Will we choose the path where the Lord leads?

Deuteronomy 8:2 “And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness,    to humble thee,     and to prove thee,     to know what was in thine heart,    whether thou wouldest keep His commandments,  or no.”

       All the circumstances which come into our lives….in the path that the Lord leads us in….is laid out…to…

….show us our weakness….and show us God’s faithful might for us…that we might become totally dependent upon Him….leaning on our Beloved through this world.(Song of Solomon 8:5)

We do not know what is in our hearts until certain circumstances come….which show our weaknesses.

Peter truly felt he would never betray Christ…but he did.

      He got into circumstances which “pushed” against his fear for his life….and he denied the One he loved.  (John 21:15-19)

Paul speaks of this…

2 Corinthians 1:8-9 “For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:    

     But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves,  but in God which raiseth the dead;”

     This trouble came in the path of duty….and the Lord had  a lesson in that path.

Because of this trouble….Paul despaired. (Despaired here means that mentality there was no way out…so that it distressed his mind.)

      But he learned…. “that we should not trust in ourselves”:

2 Corinthians 4:7-10 “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

      We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed;  we are perplexed, but not in despair;

      Persecuted, but not forsaken;  cast down, but not destroyed;  Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.”

       

When we begin our journey on our path with Christ,  we do not know our own hearts.

       But as we go further into the path He leads us in,…circumstances are placed in front of us which will bring out of us how we truly are.

True, we love the Lord…..but will we stand with Him in the face of trouble?

       Yes, we know the Lord knows everything….but do we trust Him when suddenly things seem to fall apart….now?

• The more we see our lack….the more we should stay close to Christ….getting more of His grace for our circumstances.

Sometimes the lessons show us that…..we trust Christ with our hearts…..but not with our bodies.   Illness…broken bones….and weakened abilities, often can cause us to look to someone or something else other than Christ.

       Sometimes the Lord shows us that we trust Him…for eternity;  but fear and doubt Him for our “daily bread”.    Are we trusting our own wisdom or schemes then?

Luke 9:23-24 “And He said to them all,   If any man will come after Me,…”

     (Here is the crux of the matter, will we come after Him, no matter what the situation or circumstances?     If you will…then…)

“…let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

     For whosoever will save his life   shall lose it:   but whosoever will lose his life for My sake, the same shall save it.”

We have heard this call before (Matthew 16:24-25)…..but here is added the very telling word….”daily”.

This is an everyday, ongoing thing, until we stand in His presence.

As an old preacher once wrote….”only when we realize we are unable to do without God for a moment….do we find what He is for us,  moment by moment.”

I remember many colossal crises in my life….times when the Lamentations of Jeremiah (Lamentations 3:1-25  “…when I cry and shout,…”)……were more my prayers than the praises of the Psalms…but again and again the Lord reminds me….

….”I have led you….I will lead you…do not just “hang on”…..but hang on to Me, and see My hand in it all.”

     Sometimes I did not want to….I wanted to see the people or the situations….but He kept lifting my face to His….

“This is the key….this is the answer….deny yourself today, and follow Me…..and I will lead you through.”

His life….think of it as I often do…..His life in mine….here and now….this is what He offers all who will.

Will we choose the path where the Lord leads?

     

The time was come…

Galatians 4:4 “But when the fullness of the time was come,  God sent forth His Son,  made of a woman,  made under the law,”

          

The whole work of creation is for one purpose….to manifest the Son….to bring about the fulfillment of the Everlasting Covenant.

Hebrews 13:20-21 “Now the God of peace,  that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,  that great Shepherd of the sheep,  through the blood of the Everlasting covenant,

            Make you perfect in every good work to do His will,  working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight,  through Jesus Christ;  to Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

(It is interesting that this Covenant is so explicitly set forth here in Hebrews….certainly the writer is writing the Church in Jerusalem….showing that the sacrifice of Christ was and is the means for the perfecting of the believers….both Jew and Gentile.)

1 Timothy 2:5-6 There is One God,  and One Mediator between God and man,  the man Christ Jesus;

          Who gave Himself a ransom for all,  to be testified in due time.”

When the Godhead first decided to Create….They saw by their Omniscience, the rebellion of Lucifer, who became Satan,  fighting against all things of God.

They saw the fall of man, and all the evil that man opens his heart to.

They saw the necessity for the flood….giving grace to Noah and saving him in the Ark.

They saw the call of Abram and the establishing of the Jewish Nation….all their obediences and failures….right up to the time of:

Luke 2:1, 3-7 “And it came to pass in those days,  that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.”

