Come let us Reason together 

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

This is one of my husband’s favorite verses in the Old Testament.

Think of it!   The Almighty God wants us to come and give Him our reasons for our behavior.

And He will listen to them,  and then, He will give us His reasons for His Way of doing things!

I have always been amazed at that much love to us!

This is reality,   sinking deep within your soul.  This requires honesty.

We can all blurt out feelings,….things which we may or may not really mean.

But Christ Jesus wants us to get honest, with ourselves (with the help of His Holy Spirit) about what is going on.

And then to tell Him.

“Come” , shows that we are far away from Him.  So Come, now.

“Let us” means that this is not one-sided, but “us” talking.

(What a nice word, “us”,  when it is the Lord and I)

“Reason together” means that we come, wanting to tell our side,  but willing to be corrected, and go to His side.

This is intelligent conversation.

“Though your sins be as scarlet”:  and who can say that their’s is not?   Not me!

“They shall be white as snow”:   by His cleansing us in His precious blood. 

 He died to save us;  was raised to empower us;  and intercedes for us in all we do.

If we are born again,  He gave us His Holy Spirit,  Who is with us always…..Who

helps us to get honest,  for He is the God of all Truth;…….and helps us interpret our emotions, so we can see where we truly are,…..and what we truly want.

With God with us, even when we are out of the Way,  He will help us.

He is the Creator,…we are His creatures.  He created us,  for He has a Purpose for us.

And we must come;……always we must come to Him, for all we need.

If we learn the lesson of coming before His throne, as creature before the Creator:  knowing our weakness, and His Might, then we have learned a lesson which will be the corner stone of our life.

He calls: Come now, let us reason together.

He wants to hear from you.

And you to hear from Him.

Frustrations

Frustrations are those small irritations and discouragements which come,  when what we thought would happen….whether we planned it or not….does not happen.  

        How many times do we have the day planned….and something comes up…interfering with what we thought… should happen?!

And how many times do we get “frustrated”!?     We may stop ourselves before we get angry or say hurtful words….but a damp cloth has come over our spirit.    And instead of peace, we feel unsettled.

Song of Solomon 2:15 “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines:  for our vines have tender grapes.”

Isaiah 5:1-2 “Now will I sing to My well-beloved a song of My beloved touching His vineyard.  My well-beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:

         And He fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof , and planted it with the choicest vine,  and built a tower in the midst of it,  and also made a winepress therein:….”

In those days, if you had a vineyard,  you might hedge about it….and put men to watch it….for there are many pests which would hinder the harvest of grapes.

         The fences usually kept out the larger animals.   But the little foxes would squeeze in through the hedge…drawn by the fragrance of the sweet grape blossoms, in the spring.

         The trouble is,  when a little fox eats one of the blossoms…..he is eating a whole cluster of grapes,  in embryo form.    That blossom would turn into grapes….and in one bite, it’s gone!

Now I have mentioned this before, that fruit is what the Lord expects from us, as HIs.

         The fruit of the Holy Spirit…and the fruit of a Christian, which is another Christian.

In God’s order….the fruit of the Spirit leads to the fruit of a Christian.    (whether by witness, prayer, or soul winning)

         But the sweet fragrance of the life of the Spirit through us….can be hindered….by little frustrations….by little self-sins.    And that hindrance in the life of the Spirit,  can interfere with the spreading of the gospel….whether by word or life.

This message is going to deal with frustrations….those things which can snap away our peace and joy in a moment….

….and cause us momentary loss of direction, and give us anguish…. or can balloon into a real problem.

          Ecclesiastes 10:1 “Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savor:  so doth a little folly  him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor.”

(Years ago, the Lord pointed out to me how easy it was for me to deal with the large problems.   I would hasten to the Throne of grace and do what the Lord said.    End of problem,  at least the solution was in the works.

         But little frustrations,  little hindrances which came up…during the day…..would sometimes make me  fall apart!   Or get angry…whether I said anything or not (and I often would).

         Then the Lord showed me through my husband’s message on “fret not thyself” (Psalm 37:1,8)…that the little things that come up are not just frustrations….but Purpose,  God’s Purpose to draw out of me….more subjection and more of a reliance on Him…in all things.

         Once I saw that, I started to go to the Lord in prayer every time a frustration came up.   

“I know this came through Your hand…tell me how to deal with it….in me,  and through me”)

Frustrations are anything that comes along and says…..”That should not have happened…now!   What are You doing,  Lord?”

But the thing we need to realize is that we will not always know what the Lord is doing….but we can come to Him and submit to what He wants us to do about it!

