lead you from now on.”     And Saul obeys, but is blind, needing help to get there.

Grace has been offered….and received.

For three days (number of resurrection)…..in blindness,  Saul prays.   He is shut up  unto complete dependence upon Christ to finish what He started with him on the road to Damascus.

The Lord sends a believer to him to pray for him…..the mighty persecutor, turned brother/believer in Christ,….waiting, waiting,…for a prayer by a simple fellow believer.

(No wonder Paul’s epistles exclaim the beauty of the body of Christ….each believer in their place,  doing their job….for God, and for each other.)

Saul’s sight restored…..

….the grace that saved Saul…..empowers him to immediately go into the synagogue and preaches Christ….as the Son of God.

This is a title of authority, and power.  And Saul preaches Him to all who would hear of the mighty grace from God’s Son to us.

Saul / Paul’s testimony, from that time on:

1 Corinthians 2:1-2 “And I, brethren,  when I came to you,  came not with excellency of speech or with wisdom,    declaring unto you the testimony of God.

        For I determined not to know anything among you,  save Jesus Christ,  and Him crucified.

           

1 Timothy 1:12-15 “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord,  Who hath enabled me,  for that He counted me worthy, putting me into the ministry;

         Who was before a blasphemer,  and a persecutor,  and injurious:  but I obtained mercy,  because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

         And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 

         This is a faithful saying,  and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners;  of whom I am chief.”

Saul/Paul’s dependence, from that time on,…..was not on anything,  or anyone…..but Christ Jesus….”Who loved me and gave Himself for me.”(Galatians 2:20)

Are we depending upon Christ and His grace for us alone?

Behold!    I Stand! 

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

(We sometimes picture this as Christ standing at the heart’s door of a sinner…..knocking and calling….so they will open their lives to Him in salvation.

But Jesus is standing at the church’s door…..knocking.    

For He is outside His own church, in Laodicea……and they are not aware of it…..nor of the cause, in themselves.)

I will come into him and sup with him and he with Me.

      This “sup” in the original, means fellowship.

I will fellowship with him, and he  with Me.

“Can two walk together except they be agreed?…”. (Amos 3:3)

       This also sets forth fellowship.   

Creature before the Creator.   When the creature acknowledges his creatureliness….his utter dependence upon God for every thing….then he is ready for fellowship with his Creator.

(That was one of the temptations for Eve…..”you will be as gods”….

……”you won’t be a mere creature,  no!  you will be like God….and do what you want!” 

And  that temptation brought about their sin.)

Revelation 3:18 “I counsel thee to buy of Me  gold tried in the fire,  that thou mayest be rich; and white rainment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear;  and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve,  that thou mayest see.”

(Many years ago, I used to read this and think that the Lord was just giving us good advice…..”I counsel thee”.

      But no,  Christ Jesus, is as our counselor, lawyer before the Court of Heaven.   He knows the Judge and what the Judge expects….and therefore tells us what we should do,  to stand in good stead with the Judge.)

       Gold in scripture speaks of God….we need to get God back into our whole lives….by obedience to Him.

It is the creature (us) taking on the character of the Creator….that He might be seen in us…..instead of our own good opinion.

       2 Peter 1:6 “And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;”

Or… God-likeness.    Not in HIs divinity and power….but in His character.

       “White rainment”.   All the garments of self-will…will be consumed at the Judgement Seat of Christ.

        Nakedness was what Adam and Eve realized when they had sinned.   God clothes us with the righteousness of Christ…..but are we showing His righteousness every day by our obedience to Him?

       God has plainly told me to act like the person He has made me…..not like the old me,  but like the new creature in Christ.

       Sometimes, as Christians,  I think we put off Christ and put on the old man….yet,….”but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do.” (Hebrews 4:13)

…..and Christ counsels us to put on Christ….and keep ourselves in His Will.

And anoint thy eyes with eye-salve that thou mayest see”.

          We are to buy gold from Him,   We are to buy the white rainment from Him…..but it does not say that we are to buy the eye-salve.

No,  we are to use it….we are to anoint our own eyes with honesty….the eye-salve of God.   

          Whenever we face the Truth about ourselves….as the creature, before the Creator……the Truth given us by the scriptures or by His Holy Spirit….then His grace (the unmerited favor of power) will be applied.  