(God put out a decree long before this….that all these things should be!)

             “And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

              And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

              To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

              And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she would be delivered.

               And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”

(Is there “room” in our lives for the Christ of God?)

               

               The Godhead saw all this, along with the obediences and failures of the church…..yet decided to create….

And the beginning of that creation,  was the Everlasting Covenant.

This covenant was established on an Eternal Foundation….the saving of a people for His Name’s sake.

“Through the blood of the Everlasting Covenant”.

1 Peter 1:19-20 “But with the precious blood of Christ,  as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

          Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world,  but was manifest in these last times for you.”

Christ agreed to come as man….made of a woman….as scripture said.  

He would be…”very God of very God, and very man of very man”

He would be born under the law….and fulfill that law perfectly….

….so that He would be a perfect sacrifice…”without blemish and without spot:”

He would die as a substitute for us…..taking our sin upon Him….

…and God would raise Him up….accepting His sacrifice.

God, the Father, agreed to  give Him a people….draw them to Christ to be saved,….place His Holy Spirit within them to be with them…..and bring them safely home to Heaven, even through battles and failures.

Everything before Christ’s birth was in anticipation of it….preparing a people to believe and trust.

Everything after Christ’s birth was to manifest the Promise fulfilled….preparing a people to believe and trust.

What kind of love would make God the Son, come and place His whole being, as a helpless baby, in the hands of men?

What kind of trust would make the Son of God give Himself up to the hatred of the rulers,  the mob of people,  the mocking of soldiers, and the pain and separation of the cross….to please His Father’s Will….and give us salvation?

The fullness of the time….is not just a clever phrase…..it is Christ manifested in the flesh for us. (1 Timothy 3:16)

God fulfilled His promise of a Savior…..in His time,  and His Way.

Galatians 4:4-7 “But when the fullness 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 has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying,  Abba, Father.

             Wherefore thou art no more a servant,  but a son;  and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

And now the fullness of times has come for you.

If you have not received Him…..will you open your heart to Him now, and be born again? 

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

          For with the heart  man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

As joint heirs of Christ,  will you be found faithful to that which He has called you to fulfill?

Will we receive that love God has for us…..that peace which will establish us…..in order to complete the work….”make you perfect in every good work to do His will”?

God’s Will will be done…..will we yield to our part of it?

Psalm 36:7-9 “How excellent is Thy lovingkindness, O God!   Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings.

       They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of Thy house; and Thou shalt make them drink of the river of Thy pleasures.

       For with Thee is the fountain of life:  in Thy light shall we see light.”(Page)

I want to stop here and say, “Hallelujah”!   Our God is a wonderful God….full of mercy and truth to us….helping us….

….both by rebuking us…to stop us from following the wrong way….

….and by comforting and encouraging us by His protection and satisfaction.

To Trust is to hold on to….Him and His Word.   (Under the shadow of Thy wings)

When God brought Israel out of Egypt….He said “I have brought you out on eagle’s wing…(Exodus 19:4)

Deuteronomy 32:11 “As an eagle stirs up her nest,    

(it is time to get out…to fly yourself),…

….fluttereth over her young,     

(showing them how to use their wings)….

….spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:”

(taking each eaglet on her wing and flying to show them how….keeping right there when they take off, to catch them on her wing)

         The Lord brought them out and taught them how to come close to Him….gave them the place of worship, and set up peace offerings which were a grand supper: part sacrificed to God….part eaten before Him in the outer court!

He did all this to bring them close to Him.

         The fat of the sacrifices,  always suggested richness.   Fat cattle were well fed and taken care of….and the fat of sacrifices was always choice…and placed on the altar. (Exodus 29:13, Lev. 1:8)…to God.

          In many places God calls us to enter into His goodness, and joy….eat the fat: (Isaiah 25:6,  Isaiah 55:2)

Nehemiah 8:10 “Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat,and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

“Thou shalt make them drink of the river of Thy pleasures”.    Satisfaction is in Christ alone.  

John 7:37-38 “…..Jesus stood and cried, saying,  If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

        He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

(The belly, in scripture, is the soul….especially the will.  Coming to Christ, willing with Him to do His Will….the Holy Spirit will flow out of us.)

Revelation 22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.  And let him that heareth say, Come.  And let him that is athirst come.  And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.”

“For with Thee is the fountain of life: in Thy light shall we see light.”

          The Lord is a fountain of wisdom, and peace, and longsuffering.