I would mention here,  an example:

        Paul and Silas had been called to come to Philippi.   In Philippi they were being followed by a demon-possessed girl stating that they were come to show them….”the way of salvation”. 

         Now this was true….but it grieved Paul’s spirit that it would be shouted out….like common merchandise….from the mouthpiece of the devil.   

         Paul did nothing for several days….but then,  Paul, in Jesus name, cast out the demon.   

And they were taken, beaten, and put in jail for it!  (Acts 16:19,22-24)

This was not….what they had come to Phillipi for…..or was it?     

        We all know what happened next….after Paul and Silas prayed, giving themselves into the Lord’s hand for whatever would come….seeing whether the Lord’s Will was done in this….and then….they sang songs!

                “And the prisoners heard them.”   (What a testimony!   No cursing!  No yelling!  But instead songs of praise to the God that led them there!)

An earthquake interrupted their song….and as we know a Phillippian jailer…and his house….was saved by all of this!

Frustrations are those interruptions to our lives which we did not count on,….nor are prepared for.   

        But the Lord is….and we can come and surrender to this moment….to this frustration….and be given HIs peace,  or HIs word,   or HIs song!

We are called as: Pillars of smoke

Song of Solomon 3:6 “Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the Merchant?”

Here the Lord’s bride is coming out of the wilderness….like pillars of smoke.

           We know that the Bride of Christ is the church….and it should be like pillars…strong and steady.   

           Here the bride is seen as moving out of the wilderness experience (which was full of wanderings and trials)….and the church should be moving ever onward as Christ’s army of servants toward the appointed goal:

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

Here is the goal of the church….to be and manifest His kingdom here on earth….till He comes again and sets up His Everlasting Kingdom.

Joel 2:28-30 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,  your old men shall dream dreams,  your young men shall see visions:

           And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out My Spirit.

          And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth,  blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.”

(Jesus Christ was placed on the cross,  between heaven and earth.    The sky was darkened like night….in the middle of the day.     His blood shed….and the fire of the Holy Spirit given after He ascended up to heaven [John 7:37-39]….led to the making of pillars of smoke! [the church of believers])

These verses were quoted by Peter on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was given to the church. (Acts 2:16-21)

He was stressing that the Holy Spirit was given to each person who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

        Before, in the Old Testament,  the Holy Spirit would come on people for prophesy and ministry.    

But now….wonder of wonders….anyone who believes on Jesus Christ,  will be given His Holy Spirit.  (sons, daughters, old men, servants, handmaids)

When we are born again we are filled with His  fullness to our surrendered capacity.     And by His Spirit, we will become “pillars of smoke”.

We have mentioned this before….but it is pillars of smoke….because God makes us strong, in HIm. 

       In ourselves we are weak as smoke…blown every which way by just a puff of air.   

       But in Christ,  through the Holy Spirit we are made wise, righteous, sanctified, and redeemed…..strong in the Lord.

       1 Corinthians 1:30-31 “But of Him (God the Father) are ye in Christ Jesus,  who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

       That according as it is written,   He that glorieth,  let him glory in the Lord.”

Our strength lies in our total dependence on the Lord…His Word…and His Spirit.  

In these verses in Joel,  the people are called to come between the porch and the altar to repent….to call upon the Lord.

       Joel 2:15-17 “Blow the trumpet in Zion,  sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:

       Gather the people,  sanctify the congregation,  assemble the elders,  gather the children….

       Let the priest, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, 

       Spare Thy people,  O Lord, and give not Thine heritage to reproach,  that the heathen should rule over them:  Wherefore should they say among the people,   Where is their God?”

Joel 2: 18-19 “ Then will the Lord be jealous for His land, and pity His people.

        Yea,  the Lord will answer….”

“Then”…after we have humbled ourselves and sought to the Lord for His correction, deliverance, and help.

(It is interesting to note that not once in these verses is a time for these circumstances given.

        Some say that Joel was written before the king of Assyria came to Jerusalem when Hezekiah was king.

        Some say that it was written before the captivity under Nebuchadnezzar…and that it was just another call by the Lord to His people to repent.

        Some say that it was written much later….after the people had returned and rebuilt the Temple….and the troubles that came then.

 But there is no time given….it could be for any time that HIs people are in desperate need…when they have become slack concerning God’s Word….against an adversary that makes “the earth quake before them”.

The only “time” part of it, is when it references what we believe could be  Armageddon Joel 3:11-13.)