John 1:17 “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”

This is an act of our will….to get honest with God….and see.

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.”

            Cleanseth is in the present tense…..which takes in past, present, and future sins.

             But walking in the light implies obedience….not sinless perfection….but believing obedience.

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

The Lord will perfect….complete…His work in me….praise God for His mercy!

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

He is not going to stop working in us…..that we might walk in His character through this world….doing the works He has given us to do.

He is going to keep knocking…..keep speaking…..

Do we want that fellowship with Him, which requires us  to put off our old man….and put on Christ?

To be Saved,  Spirit,  Soul, and Body 

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly;  and I pray God your whole spirit, and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

            Faithful is He that calleth you,  Who also will do it.”

He is faithful….this is a wonderful name of our Lord Jesus.

Faithful here means to be trustworthy….like a parent who builds us up…we can trust ourselves to Him….and His guidance….for He wants the best for us.

All He does, is with the view in mind, to make us….and give us…all He has for us.

While we are body, soul, and spirit (this is the way we see ourselves,….

……although you will note: that He says spirit, soul and body)……we can not really separate one from the other….

What we feel in our emotions….we often show on our faces.    What we think, we often express in words.

But there is a complete salvation:  spirit, soul, and body.

We are body, soul and spirit….even when we are lost.  Our spirit is darkened, and we are alone.

But when we are born again….the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit,…comes into our spirit….and implants a new nature….God’s nature;  and gives us faith, and grace.

Then, everything changes.

Before we lived from the outward in….

…..things influencing us from our bodies:  

what we see,  what we hear,  what we smell, what we feel….all influence our souls…..and our soul’s reaction to them.

(Our souls are our minds….thoughts and reasons;   Our hearts….emotions and affections;   Our wills….which is the action part of us….for what we will, we do.)

But when we are born again,  we live from the inside out:

The Holy Spirit, in our spirit….which is now enlightened and empowered by faith and grace….

….presses against our souls….our minds,  our hearts affection and emotion, and our wills…

….to work out His Will and Word to us.

This “working out” changes our character into the character of Christ.

For God has placed within us a new nature…..a new disposition.

And we express our character through our bodies.

We are drawn to the things of God….we are interested in His Word….we are desirous of fellowship with others who love the Lord.

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 Who worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”

This working out is from the spirit to the body….because of the Atonement of Christ….

Because of what Christ did….and Who He is to us (our Lord and Savior)….we can claim the full salvation of us.

He saves us spiritually,  when we are born again.

        He is faithful….He will never let us go….nor let any pluck us from His hand.

        John 10:28 “And I give unto them eternal life;  and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.”

        Jeremiah 31:3 “The Lord hath appeared of old unto me,  saying,  Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love:  therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”

He saves our souls,….our minds from the world’s thoughts and opinions;  our hearts from inordinate affections,  and our wills from stubbornness and going our own way…

……as we yield to the Holy Spirit’s authority over our lives.

        First, in denying our self life, our habits, our opinions, our plans, our associates….(all of this is taking away the old….putting off)

Colossians 3:9 “Lie not one to another,  seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds,”

        

       Second, by taking on the character of Christ…by using the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)….that the Holy Spirit works within us (remember, now that we are born again,  we grow from inward to outward….yet all of us is saved)

Love,….when we would prefer not to 

(and love is in the active noun….not some nice, sweet, thought that never transfers to work)

Joy, which is the Presence of God in my life….even amid trials and tribulations.

Patience, when we would normally get frustrated…or run ahead.

Peace, when we would normally be in turmoil.

Yes, these and all the rest….can….will….be worked in our spirits, then our characters……through our bodies….by the Holy Spirit of God!

1 Corinthians 3:16 “Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God,  and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”

Do I pay any attention that my body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost?….the place where He is working?

Or do I think of Him as “a Roomer”;  one which has a room in my house, but that is all?

When Jesus Christ came to earth,….very God and very man….He was filled with the Holy Spirit,……

….because that is what we need….and He was an example in all things.

After that, every day was a day to work, to teach, to witness, to rebuke, to heal…

….yet everyday was filled with the ordinary things of walking, talking, eating, and praying.

His life was the template of the life God has for us….

…are we ready to be saved….spirit,….soul,…and body….and manifest Christ’s character through us?