Light is an emblem of all the blessings given by God, so that we may gain more. 

        

These we may reflect and manifest to others:

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 

         Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

To know the Lord a little, should create a hunger in us to know Him more.

“Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness:  for they shall be filled.”

When Jesus came,  the last week of His life,  He wept over Jerusalem….and said,…

Matthew 23:27 “….how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!”

And ye would not….

But now I ask you….will you?    He often reaches out to us in lovingkindness….pulling us in under His wings of peace and love.

     Sometimes we may be weeping in grief or fear….other times we may be tired and weary….

…but in all circumstances….in every place….God will be there…

….let us know His Arm of Care.

Paul said….and he shivered in jails, beaten and bound….and stood before kings and rulers….and preached before all men,  the goodness and faithfulness of his God.

Philippians 4:11, 13 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

      I can do all things through Christ which strengthenth me.”

And as David said,…..and as Paul said,….

…we too can say…

Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Hallelujah, we are in Christ Jesus…..and by Him we receive all things we need.

Zechariah 

Luke 1:20 “And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”

Zechariah is an interesting case of unbelief.

      When we think of unbelief, we think that the person will not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.   

Those that will stubbornly hang onto belief in themselves…or those that refuse to believe because they do not want to be in submission to Anyone.    

This is true of the lost…

….but for those who believe in God and in Christ Jesus…

….unbelief can still attack us…and do us great harm.

       This is usually an unbelief from “reasons”.    

I have a “reason”….therefore what God said,…..could not possibly happen….to me.

        

Luke 1:5-7 “In the days of Herod,…there was a priest named Zechariah,…And he had a wife….and her name was Elizabeth.

           And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.

          But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.”

Here was a couple who loved God and each other.

          Zechariah went to fulfill his duties as a priest, and was chosen by lot to go in to the golden altar and burn incense.    

          (This was in the Holy place….and the golden altar was right next to the vail which was before the Holy of Holies.  The priests burnt incense upon it, to symbolize the prays of His people.)

Luke1:10” And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the time of the incense.”

As he is doing his duty,….

Luke 1:11”And there appeared to  him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.”

 

Now Zechariah sees an angel….but is afraid.  What could God want from him, an ordinary priest?

        Have we ever asked that question?   God, I am not trained,   I am not eloquent,  Or I am too old….there are many reasons we can begin to question the Lord’s call….but they can lead to unbelief in His Word.

(Now I want to mention that there has been no recorded revelations from God for about 400 years….

….but the very last Word to Israel, was…

Malachi 4:5-6 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.

     And he will turn the heart of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a degree of utter destruction.”

So the next Word of revelation,  to begin Christ’s ministry of Salvation, was about this very person.  Before anything else happened….Zechariah, an ordinary priest, is given this revelation of this prophet.)

First, the angel quiets Zechariah’s fears, for himself,…

….and speaks of the Purpose of God,  in Zechariah’s prayers for a son, for him and Elizabeth.

      “Do not be afraid….for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

      For he will be great before the Lord…and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God,

       And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just,  to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”  (Luke1:13, 15-17)

What joyful news!!!!  What a blessing!

     Yet…

….and aren’t we like this….stifling the joy by…looking at the circumstances of now….instead of God’s power.

       First  Zechariah feared,  then wondered about himself,  then questioned the goodness and wisdom of God!

      Once we start looking at ourselves…we can all slide into the questioning attitude….”but, Lord”….and then into unbelief.

 

Luke 1:18 “And Zechariah said to the angel,  How shall I know this?  For I am an old man, and my wife advanced in years.”

      

He was still looking at himself….no wonder there was unbelief!

Luke 1:19-20 “And the angel answered him,  I am Gabriel.  I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and bring you this good news.

      And behold,  you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”

(In the KJV the words “take place” are “fulfilled”.   Much better.   They did not just happen….God fulfilled His Word.   I was without my Bible when I wrote this….I was using the Gideon Bible, provided in my room.)

Now God did indeed fulfilled His Word.         Elizabeth conceived…and the son, born to her and Zechariah…was John the Baptist.

Then Zechariah, whose tongue was finally loosed…blessed God.

    

Luke 1:76-77 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways,

       To give knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness of their sins,”

Praise God, the promise was not hindered by Zechariah’s unbelief…..except for himself.    (He could have praised God’s will from the first.)

(How much joy we lose when we don’t deny ourselves,…and as we begin to doubt God’s goodness.)

Zechariah’s child was to be the forerunner of Christ.   