My husband received these verses as part of our work….that we might  bring to light the need of the church: which is  to humble ourselves and repent…in the church (the porch and the altar)……and the great blessing that will come when we do:  through the Holy Spirit’s power for life and circumstances, now.

1 Peter 4:17, 19 “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us,  what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?   

           Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.”

Let me repeat….our strength lies in our total dependence on our Lord Jesus….His Word, and His Spirit.

We are to be pillars of smoke…conscious of our weakness….conscious and leaning on His strength….receiving His Spirit’s help, continually. 

Song of Solomon 3:6 “Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke,  perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the Merchant?”

At first the by-standers do not recognize this bride!    She is so different than they knew her before!    “Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:”  (1 Peter 4:4)

But then they see that she is a “pillar”….steady and strong in the Lord.

           And she is sending forth the influence of “myrrh”….the fragrance of the sacrificial death of Christ Jesus…and her identifying with Him by denying herself, picking up her cross and being obedient to His call.

         But there is also the influence of “frankincense”  which is the spice of royalty….showing her authority as a servant and ambassador of the King of kings.

         And finally, there is the influence of the “powders of the Merchant”….or the gifts of the Spirit and the graces of the Lord Jesus Christ on our lives.

The church should manifest the lovely fragrance of our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…everywhere we go.    

         And that means that we must come out of the wilderness we have been wandering about….and humble ourselves under His call….and seek the Lord for His Word and blessing.

Joel calls “Hear this…” (Joel 1:2)

         “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain:  let all the inhabitants of the land tremble:  for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;” (Joel 2:1)

When trumpets were blown in Israel….then the people must gather together.    Some trumpet sounds were for war….some for assemblies before the Lord….but those that belonged to the Lord,  must come.

Have we heard the call to come and repent of something?   Have we been called to assemble with the church….and seek the Lord, for the church.

         Let us come out of the wilderness we are in…..and become pillars of smoke….totally relying on our Lord,  and being continually filled with His Spirit to become strong in the Lord.

Do we have sure footing? 

Ephesians 6:15 “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;”

The Roman hobnail sandal’s were made of leather….coming all the way up the calf.  They had very small spikes on the bottom for gripping the ground when in march or battle.

And these describe what Paul says is the Gospel of peace.

In the Christian life, we need sure footing.

If we are to walk and resist the Adversary of our souls,…….that solid footing is provided in the Gospel of peace.

There is a place of rest,  and peace of mind,  for every Christian.

It is God’s hiding place for every believer…..

Psalm 32:7 “Thou art my hiding place;  Thou shalt preserve me from trouble;

Thou shalt compass me about with psalms and deliverance.  Selah.”

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

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

If we do not learn to depend upon the promises of God, and receive His peace……..then we will not have sure footing to be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

The devil will knock us off balance,…..with accusations of past sins,  or doubt,……and we will be on the ground,  before we know it.

Worry, anxiety, trouble, or fear……meet all these with a promise from His Word.

One that you can get a hold of……and that can get a hold of you, by the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit’s assurance of Christ’s Word is very important.    

The Bible is full of promises….which we can claim.

But one given by the Spirit to our spirit in the midst of trouble or battle,  is precious.    And must be held on to.

The Lord wants to garrison or guard you about with peace….His peace.

Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God which passeth understanding,  shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

This is of the Holy Spirit….not something we do,  but what He does within us…..so that we can get our “footing” in this situation.

John 14:26-27 “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.

                     Peace I leave with you,  My peace I give unto you:  not as the world giveth,  give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled,  neither let it be afraid.”

But we must will with Him,  for the battle rages around our minds, hearts and wills. 

It says,  “Let not”….”neither let it”.   

These are acts of our will.  We are staying hidden in His peace.   (This is not presumption:  for we have His Word.   Nor is it indifference:  for we will do anything the Lord wants done concerning the matter.)

Therefore, when we will with Him,  letting Him do as He wills,  in His time,   in His way….then the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, will teach us (again and again, if need be) about His peace….and surround us with it…….and keep us till we receive the promise.

The Holy Spirit will garrison, or guard us….with His peace. 

John 14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled:  ye believe in God,  believe also in Me.”

Peace comes to us by the Holy Spirit…..and it is that assurance that God knows our situation…..and He has a plan of deliverance for it.

That is the sure-footing that we need in this world…..God’s Spirit helping us “dig in” and “hold on” to God’s Word….till we get the promise.

Notice it is the gospel of peace…..for it rests firmly on Christ Jesus…..He is our firm foundation. He is our Promise.

What is the chaff to the wheat?