Hope

1 Corinthians 13:13 “And now abideth faith, hope, charity (love), these three; but the greatest of these is charity (love).”

There are only three attributes here. But why is hope included among them?

For these three are the foundational attributes of any Christian. Like the primary colors of red, blue, and yellow….they combine in our lives to manifest the many varieties of beauty in Christ’s character.

These are all given to us by God….that is important for us to understand, for though we must….yes, must….use them to manifest them; still they are gifts to us from God.

Faith is brought to us by the Holy Spirit, at new birth. It sees God, and gives substance to Him in our lives. We know God is in charge….we know God is Almighty….we know God sees us, and cares for us…and our.

Charity (love) is God’s gift to us….for we love Him, because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19) The supply of love we have to use comes from God….for He is love. (1 John 4:7-8)

Hope,…. and I have put this last, although it is second in the text….because this is what this post is about.

Hope is of the Holy Spirit, and it is that confident expectation that God will do what He says.

(Faith looks to God, Hope hangs on to God’s Word, and Charity [love] manifests God’s willingness to see to us for now, and all eternity. These are the foundation of attributes that yield the fruit of the Spirit and good works. Gal. 5:22-23)

Romans 5:1-5 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
By Whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

Here again we see the three foundational gifts of…faith, hope, and love….in our life as Christians…having been born again.

Hope then is an extremely important gift. As Paul says:
Romans 8:24-25 “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”

This “saved by hope” here is the salvation or sanctification from our self life…to God’s life in us (Matt. 16:24-25). We are saved from our own emotions and thoughts, because we hang on to God’s Word about this situation, promise, or person……and wait for it.

At the end of Romans, Paul prayed to God for these Christians, as the God of hope:
Romans 15:13 “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

Again, let me say that hope is a foundation that leads to other characteristics of God in us. We never will have the “peace that passes understanding”….or “the joy of our Lord is our strength”,…without hope.

Hebrews 6:17-20 “Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”

Simply said, God wanted us, as His heirs of promise, to be established (anchored) in His Word about HIs Son, Jesus Christ….Who has entered “within the veil” with His own blood, and secured a place “in Christ” for us! (notice the wording: “God, willing more abundantly”....How overflowing His care for us!

“We might have a strong consolation”….not just know about it, but be wrapped up and upheld in Him!
“Sure and stedfast”…this sure is safe, secure…and steadfast is stable, something you can really stand on in assurance!)

Hope is all of the Holy Spirit….working in us to hang on to God’s Word, and patiently wait for the fulfillment of it. It will assuredly happen.

In the Old Testament, the Book of Psalms is an experience book. It sets for in poetry and song the experiences of David and others…with God. Of course there is praise….and confession…for both of these are in our experience with God.
Twenty-two times “hope” is used. They hoped in God, because of His Word about Christ coming, and about themselves before Him.

Psalm 38:15 “For in Thee, O Lord, do I hope: Thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.”

In the New Testament, the Book of Romans sets forth the excellency of faith in Christ. Fourteen times “hope” is used.

Romans 15:4 “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

Hope leads us to follow our Lord wherever He leads….dropping all else, and leaning against Him for our all.

1 John 3:2-3 “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall 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.”

Faith, hope and charity (love)….is our foundation from the Holy Spirit. Let us look to Christ,….let us hang on to His Word, and patiently wait for it,for He will fulfill….and let us receive His love, and let it flow through us to others.

O Taste and See

Psalm 34:8 “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.”

When you taste things…you experience them…you know them….you have them.

You can know about the Lord….

But to really have the experience that the Lord is good….is to taste.

Our taste, is a very sensitive faculty (unless it has been compromised).

It lets us know things….salty, sweet, bitter, savory….

It brings to mind memories….my Grandma  teaching me to slurp the vinegar in the pickles she made….”it’s good for you!”….and I have loved the sour vinegar taste ever since!  And it reminds me of her, every time.

It lets us know whether things are “good” or “spoiled”.

Our taste was given to us so we can discriminate between one thing and another.

And we can only “taste”, for ourselves….not for another.

So David says…..”Taste and see that the Lord is good”.

David says….”I have tasted….but I can not even begin to explain or show you how good the Lord is.  