       The one who would herald to the nation, that they must prepare their hearts and ears to hear the Lord….Who was coming.   To repent of their sins.  

(A forerunner was one whose duty it was to run before the King’s procession and shout to all the people:  Prepare yourselves,  the King is coming,  the King is coming!   All the people would then come out and prepare to bow as the King went by.)

John’s ministry was absolutely necessary for the Awakening of Israel to the claims of God on their lives.

        Israel had become complacent.   They had a religious attitude….they still believed in God…

….but their regular life, was where the trials of providing food, shelter…and keeping out of the way of the Romans…was uppermost in their thoughts and  lives.

John the Baptist changed all of that for a great many Israelites.    A baptism of repentance…..to show they had turned from their sin….to prepare them,  for the Savior,  Who would save them from their sin…Jesus Christ.

Luke 3:2-3”During the high priesthood of Annais and Caiaphas,  the Word of the Lord came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

       And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”

John the Baptist not only preached of Christ…he pointed to Him.

John 1:29 “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward  him, and said,  Behold the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world.”

Unbelief destroys joy…replacing peace with doubt.   

Most of our unbelief comes from looking at ourselves;….

….when what we need to do is deny ourselves, believe the Lord’s Word…and praise Him for His Will for us,… and to us.

Lord, teach us to Pray

Luke 6:12 “And it came to pass in those days that He went out into a mountain to pray,  and continued all night in prayer to God.”

After His enemies, the scribes and Pharisees, started talking about….”what they might do to Jesus.”

And right before He chose the twelve apostles,…..the Lord Jesus spent a whole night in prayer.

How comforting it must have been for Him, to be before His Father’s presence, when His enemies were plotting against Him. (“They were filled with madness; and communed one with another…” Luke 6:11)

How strengthening for Him, that in the Father’s Will,  He would be given eleven men that would stay with Him, till the end…(plus the betrayer, Judas.   Luke 6:13-16).

His disciples must have recognized the comfort and strengthening that prayer gave Him…..for…

….one of the times He was praying, His disciples asked:

Luke 11:1 “And it came to pass,  that, as He was praying in a certain place,  when He ceased,  one of His disciples said unto Him,    Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”

Teach us to pray…..

Whether they meant, teach us  the words to say….or the attitude in doing so;……Jesus did…….giving them all the things they should put into their prayers:

(Luke 11:2-4). “….Our Father which art in heaven,  Hallowed be Thy name.”                                          He showed them, and us…..Who we are to pray to.    And the attitude in coming before the Throne of grace….in reverence for all He is.

“Thy kingdom come.”   Let Your kingdom come within me, and then let it come on this earth.

“Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.”  We are to seek after God to know His Will….and to do it in the joy and confidence….that the angels do in heaven.

“Give us day by day our daily bread.”    We have needs, and God does not neglect them….we are to bring them before Him and lay them out before Him….seeking His will in all of them

“And forgive us our sins;  for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us.” We should bring our daily sins….to be forgiven, so that fellowship will not be interrupted,….or joy, lost.   

And we are to forgive others,  reminding ourselves, how much we have been forgiven.

“And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.”   We all have those things that tempt us.    All of us are faced with temptation everyday….it is what we do with it,  that matters.

So He taught his disciples to pray that we would be led away….clear away from it.     But if we are led astray….to be delivered from it.

Next,   Jesus showed them what the attitude of prayer should be:

(Luke 11:5-8). Ask….and receive.      Seek….and find.     Knock….and get the door opened.

Stay after what you need….till you get it.

Then….and I thing this is both wonderful, and merciful…..the Lord Jesus showed them that God was their Heavenly Father,  Who will give “good gifts” unto His children….who ask Him.

Luke 11:11-13 “If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone?   Or if he ask a fish,  will he for a fish give him a serpent?

                   Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?  

                   If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts  unto your children;  how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?”

God will not give “look alike” answers. (Stone for bread….a serpent for an eel….and a scorpion, which curls up and goes white; for an egg.)

He gives the need,…..met.

And of all the gifts He gives….The Lord says…..seek for the Holy Spirit….in fullness.

To pray to our Heavenly Father is a blessed right of the born again ones.

To have the Holy Spirit in us….more and more as we yield to Him, is a blessed promise for our journey here, and forever.

 

Colossians 4:2 “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;”

Are we praying?    Are we being watchful? 

Philippians 4:6 “Be careful for nothing;  but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving  let your requests be made known unto God.”

Ephesians 5:14 “Wherefore He saith,  Awake thou that sleepest,  and arise from the dead,  and Christ shall give thee light.”