Jeremiah 23:28 “The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream;  and he that hath My Word, let him speak My Word faithfully.   What is the chaff to the wheat?  Saith the Lord.”

Jeremiah was a prophet to Judah under the last godly king, Josiah….and under the three kings which were after till the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple.

            He has tried to teach the people the sufficiency of the Lord….and the uselessness of trusting to Egypt, or any other league.

            He has told them to submit to the chastening of the Lord….and remember HIs Word and “amend their ways”….

….and then the Lord will cause them to dwell in the land God gave them.

He has preached:

           Jeremiah 7:1-3 “The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,

           Stand in the gate of the Lord’s house,  and proclaim there this Word,   and say,  Hear the Word of the Lord, all ye of Judah  that enter in at these gates to worship the Lord.

           Thus saith the Lord of hosts,  the God of Israel,    Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.”

And how were they to “amend” their ways?

           “…if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor;…

If ye oppress not the stranger,  the fatherless, and the widow,….

            And shed not innocent blood….

…neither walk after other gods to your hurt:”   (Jeremiah 7:5-6)

Jeremiah 23:28 “The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream;  and he that hath My Word, let him speak My Word faithfully,    What is the chaff to the wheat?  Saith the Lord.”

My husband received this verse for his messages once, years ago.   It seemed as though people were getting tired of hearing about…”Deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow the Lord.”      

         They were tired of the precepts of the Word….and wanted more of the promises of the Word.

         Praying about it….my husband received this verse:   this he was to do:

He was to preach God’s Word for the need of the church….faithfully.

“What is the chaff to the wheat?”     What does this mean? 

Back in the days of the scripture….they used the winnowing method of separating the chaff, which was the outer husk….pretty much useless,  

….from the wheat…the real prize.   The food that was needed.

The gathered grain,  would be placed in a heap in a large blanket and held by two people on either side…and would be tossed up. 

        The wind would blow the light chaff away….but the heavier kernel of wheat would fall back and be saved.

Can bread be made with chaff?   No….only the wheat can be made into bread.   

         Can the promises of God be used without obeying the precepts of God?

Precept both in the Hebrew and Greek, means injunction,   an authoritative prescription! 

        (Injunction is a court order requiring a party to do or refrain from doing a specific act.)

        And as our King and our Physician,  Christ Jesus gives us precepts which are to teach us to walk in the paths of righteousness….to stand against the wiles of the devil,….to prepare us against the onslaught of the world’s temptations….which lead to us be healed.

       Which leads us into the blessings of the promises He has for us.

Jeremiah 7:5,7 “For if ye thoroughly amend your ways and your doings;….

        Then will I cause you to dwell in this place in the land that I gave to your fathers,  for ever and ever.”

We must lose the chaff before the wheat is useable….

…….and we must “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us”….before we can “run with patience the race that is set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1)

Jeremiah 23:28 “The prophet that hath a dream,  let him tell a dream:  and he that hath My Word, let him speak My Word faithfully.   What is the chaff to the wheat? Saith the Lord.”

The chaff will blow away….the wheat will remain…..if we speak His Word faithfully.

         And it is the wheat after all,  that counts.

Songs

In Scripture,  only the redeemed,  sing.  The songs that are sung,  tell of the wonderful works of the Lord.

Psalm  9:1 “I will praise Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart;  I will shew forth all Thy marvelous works.”

Psalm 118:14 “The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.”

The first song that is recorded, is in Exodus 15.   The children of Israel have crossed the Red Sea, dry shod….with their enemies in pursuit….

      …and they have seen their enemies, drowned…when they tried to cross after them.    So they sing….

Exodus 15:1, 13 “Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously:  the horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea.

         Thou in Thy mercy hast led forth the people which Thou hast redeemed:  Thou hast guided them in Thy strength unto Thy holy habitation.”

There was no singing through most of the wilderness wanderings….until the very end:

Israel sang a song for a spring to bubble up for them at the end of their wilderness wanderings (Numbers 21:17-18.)

          The princes digged with their staves…not the usual means for well digging…..and not the usual well diggers….but it was God’s Way….and it was blessed….and all Israel stood around and sang.

(Right before they left the wilderness, and Joshua took them into the Promised Land…….Moses spoke to them a song to keep them in remembrance of Who God was, but he did not sing it.   

        They were to teach themselves and their children this song….but you never hear of it….until the end, when the song of Moses will be sung by the Tribulation martyrs….Deuteronomy 32:4,  Revelation 15:3-4)

You do not hear of them singing again….until….Judges 5,  where Deborah and Barak sang after a wonderful victory over the Canaanites.