I can tell you what He did for me…..but you must come and experience Him and His goodness,  for yourself….so come and taste”

The Lord said to my husband once,  that the people he was preaching to were getting a banquet….a feast of His Word…in the Bible study we were having (I certainly was!)…..

…..but though they were coming…and listening…..

…when it came to “tasting” the good…..they were settling for just a sandwich….

….and going away….instead of the feast the Lord had for them.

There are some spiritual truths,  that you can not truly know….without experiencing them for yourself.

Being born again is just such a doctrine….unless you come to Christ Jesus and receive Him into your heart….and know the forgiveness of your sins….you are not born again.

So is deliverance from our besetting sins (Hebrews 12:2), or self-sins…

The verses He showed me….might encourage you…..but not touch the soft spot of your heart’s rebellion….

….and so do nothing for you.

The Lord is “good”.   The word here is “sweet”….like honey.

Yet the sweetness of the Lord is only for those who will come and experience it.

(The Song of Solomon is a book of experience:  it tells of the believers desire to go further with the Lord.   To know the sweetness of Him in personal fellowship and the walking  together in our life.   

Song of Solomon 1:2-4, all speak of this desire….

“Let Him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth;”…

….and then compares that communion, with taste….

“for Thy love is better than wine.”)

We must make the blessings of His grace (the unmerited favor of power) our own.

        We know His grace in salvation….”For by grace are ye saved….” (Ephesians 2:8)

But there are graces given us day by day….which we need to “taste and see”….and we will not “see” them in our lives, if we will not use them.

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:”

“All grace”…..all the different graces we need….strength, peace, knowledge, joy, power to do…….all the enablement we should have….

….And these we need to use….day by day.

1 Peter 2:3 “If so be that ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”

O taste….(for yourself)….and see…(with eyes that are really opened to Him)…..that the Lord is good.

He is….do you know Him so?

Hold Thou me up 

Psalm 119:114-117 “Thou art my hiding place and my shield:  I hope in Thy Word.

           Depart from me,  ye evil doers:   For I will keep the commandments of my God.

           Uphold me according to Thy Word,  that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.

           Hold Thou me up,  and I shall be safe:  and I will have respect unto Thy statues continually.”

This is a prayer for the keeping power of God to “uphold”, or “hold Thou me up”….in the position that I have obtained through the Holy Spirit.

“There are so many enemies….within me, and temptations in this world….hold on to me, Lord Jesus.

I do not want to fear,….hold on to my peace.

I do not want to be angry,….hold on to my love.

I do not want to go my own way….hold me up by Your Word.”

Christ Jesus taught us to pray:  “Lead us not into temptation”.   For temptation is dangerous…though we do not often see it’s poison…..

….but dangerous situations call for extra watchfulness and prayers to our God, that He would stretch out His right hand….and help us.

This may not be immediate deliverance;….but His hand…holding us up…out of the mire of this world….

….the attitudes and emotions…the love of money or power…the misery and sorrow of failures (and who does not have them?)…or ingratitude.

Isaiah 41:13 “For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand,  saying unto thee,  Fear not;  I will help thee.”

Psalm 17:5 “Hold up my goings in Thy paths,  that my footsteps slip not.”

He helps us “hold fast” in His paths….those that are shown us in His Word.

We can not keep from sin, unless we keep to His Word.

Psalm 17:4 “Concerning the works of men,  by the Word of Thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.”

When temptations are about…when the world’s siren call comes….and the devil tricks….

…..then we must pray…..hold Thou me up in Thy Word…..

….give me understanding to know….and grace to do……so that we may hold out against these temptations…and find His “way of escape” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

The Word is what Jesus used, when He was tempted by the devil. (Luke 4:4, 8, 12)

He could have easily used His deity to defeat the devil….

…..but instead….showed us the weapon we should use, when under attack….”It is written”…the Word of God.

The Word of God is called “the sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17)….for it is by His reminding us of His Word….and by His power through it…that it is effectual for us….against our enemies…now.

(A few verses that have helped me:

    1). Romans 14:22 “Hast thou faith?  Have it to thyself before God.  Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing that he alloweth.”

What we know we should not do…..we should not do, that our conscience stays yielding to the Holy Spirit.

    2). 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort:

           Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

Our testimonies about what God has done for us….though they seem little to us…carry a great deal of weight with the Holy Spirit….they are reality…and He blesses them.