                   

We need to learn to pray,…..but the Lord is willing to teach us….

…….giving us His example….and exhorting us to stay after….do not give up on God.

(How weak our flesh is here…..but even in this,  we can ask for help.)

Praise our God for all His Word to us.

Simeon,  and Anna 

God prepares hearts…….to see and receive His blessed Son……sometimes years ahead…..leading them to worship and joy.

Luke 2:25-26 “And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon;  and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel:  and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

            And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death,  before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.”

Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus had come to Jerusalem eight days after his birth…..that they might offer Him unto the Lord…..by an offering told in the law(Exodus 22:29)…..and give the offering of purification. (Leviticus 12:2-8)

They had come to the Temple,….and the Holy Spirit had led Simeon to be there, as well…..when he saw them….he went over and….

Luke 2:28-32 “Then took he Him up in his arms,  and blessed God, and said,

            Lord, now lettest Thy servant depart in peace,  according to Thy Word:

For mine eyes have seen Thine Salvation,

            Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people;  

             A Light  to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.”

How lovingly and tenderly does Simeon pick up His Lord…..”and blessed God”….

Simeon praised God’s goodness in letting him see His Son….for being faithful to His promise to him.

He praised God for His Salvation….wrapped up in this little baby.

He praised God for the Purpose of His Salvation….both to the Gentiles and Israel.

And in this praise Simeon prophesied of the Way of salvation….

…..”before the face of all people”….

……Christ was raised between earth and heaven, outside the city….on a hill…..before all the people, from all over, which came to the Passover!

Simeon showed that Christ was presented as God’s Glory….to Israel.

(Luke 2:14 and the angels praised….”Glory to God in the highest…”

Wise men coming and telling all, in Jerusalem, of the Star which announced the King’s birth Matthew 2:1-3.

The miracles,  again and again…how glorious they all were.

The prophesy of Christ coming in as King to Jerusalem…..and He did.  Zechariah 9:9).

And Simeon showed that Christ would be presented to the Gentiles…..as Light….(Matthew 4:15-16, John 8:12, Acts 26:17-18)

And  then he turned to Mary and Joseph….

Luke 2:34-35 “And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary  His mother,  Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel;  and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

             (Yea, a sword shall pass through thine own soul also;) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

         

God sent His Beloved Son to save all who would come to the the Light….

….many will rise to be joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17)…

…and many will fall…rebelling against their King…and Lord….and destroy themselves in the process. (Mark 12:1-9)

“That the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed”.   It is our hearts, God wants…..will we give them, for He knows our hearts!

Luke 2:36-38 “And there was one Anna,  a prophetess,…..of the tribe of Asher:  she was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity.

           And she was a widow of about four score and four years,  which departed not from the Temple,  but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

          And she coming in that instant  gave thanks likewise unto the Lord,  and spake of Him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”

Anna,  who was at least in her nineties,  came into the part of the Temple that Mary, Joseph, Jesus, and Simeon were.

Hearing what Simeon said…..she rejoiced.   

How much joy the birth of Jesus gave those “who looked for redemption”…in Israel.

She had not departed from the Temple for years, after she became a widow,….but stayed…..feeling her work to serve God was to fast and pray…..night and day.

(Night is first….probably her best time to pray…..for few would be around)

But with the knowledge that Redemption,  in the Person of this baby was come….she told everyone that she knew,…..that was waiting for Him.

Even as a babe,  Christ Jesus separated men and women into two groups…..those who wanted their King….and His kingdom, to come to them….

….and those to whom the news of Christ made no impact….except to interfere with their lives……they did not care that the King had come (Luke 19:14, 27)

To these two,  Simeon and Anna,……Christ was the One they had been praying, and looking for…..Emmanuel….God with us….

……and here He was, a baby,  in His mother’s arms.

How amazing!  

God deserved all praise,….from all….

….yet being wise in the Holy Ghost……they told only those who were looking and waiting for Christ, the Son of God,  the Messiah, to come.

Christ Jesus came a baby,  born in a manger…..for there was no room in the inn….

Heralded by angels….seen and recognized by shepherds,  

By wise men from a far country,…

…Simeon and Anna…..

……and those unnamed,  but known of God, which looked for the Christ to come.

Let us rejoice at His birth…..and what it means for us.

(Notice the names of Christ spoken here:  

Consolation:      2 Thessalonians 2:16 “Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God even our Father which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace.”    

Salvation:   Matthew 1:21 “And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins.” 