      Judges 5:2-3 “Praise ye the Lord for the avenging of Israel,  when the people willingly offered themselves.

      Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes;  I, even I, will sing unto the Lord; I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel.”

Again, no singing, until David…the sweet singer of Israel.

     His psalms are wonderful and instructive….and were the basis of the songs sung in the Tabernacle and the Temple, which he set up,….for instruction, witness and beauty.   

Judah sang again under the godly king, Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20:20-22).            As they went into battle,  as they sang, the Lord worked for them….giving them victory over their enemies.

     2 Chronicles 20:21-22 “….he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for HIs mercy endureth forever.

     And when they began to sing, and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against….which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.”

Hezekiah and Josiah (2 Chronicles 35:15) had the Passover….where singers were present…singing unto the Lord.

     2 Chronicles 30:21 “And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priest praised the Lord day by day, singing with loud instruments unto the Lord.”

Isaiah sang several songs to Israel….to open their eyes to the Lord’s Words….Isaiah 5…a song to His vineyard, Israel, which brought forth “wild grapes” and not fruit for Him…

Isaiah 12…a song that was sung in the feast of Tabernacles, when Jesus stood and cried, If any man thirst come unto Me and drink.  [John 7:37]…

……and prophesies of their song in the last times Isaiah 26…Isaiah 30:29, Isaiah 42:10….pretty amazing, really! Especially at such a time in their history!

Jeremiah’s song of Lamentations is sad, beautiful and prophetic to a nation whose last godly king just died. (2 Chronicles 35:25)

     Lamentations 1:1, 4:1, 3:21-23 “How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people!  How is she become as a widow!….

     How is the gold become dim!  How is the most fine gold changed! The stones of the sanctuary are poured out into the top of every street.

     This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.

      It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.

      They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.”

But the other songs in Scripture are personal.    David and his personal songs of praise,  and confession.

And Solomon….who had written 1005 songs.

In the New Testament,  we are called to:

      Ephesians 5:19 “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,  singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord:”

      Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;  teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,  singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

“To the Lord”.  Let everything that hath breath….praise the Lord. ( Psalm 150:6)

      I was exercised not too long ago about how many times I petition the Lord…yet do not give thanks.     I thank Him when I receive the blessing….but when I pray, I am concerned that He hears and answers.

     Now I hardly every pray, without also thanking Him for hearing me,….for the answer that will come (His will done)…..and for all He has already done.   

But let us,  who have experienced so much goodness and mercy at His hand, praise Him most….and praise Him often.

At the last day….when all the saints are gathered before His throne….there will be a song (how could there not be!)….

Revelation 5:9 “And they sung a new song, saying,   Thou art worthy to take the  book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongues and people, and nation;…”

And for all those that had gotten the victory over the beast…they will sing!

      Revelation 15:3 “And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,  Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints.”

Let us add our voices,…now, to His praise and glory.

Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth;  and with my song will I praise Him.”

According to His working

Colossians 1:27-29 “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles;  which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

                 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom;  that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

                 Whereunto I also labor, striving according to His working,  which worketh in me mightily.”

Paul is saying that his ministry is to make known Christ Jesus….in His riches and glory, which was a mystery before, to the Gentiles.   To preach and teach in the wisdom that God gives him….so that he may…

….”present every man perfect in Christ Jesus”.     To complete the work of bringing them to Christ,  by their salvation….and the knowledge of sanctification.

But then….(and I love this!)  Paul says about himself:  that he is not perfect…he is still growing up into Christ…so he labors…

….”striving according to His working”…Christ’s grace and correction and mercy and peace….

…”which worketh in me mightily”.

Paul yielded himself to the inward workings of the Holy Spirit….which are mighty.    That is the labor…to yield.

               “Striving according to His working”….striving here means to compete for a prize,    to contend with an adversary,    to endeavor to accomplish something!      

                Really,  all the things that we need to have and do, to have sanctification of the Spirit in our everyday life!

But thank God,  it is “according to His working which worketh in me”….”mightily”.

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

Paul knew the reality of this….and wanted to pass it on to other Christians.  

               Paul said,  “…woe is unto me,  if I preach not the gospel!” (1 Cor. 9:16)…not because he was afraid of what God would do to him,  if he stopped preaching…

….but because God’s Word was in him like a fire….which could not be contained.   He had to preach about Christ Jesus…he had to make His Word known!

              This is to know God’s command and calling in the depth of our soul, and to be so impelled of God…that we can not stop preaching, teaching….and speaking of the Lord…wherever He wants.