3).  Ephesians 5:16 “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

Each day brings things we never expected….so be prepared in the Lord…by prayer, before you begin the day.

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

Praise God for this….and I ask for it often….”work in me, Lord”…..it is both:  to will….for I am sometimes “unwilling” in this thing.   And to do….for I am often lazy in this thing.  

5).  Colossians 3:15-16 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts….and be ye thankful.

            Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;…”

We must yield and stand upon His peace,……and HIs Word must be listened to.

6).  1 Thessalonians 5:8 “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love;  and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.”

In how many scriptures does God call us to stand with Him….in light….in this world?

7). 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

We are to be before Him at all times,  wherever we are….then our whole life is in an attitude of pray.

8). Jude 21  “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

One of my favorites…..anytime you think you are drifting from God….pull yourself back….To the one constant in your life….God’s love of us…..even when we are quite unloveable.  It is like walking in the sunny side of the street!)

The Psalmist says:

Hold Thou me up…..and I shall be safe…

…my own learning,  or experience,  or skill will not help in times of temptation…..for we are only tempted by something our hearts are interested in.

James 1:14 “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lusts, and enticed.”

(Lust is….I want this…and I want it now….whatever this is.)

But Christ Jesus has made a way to escape temptation:

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 that ye are able;      but will with the temptation also make a way to escape,  that ye may be able to bear it.”

Ps 119:114-117 “Thou art my hiding place and my shield:  I hope in Thy Word.

           Depart from me,  ye evil doers:   For I will keep the commandments of my God.

           Uphold me according to Thy Word,  that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.

           Hold Thou me up,  and I shall be safe:  and I will have respect unto Thy statues continually.”

In His hands we are safe….He holds us up….He is our hiding place….His Word guides and enlightens us….and His Holy Spirit empowers us.   

Hallelujah,  What a Savior!

   

Mightily Grew the Word and Prevailed 

Acts 19:20 “So mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed.”

Prevailed here, means…had a force or power in the lives of those that heard.

And how is it, that the Word grew?

Background:

Paul was in Ephesus.  He had been preaching there for about two years….”so that all they that dwell in Asia (Minor) heard the Word of the Lord Jesus…”   

He had also, by the Holy Spirit, worked miracles.

Acts 19:10-12 “And this continued by the space of two years;  so that all they that dwell in Asia heard the Word of the Lord Jesus,  both Jews and Greeks.

             And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:

             So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs and aprons, and the diseases departed from them,  and the evil spirits went out of them.”

When we hear the Word…it makes demands on our life;  which we either yield to, or refuse. 

All, in this area, had heard….God was making demands on their lives about His Son, Jesus Christ…

And by Paul, the Lord was healing many from spiritual and physical illness.

Paul not only preached the Word of God, concerning Jesus Christ,….but that Word had prevailed in Paul….so it could prevail,  through Paul.

But when God does a work,  then there are always those that seek to mimic it, especially for money…..some were even using the names of Jesus and Paul…

Acts 19:13, 15-16, 20 “Then certain…took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying,  We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

               And the evil spirit answered and said,  Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

               And the man in whom the evil spirit was  leaped on them and overcame them….so they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

              This was known to all….dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

              So mightily grew the word of God, and prevailed.”

The Name of the Lord Jesus was magnified….for God showed that though He will honor His Name,…… He will not honor those who only seek to use It for their gain.

His Name is powerful only to those who shelter beneath Him, in believing obedience.

The Word of God is the instrument of salvation.

1 Peter 1:23 “Being born again,  not of corruptible seed,  but of incorruptible,  by the Word of God,  which liveth and abideth forever.”

Now this Word lives and abides.

      If it is not a living Word to you,  you have not heard it aright.

      If the Word does not make demands on your life, you have not heard it aright.

The gospel must wound, before it can heal.   

It wounds our pride:  for we are sinners, like everyone else.

It wounds our reason:  we can do nothing to save ourselves.

It wounds our hearts:  it points out our secret sins.

“And the Name of the Lord Jesus was magnified”.   

Here was the prevailing influence.   He showed that He would honor His obedient servants…..