Light:     Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my Light and my Salvation;  whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of my life;  of whom shall I be afraid?”

The Glory:    Psalm 24:7 “Lift up your heads, O ye gates;  and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors;  and the King of Glory shall come in.”

Redemption:   1 Corinthians 1:30 “But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus,  Who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”

Redemption is  to be bought back….bought back from sin, and death, from Satan’s power, and the world.

He is all these,  and more,  to those who receive Him.)

That we may know

        In the Bible, when God speaks of “know”….He is speaking of understanding what He says,  and to get it in our experience.   To know, we actually have part and lot in the matter.

Ephesians 1:18 “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened;  that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,”

Now Bible hope is of the Holy Spirit.  When you know the hope of your salvation….you know the witness of the Spirit within you.   (Romans 8:15-16)

Those commentators which study the make-up of the Bible, say that Ephesians is the book of possessing our possessions.    It is as Joshua in the Old Testament…..the people gaining their Promised Land….through God’s workings,  through obedience and battle.

Ephesians is like that.   It begins with:

Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”

There is our promised land…..All Spiritual Blessings….laid up for us to use in the heavenlies….in Christ.    

     He has chosen us,  and predestinated us,  adopted us, and made us accepted in Himself….

     In Him we have redemption,  forgiveness of sins,  the riches of grace,  and His will made known unto us.

We are given the Holy Spirit,  and Himself as Head of the church.

All this we have….and should know as our personal experience.

Ephesians 2:6 “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”

Together,  as Christians, we are the people of God….a building of HIs making, and for His glory. (Eph. 2:20-22)

       We are in the heavenlies, before the throne….in Christ.

       He is working in the world….in us.

(I say in us,….because what is in us, really, comes out.  It is shown abroad…especially the love of Christ.)

Ephesians 3:16-19 “That He would grant you,  according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by HIs Spirit in the inner man;

       That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;  that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 

       May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

       And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.”

(A long time ago,  when I was younger and more full of myself….I thought I can surely give explanation of these verses….

….and yes, to a (small) degree I could.   I knew the love of Christ Jesus to me, both in salvation…and in fellowship.

       But I have come to see….the ministry of these verses is in the church.   When those that love the Lord,….are gathered together there is a special love filling the place.   Not all feel or know it the same….but gathered together we may have a better glimpse of the Oneness and Abiding Presence.

      The breadth….as wide as the church on earth itself.

      The length….as long as Eternity.

      The depth….for it reaches down to the lowest hell to save us….and keeps saving us for Himself.

      The height….to Heaven where we will “know” in our fullest form.) 

       

Our ministry is a personal one, to God and others.    And our ministry is a corporate one, in our local church….and beyond….for the church: it’s growth and strength.

God loves His people….and gives us the Holy Spirit that we may know our part of the breadth, length, depth, and height of HIs love….by faith.

And we can never know this as we ought, till we begin to lose our love for ourselves.   

(No this is not self-condemnation…that is just self-pity on steroids.   

       But this is truly to lose all that we worldly love, and place ourselves squarely  in the flood of God’s love.   

       God’s love works for our good, not our wants…..His love works for His purpose in our lives, not our plans.   God’s love molds…and sometimes that is in the furnace…but His love also shows that He is with us there.)

As we do,  we see what it is  to become of use to our God in our lives, and in the church….

Ephesians 4:1 “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,”

From the fourth chapter, on…..Paul exhorts about the walk of those that “know”….

We are to walk worthy of our calling…with all lowliness…with longsuffering for others….working to keep the unity of the Spirit….the Oneness we know.

We are not to walk as others do….but since we have learned Christ….we are to “walk in love, as Christ has loved us.”

As we walk with God,  we are built up….further learning….further growing up into Christ….

….how infinite the knowledge of Christ is!

And then…..in our possessing our spiritual blessings…..we come to stand…possessing our armor….and holding what Christ has won for us….in our battles.

Ephesians 6:11, 13 “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand agains the wiles of the devil.

        Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

Twice we are exhorted to “put on the whole armor of God”.    All of it,….for if we use the shield of faith,…..but do not put on the helmet of salvation….we may be wounded in our thought life.   

       

God is interested in us gaining all our possessions…..all He has won for us….all He has set aside in Him.

He want us to “know” Him….and be filled with all the fullness of God.

Will we begin to “know” in understanding and experience all of Him….for us?

We all have a unique work to do for time and eternity.

I can not do your work….and you can not do mine.   We are each made for our Purpose of God….made especially for this time and place.