               God works in us by His Spirit mightily….as we yield (strive is the word Paul uses to describe this yielding)…

……for it is to yield, when circumstances seem bleak…

….when we are weary and worn…

….when we are being shown our sin, and faults…

….and when we need to forgive others who have hurt us……then the Holy Spirit “worketh in me mightily”

Philippians 3:13-14  “Brethren,  I count not myself to have apprehended:  but this one thing I do,  forgetting those things which are behind,  and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

               I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

(In the Gideon Bible,  Paul says….”…forgetting what lies behind,  and straining forward to what lies ahead.”

              When I read this,  it reminded me of when I was a child….and I wanted something Mom had set out on the counter.   I would go over and try and reach it….no, too short.   Then with all my might, I would stand on my tip-toes to try and reach it.   If that failed,  I would cry to my Mom to please give me some.   How eagerly my hands went out if she gave it to me!

             “Straining forward”….to get what the Lord had for Paul….

…and we should be the same, for what the Lord has for us.     Really wanting it….seeking it…crying out for all the help the Holy Spirit has for us….and using it!)

Philippians 2:12 “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.”

This “work out” is to strive…to strain forward to what lies ahead.     This is not just to strain forward to do HIs Will…..but to be His Will,  wherever we are.    To obtain the “riches” of Christ, by the Holy Spirit within our lives…

…for it is Christ in you the hope of glory.     And hope is the confident expectation that God will do what He says. 

That is what our sanctification is based on:   His Word, that He will bring us through…will guide us…will give us the grace needed to finish our course….that in fact, He will perfect (complete) us…in Christ Jesus.

The Beauty of Holiness.  

Isaiah 6:1-3 “….I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple.  Above it stood the seraphims:….

                   And one cried unto another, and said,  Holy, holy, holy  is the Lord of hosts:  the whole earth is full of His glory.”

Revelation 4:8 “….Holy, holy, holy,  Lord God Almighty,  which was, and is, and is to come.”

Holiness in Scripture is the completion of the character of God:

which is Light…..not darkness…(James 1:17).  He is sinless, He is Mercy,

is Peace,

is Grace,  

is Love, 

is Supreme Goodness, and our Refuge,

Is Wisdom, and Judgement, and so much more.

We think of Holiness, and sometimes tremble……because we are sinful…..even with our sins confessed, and cleansed…..we can remember the terrible things we have done against Him,….and that is when “Holiness” puts weakness into our hearts….

Isaiah when he heard the “Holy, holy, holy”……..

Isaiah 6:5  “Then said I,  Woe is me! For I am undone;  because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips:  for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”

When Peter saw the “great multitude of fishes” the Lord gave, after a night of catching nothing……

Luke 5:8 “When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying,  Depart from me; for I am a sinful man,  O Lord.”

In scripture the Lord is called Holy, seventy times.  Twenty-eight times in Isaiah, alone.   Sixteen times in the Psalms.

(If God were not Holy,  there would be unspeakable horror for consequences:  He could not save sinners….nor could He have power over the unrighteous works of darkness.   There would be no Heaven….where every tear shall be wiped away, and no unclean thing, will enter.   Chaos, not order, would rule.)

But in this, we are going to speak of the Beauty of Holiness…..for surely God’s Holiness is beautiful.

It is an attribute of splendor….spreading out like a rainbow, unto abundant goodness.  

And, that He would plan a Way for us to share in His goodness, by Jesus Christ….is blessing….twice blessed for us.

That He has made a Way to come to Him;……..we as sinful creatures, to come to the Most Holy God,……by the expiation of our sins…..has not changed His Holiness;…

…..but rather enhanced it; showing to us, by the abundant sacrifice of His Son, how Holy He is.

When we think of the price Jesus paid,  that we might “be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21)…..

…….we again tremble at the Holiness of our God, Who would allow His Son to die to wipe away our sin,…….and not allow any,  but those who receive Christ Jesus, as Lord and Savior,……to come near to His throne, and dwell with Him.

Isaiah 33:15-17 “He that walketh righteously,  and speaketh uprightly;   he that despiseth gain of oppressions,    that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes,  that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood,    and shuteth his eyes from seeing evil; 

                        He shall dwell on high;   his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks:   bread shall be given him;    his waters shall be sure.

                        Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty,  they shall behold the land that is very far off.”

God’s Holiness is worthy of all our praise.    For as He is lifted up above all things,  so He raises us up,  in Christ….to sit in the heavenlies. (Ephesians 2:6)

But for what purpose, are we raised to newness of life?   