……but not those who did not know Him, and only wanted to use Him (Matthew 7:21)

“And fear fell on them all”….the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom….and it drew many to hear the Word…..believe on the Lord Jesus,…..

…..for it amazed them that Jesus Christ knew their heart’s  motives,   as well as their words.

Acts 19:18-19 “And many that believed came, and confessed, and showed their deeds.

                  Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.”

And many that believed came and confessed…

God requires honesty….getting right with Him….and when necessary,   your brethren.

And showed their deeds,….to know the healing power of forgiveness from these things.

Acts 19:19 “…and burned them before all men:…”

This was an act most necessary to have done with it all.

And the results?

Acts 19:20 “So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.”

God’s Word was being shared….neighbor was telling neighbor…..and it was having the victory in the lives of these people.

Do we want to know the power of the Word of God? 

Then we must give ourselves to God….to be prevailed upon.

If we, in believing obedience act upon what I know He requires of me now….I will  know that prevailing  power for myself.

There is for each of us that believe on Christ Jesus…..that power that is “exceeding, abundantly,  above all that we ask or think….according to the power that works within us”.  (Ephesians 5:20)

Are we born again?  Are we sheltered under Him, and obedient to His Word?

Then that Word will prevail in us…..and through us.

It is in knowing His Will, and doing it.    

And as His children,……we are as responsible to know His Will,….as to do it.

In our progressive walk before the Lord, we must always leave the better…..for the best.

This must always be done if the Word of God is to prevail through me…..it must prevail in me….where I am….with the circumstances I am in now.

The Joy of Repentance 

Luke 15:7 “I say unto you,  that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth,  more than over ninety and nine just persons,  which need no repentance.”

Repentance is a change in my mind, heart’s love, and direction of my life.   It effects my whole being.

And as God’s children, we are to repent, often.

This verse has to do with the sheep that was lost…..being found.

Luke 15:4-5 “What man of you,  having a hundred sheep,  if he lose one of them,  doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness,  and go after that which is lost,  until he find it?

            And when he hath found it,  he layeth it on his shoulders rejoicing.”

Sheep are stubborn animals.   They can follow you like a pet….or determine to go somewhere they should not…

They are weak animals….unable to run very fast….or to save themselves from their fierce enemies.

They need a Shepherd….leading, and protecting them;  yet often, go away from the Shepherd….and get hurt.

But in this parable,  this sheep is “gone away”….is lost……and knows it.

Some sheep, try and find their own way home….but this, too, is “our own way”….and it does not work.

And some cry out….till the Shepherd who is looking for them….hears and comes to deliver.

Now we could speculate as to how that sheep got lost…..whether it wandered off, when the others were resting in pasture….wanting to see what is over there.

Or whether he was lost by staying back away from the rest of the flock…and especially from the Shepherd;….

How the sheep was lost is a matter of individual sins…….and for everyone of us, it is  different…..and yet,  the same……it is “our own way”…….for we are that sheep:

Isaiah 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray;  we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

1 Peter 2:25 “For ye were as sheep going astray,  but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”

Psalm 119:176 “I have gone astray like a lost sheep:  seek thy servant;  for I do not forget Thy commandments.”

But we did not stay lost…..the Shepherd found us…..for He went after us….and found us.

Ezekiel 34:11 “For thus saith the Lord God;  behold,  I, even I,  will both search My sheep, and seek them out.”

The Lord is ever the One to seek for us.   

We are lost….we may know it and may cry out for it…..but it is the Lord, our Shepherd, that seeks and finds us.

Repentance is the change of mind, heart, and will.

You change your mind about sin…..and God.

Once God was your enemy (Romans 8:7)….

Someone Who seemed to make demands with out any pity (Ephesians 2:2-3)…

….but now you see that it is sin that is making the demands….and demanding more and more…..

……it is taking over your personality.   What was…”I will try it…just once”…..becomes a need….then a ruler.

Whereas, God is standing ready to deliver….if we will see the truth and repent….or change our mind 

You change your heart’s love of sin.   

And this comes as the sin gets less “something to get by with”………and becomes a burden…a weight which can not be shrugged off.  

You change your will.   

(Our will is our active part of us.   In our minds we imagine….our hearts yearn or lust….but our wills activate us.)

When we will not to sin….we are turning from it…..