We have been made uniquely….I am “wonderfully made”

Psalm 139:14 “I will praise Thee;  for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:  marvelous are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”

      “Wonderfully made” here, means…”to distinguish, to put a difference, set apart”

That is why our personalities are so important to God…..we must be us….freed from the bondage of sin….and the constraints which we and the world place on us (The world would make us after their fashion:   you can’t like them,   You should wear this,  you must be athletic,   You must agree with me.)

       He does not want us to be robots….or all alike,  except we are all to have the characteristics of Christ formed in us, as believers.

He wants me to be me…..and you to be you….for He loves us.

(I wish I could get this across to our youth…..God loves them….not because they can hit a ball,  or run a race, or because they are being like every other girl or boy in school….but because He saw and made you….and loves your personality….again, freed from sin.)

Revelation 4:11 “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power:  for Thou hast created all things,  and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

Here He is praised as Creator….of all things….of me.

The reason entire for my existence…..is His Pleasure (or in the Greek…”determination.”)

But for this to be done as it ought to be….I must get it down to an everyday existence,  the things I am to do today.

I can never acquire that to which I am to be finally….if I fail to pass through those experiences that must lead to it.   Acquiring now,  to a degree,  that to which I will be fully then. 

Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,  holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

Now it is His pleasure that I be empowered to do what must be done.

      As I can in no way,  do it, of myself.

But to Whom is it, by the mercies of God, are we to present our bodies?

God the Father sits on His Throne.

God the Son has His own body, as the Man, Christ Jesus.

God the Holy Spirit is the member of the Godhead we present our bodies to.

God gives us the privilege and the honor of presenting our bodies to the Holy Spirit to be His dwelling place on earth.

We lost the presence of the Holy Spirit in our spirits, at the fall…

….He comes back into our spirits at Regeneration….”Ye must be born again.”

From that time forward….for all eternity….the Holy Spirit is within us.   He is the Paraclete…which means He comes beside us to uphold us, He lifts us up and keeps us.

But the scriptures call us to be filled with the Spirit.

        And this is an act of the will….for we must choose to be emptied of self…..to get out of the way of the Spirit’s influence and power in our lives….for He will free us from sin, and the constraints of the world.

(A brief explanation of “self” might be helpful:  

      Self is not our personalities.   

     Our personalities were formed within us, even in the womb….they are the real us.  They continue to be formed by all that we go through….our likes and dislikes, our “favorites” food, color, place.   If we were honest,  our personalities are often not like the rest of our family….though we share heritage and circumstances.   

      For our personalities,  are what we are really like…a gift from the Creator to us…..we are each unique…each personality especially fitted for God’s Purpose and Plan.

      Self, on the other hand, is that part of me which rebels against authority….especially God’s authority in my life.   

      Self is:    I have been running my life by emotions and reasons….I will, and I do, as I please….in my thoughts and imaginations, if not in my actions.   This is self.   

      Self may do “good” things…..or “bad” things….this is the result of the Tree of Good and Evil….

….but self can never please God….except we deny ourselves, and let Him free the real us,…to be His praise and glory.

      Perhaps, an example might be good….I love to read!  It is a choice blessing that I can still at my age see clearly (glasses included).

      But a few years ago, I was having to do a great deal of reading for a study I was doing….and I noticed I began to be disgruntled about it!    At first I shrugged it off….I was tired,…something.

     But then I began to dislike picking up my study….and reading!    Yes,  self and the adversary had made it burdensome!   Why?

     It began one day, when I went to study, and I remembered I had not done something I had said I would.   Frustration!   And instead of instantly going to God about it….I resented both my saying I would do this…and my study.

     A little sin…..grows.    But self was at the back…..”Why do I forget these things?   Oh, hurry up and get this reading done, and go do it!”

     You can see self was the problem…..which the Holy Spirit would have instantly seen to, if I had gone to Him…..

……but instead, I thought these things, finished my study, and went and did…….but,….what I loved had started to become a burden!     Silly me.    

      Praise God for all His help, to point it out, and when it was confessed…..joy replaced burden!

      Self is that part of us which says….my feelings,  my thoughts,  my anything is more important than taking the time to seek God.)

Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

          And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Will you so present yourself to Him….to be emptied of self,  that you might be filled by Him,  with all the fullness of God?

To the degree you are willing to be emptied,  He will fill you!

       For the fulfilling of His Purpose for you!

Because this is what this is all about.

As He speaks to you, will you will it, to be so?

Revelation 22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.  And let him that heareth say, Come.  And let him that is athirst come.  And whosoever will,  let him take the water of life freely.”