To be to the praise of His glory.  To find our satisfaction in Him.

(Colossians 3:1-2 “If ye then be risen with Christ,  seek those things which are above,  where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God.

                 Set your affection on things above,  not on things of the earth.”)

1 Chronicles 16:29 “Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His Name:  bring an offering and come before Him:  worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”

2 Chronicles 20:21 “……..he appointed singers unto the Lord,  and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say,  Praise the Lord;  for His mercy endureth forever.”

God’s Holiness is beautiful,…..and He calls us to worship Him for it…..and to set ourselves aside to Him,…..to be “partakers of” it. 

Hebrews 12:10 “For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure;  but He for our profit,    that we might be partakers of His holiness.”

“Partakers” here, means to accept and use.

In Christ, we are made righteous;  given a new nature.   And we are to accept our new life and “use” it…..we are to bring forth the fruit of His holiness within us…..the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)

We are to spread out within us the manifold goodness of God, by the fruit of His Spirit, and use it, to have joy, peace, love, gentleness, etc.

Psalm 29:2 “Give unto the Lord the glory due unto HIs Name;  worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”

Psalm 96:9 “O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness:  fear before Him all the earth.”

God is Holy, holy, holy…..in the Trinity.   And praise God, that He is.

Which seemeth right

Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man,  but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

Notice that it begins in a way which seemeth right….and ends in the ways of death.

          Sin and self multiply.   

          What begins in a small giving in to the flesh….ends either in repentance and a complete change about….

…or ends in growing into multiple ways….all leading to the death, as Christians, of our spiritual growth and life. 

(Not that any true Christian loses his eternal life….but that he can lose his reward, and the joy of light and life,  here.

           My husband once preached on these verses, and said:   “Isn’t it a sad thing to see a miserable Christian?   Christ is our portion and all our spiritual blessings….what is the matter with us when we are unhappy with our lot?     What cloud has come between us and the Lord that we can not experience His love and mercy in our days and nights?)

Proverbs 16:25 “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man,  but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

Twice in scripture this verse is given….and two is the number of witness.   Nothing could be accounted worthy of death without two witnesses:

          Deuteronomy 19:15 “One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in a sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two or three witnesses,  shall the matter be established.”

God is establishing the rightness of the sentence against sin….He has warned us twice.

Any way which is not God’s Way….even though it seemeth right….leads to ways of death.

          (And again this death is not eternal death for Christians….but death of joy and peace,  death of blessings,  death of truth.)

Proverbs 14:8 “The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way:   but the folly of fools is deceit.”

In Proverbs, there are four types of people:

         The wise….those that hear and learn from instruction from God’s Word. (Pro. 1:5, 2:6)

    The foolish….those that hate knowledge, and instruction. (Pro. 1:7, 22)

         The scorners….those that mock and revile those that seek to learn from God’s Word (Prov. 1:22).

     The simple….those that do not know the Word, and are caught in many temptations because of it. (Prov. 1:22, 7:7)

Our hearts are deceitful….and desperately wicked….

Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things,  and desperately wicked:  who can know it?”

But, praise God,   He has left us a Way to escape the leanings of our own hearts….

Jeremiah 17:10 “I the Lord search the heart,  I try the reins,  even to give every man according to his ways,  and according to the fruit of his doings.”

The Lord will search our hearts….He will try our wills….that He might show us our way…and His Way….and give us “according” or to the measure that we bear the fruit of repentance,  faith, and obedience.

Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

“Seemeth right”.   How much that phrase covers!    

          How many times have we been tripped up by those things that “seemeth right”….things can look good….can sound good,  but it only “seemeth right” for us…unless….that is where the Lord is leading us.

           “Unto a man”.    Here is where we can see our error.

For our Way,  is to be led by the Word and the Holy Spirit,  not by us.(Jeremiah 10:23)

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

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

This is a verse we often use for direction and help….but as the Lord pointed out to my husband….it is….”in all thy ways  acknowledge Him”.      All our ways, not just when we are in trouble or feel the Adversary’s fiery darts (Eph. 6:16)…but in all our days, and ways.

Psalm 86:11 “Teach me Thy Way,  O Lord;  I will walk in Thy truth:  unite my heart to fear Thy name.”

Here is a prayer for the Lord to take us by the hand and “teach us”….as His children,  to lead us into His truth in everything concerning ourselves….and others that we must deal with.

And here also is the reason for so many missteps:     Unite my heart to fear Thy name.

          A divided heart.