John 7:17 “If any man will do His Will,  he shall know of the doctrine,  whether it be of God,  or whether I speak of Myself.”

Acts 2:37-39 “Now when they heard this,  they were pricked in their heart,  and said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles,   Men and brethren,  what shall we do?

           Then Peter said unto them,   Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

           For the promise is unto you,  and to your children, and to all that are afar off,  even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”

Acts 20:21 “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks,  repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Repentance leads to joy….God’s joy over your salvation….and our joy in Christ.

Romans 5:10-11 “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son;  much more,  being reconciled,  we shall be saved by His life.

            And not only so,  but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ,  by Whom we have now received the atonement.”

We are like sheep, who have gone astray….to “my own way”…..yet Christ came to “seek and to save them that are lost” (Luke 19:10).

And when He found us….He picked us up out of our sin….placed us upon His shoulders (the place of strength)….and brought us into His fold…..where He leads us day by day.

John 10:11, 27-28 “I am the Good Shepherd:  the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.”

            My sheep hear My voice,  and I know them,  and they follow Me:

            And I give unto them eternal life;  and they shall never perish,  neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.”

As sheep, we are often wandering…..but thankfully we have our Shepherd….Who comes after us…..leading us again in repentance….

….and into joy.

And I, if I be lifted up 

John 12:32 “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth,  will draw all men unto Me.”

Jesus is speaking about His coming death on the cross….lifted up, between earth and heaven….for whosoever will,  to see and believe:  

His suffering and agony,   His blood,  the title above His head (written in several languages) “the King of the Jews”,  and His death.

In apparent defeat,…..He would come into a position to draw all men unto Him by the power of His sacrifice, and resurrection.

He was the Son of God, who died to take away the sins of the world.

Luke 19:10 “For the Son of man is come  to seek and to save that which was lost.”

John 3:14-15 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,  even so must the Son of man be lifted up:  

                   That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish,  but have eternal life.”

“Life” is what is promised to those who turn, believing, to Christ Jesus.

John 10:10 “…..: I am come that they might have life,  and they might have it more abundantly.”

As “Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness”…..this is when the children of Israel,  which were bitten by the “fiery servants”;…..and were cured and “lived” by looking up to the brass serpent, Moses stuck on a pole in the middle of the camp of Israel.

(The story:  Israel was nearing their journey’s end….but discouragement led them to murmur and complain.

Now to complain about the hardness of the journey,  was one thing….but they said, “…our soul loatheth this light bread.”

They brought the manna, into their arguement with God’s Ways.

Manna was that heavenly bread (it was small grain which tasted of wafers made with honey Exodus 16:31)…..sent day by day for their needs.  

But they complained of the Way…..then loathed the goodness of God; a very serious thing.

So God sent fiery serpents to bite the people and many of them died.  

[How many times have I complained to God about something….then…things got a lot worse;……and I realized how blessed I had been, before.

How many times have I had to confess this murmuring spirit of mine.]

They confessed their sin….but there was no cure for the bites….until God told Moses:

Numbers 21:8-9 “And the Lord said unto Moses,   Make thee a fiery serpent,  and set it upon a pole:  and it shall come to pass,  that everyone that is bitten,  when he looketh upon it,  shall live.

                     And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole;  and it came to pass,  that if a serpent had bitten any man,  when he beheld the serpent of brass,  he lived.”

It required them to believe God, and look up to the provision He made.   When they did,  they were healed.

[It was a serpent of brass….taking on the form of the curse….but having no poison, no sting….which represents Christ.   He took our sin on Him, though He knew no sin, that we might be  the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21])

And if we believe God,  and look up to Christ Jesus, we are healed from sin and it’s destructive power upon us…..and are saved.

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death;  but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead,  thou shalt be saved.”

Eternal Life is a condition of life, began when we were born again…..and going on through this life, and all eternity,  with God.

And every time we murmur or complain….and are chastened for it….we can look up and believe our blessed Lord again…..for He will heal our hearts, and minds….if we look again to

But there is another “lifting up” of Christ….

and that is when we lift Him up in our lives,  by obedience and devotion to Him.

We lift Him up in our everyday lives….and others are drawn to Him!

He is what He said….He does what He promised….that is what our lives show.

We lift Him up so others can look to Him and believe.

Will we lift up Christ, and let Him get the glory?