Matthew 6:24 “No man can serve two masters:  for either he will hate the one, and love the other;  or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.   Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

And that is what we are called to do:      to serve.  

        As Christians, we can only have One Master….Jesus Christ.   He is to be our Lord and Savior.   Our hearts are to love and obey Him.

If we lean on our own understanding….the way that seemeth right,  will lead us astray.

But if we repent, and seek Him….letting Him search us,….and then acknowledging Him in all our ways….He will direct our paths…and all HIs Ways are paths of peace and life. (Psalm 25:8-10)

In the beginning

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

I want to speak a moment about our God….Who is Almighty….Who is our all.

God has no beginning,….so when He speaks of a beginning,  here, He is speaking of the beginning of the earth.  

          Out of nothing,  God created the heaven and the earth.   Only God can create out of nothing.   

          We can take materials, and design, and build, and decorate….but God speaks and it is done.  Something is created, at His Word and Will.

Psalm 19:1-4 “The heavens declare the glory of God;  and the firmament sheweth HIs handiwork.

           Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

There is no speech nor language,  where Their Voice is not heard.

          Their line is gone out through all the earth, and Their Words to the end of the world…”

All creation manifests that there is a Creator…..all creation manifests HIs command to:

        “Let all things be done decently and in order.”  (1 Cor. 14:40)

After man’s sin, and man became separated from God….his heart was darkened.

         The Light through a promise of a Savior was given (Genesis 3:15).    Would they receive this promise, and look for this Savior?  Would they seek to walk in the Light of this promise?

A trial had to be made to see whether man would return to His Creator in worship…

…..but man refused.  (Although God always has a believing remnant…those that seek and love HIm)

         Romans 1:20-21 “For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen,  being understood by the things that are made,  even His eternal power and Godhead;  so that they are without excuse:

         Because that,  when they knew God,  they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful;  but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

Man’s heart became darker and darker…..

….the only light and bright spot in our history is God revealing Himself and His Will in HIs Word…

….for, as I said,  God always has His believing remnant….those that are drawn to the light, to the truth,  to God in faith and love.

And then (and we should all say “Amen!”)….

…..when the fullness of the times was come…..then…

        Galatians 4:4-6 “But when the fulness of the time was come,   God sent forth HIs Son,  made of a woman,  made under the law,  

        To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

        And because ye are sons,   God hath sent forth the Spirit of HIs Son into your hearts,  crying  Abba, Father.”

The announced and promised Savior came….and He redeemed all who believe on Him,  from sin, self, and the devil….to give us an adoption as sons of God.

Romans 8:15-16 “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear;  but ye have received the Spirit of adoption,  whereby we cry,  Abba, Father.

         The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.”

And when we became sons of God,  adopted children of God….He did something wonderful within us.

         “In the beginning” of our new birth….He created a new creature…He implanted within us a new nature…a holy nature.

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:  old things are passed away;  behold, all things are become new.”

And why did God create a new nature within us?   Because He could not use our old nature…the nature that rebelled against Him is to be set aside,….denied.

         Ephesians 4:22-24 “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man,   which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

         And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

         And  that ye put on the new man,   which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

We are now,  created in Christ Jesus, to grow in grace and love…..till we, with all the saints manifest Christ Jesus in His fullness … .in the darkness of this world.

         Ephesians 4:13, 15  “Till we all come in the unity of the faith,  and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man,  unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

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

We started this with “In the beginning”….the creation of the heaven and the earth….

….and we have talked of the beginning of the new creature in Christ…

But these were just the beginning…..and God is Alpha and Omega….the beginning and the end.

          If He has begun a good work in you….He will bring it to the end,  that He wants.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,  saith the Lord,  thoughts of peace, and not of evil,  to give you an expected end.”    

          (“expected” here means a cord bound or twisted together.    God’s end for us….is bound up in Himself.   We were never meant to have a life away from HIm.)

1 Corinthians 1:4, 8-9 “I thank my God always on your behalf  for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

          Who shall also confirm you unto the end,  that ye may be blameless in the day of  our Lord Jesus Christ.

          God is faithful, by Whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”

           (confirm you unto the end…..”confirm” means stabilize….make sure.)

God’s Word is sure…..God is faithful….His promises are in Christ Jesus….and we, if we are born anew,  are in Christ Jesus.

          2 Corinthians 1:20 “For all the promises of God in Him are yea,  and in Him  Amen, unto the glory of God by us.”

From the beginning  to the end….God will see HIs Will done.   Let us seek our place in His Purpose and yield to HIs faithfulness in bringing us to HIs expected end.