This is the Way….Walk ye in it 

Isaiah 30:21 “And thine ear shall hear a word behind thee saying, This is the Way, walk ye in it,  when ye turn to the right hand, or when ye turn to the left.”

Have you heard that Word?

Do you know this is the Way, Walk ye in it?

[Paul and Silas had come to a cross road….and been led to Philippi….someplace new…..they had not gone into Europe before…

There….they end up in prison.    

“this is the way, walk ye in it.”

Beaten, and in stocks….they began to pray.   

Did we do what You wanted?  Or had we overstepped ourselves in dealing with the demon-possessed fortune teller?   Acts 16:16-18, 22-23

And when they heard that they had done the Lord’s Will…than….Praise the Lord….this beating is for the greater glory of Jesus!

And they got to feeling so good about it,…that they broke out into song. 

After the beating they had….their backs open and sore,…bleeding and stinging…..they were leaning on the strength of the Lord, and praising Him for the opportunity of suffering for His Sake.

They were in His Way….

….and being in the Lord’s Way….they were given opportunity to deal with someone….the Jailer.

Yes, there were others there that heard their prayers, singing,….and the Word to the Jailer….but it was with the Jailer….tough, efficient, seemingly uncaring….that the Spirit deals most.

Acts 16:30-32 “And brought them out, and said,  Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

         And they said,  Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,  and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

         And they spake unto him all the Word of the Lord….”

[they did not just tell him what to do…..but informed him of God’s Word, so he would know…..Who Jesus was….what He had done…and why he needed to believe on Him]

Paul and Silas heard the Word and walked right into Jail….and led a Jailer and his household to Christ.)

How many people who would gladly hear about salvation…..do we come into contact with?

If we wait for “great days”….they may never come.   

What of us?  

Have we listened for His Voice to guide?

Have we heard the Word….yet not used it?

[ Pilgrims Progress:

Christian and Hopeful had just come from the Shepherds in the Delectable Mountains….a place of rest and security…about in the middle of their way to the Celestial City.

       As they left, the Shepherds gave them three things:  

A warning….beware of the Flatterer.

A map….if they came to a place that was confusing.

A Word….Godspeed. (This is a old English word meaning….Go with God…at His time and speed.)

     As they went on, rejoicing in such a beautiful place that the Lord had made for the wayfarers….they came to a place of turning…

….but the turning was in a “Y” shape.    

Which way to go?  

        (Now I want to say….they had a map….which they should have used….but it was nicely tucked away in their pocket….)

      As they looked at this turn….a man…covered from head to toe in a bright garment came up….and asked,  “Where are you going?”

      They said to the Celestial City….trying not to look too confused about the turn….

…..he said….”I am too, follow me”….

…so they did,…..

…..without asking him who he was….or seeking to know how he knew…..they just followed…because it was easier….and this man did seem quite confident in what he knew!

       Soon,  they seemed to be twisting around….the way seemed to go from straight…to curved backward….but they kept following, thinking it would probably straighten back out….

….when suddenly they were caught in a net!    And the man threw off his bright cloak….to reveal an enemy of the right Way!   

      This man left them there, stuck in the net……and there they continued, for several hours when….

…….a “shiny one”….one of God’s messengers came by….asking them why they were in the net…..

……they told him about following the brightly clothed man….

….and the messenger said, “He was the Flatterer”……and rescued them out of the net.

      God’s messenger then took them back to the Way….the same place of turning….and then chastened them for listening and following the Flatterer.

     Didn’t you get a warning and a map?  He asked.

     Yes, they said….their heads down, realizing they had been given all they needed….but did not use it.

      The messenger warned them, from now on,  to use what they had….and let them go on…in the Way.)

We often think of special enlightenment,  when He has already told us.

Perhaps through a message,  a Bible study,….a verse the Holy Spirit brings to mind….

….there is in our everyday paths the means of the fulfillment of God’s Way for us…..

….and we need to be faithful there…..in what we have in hand….

…and faithful to God in those we come into contact with.

1 Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts,  and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

When He is Lord, there should be no problem with your answer to any.

They may be able to find a way around what we say…..but they cannot get around what He says through us!

I know the first time I lead someone to the Lord,  I was full of trembling and fear….(I had “not passed this way before”)…

…I was confident in the Lord….and His salvation….

…but fearful that I might make a mistake….and I told Him so…..

…He told me to follow in His Word, verse by verse,   that she might be founded on what God’s Word said…..

…..and I followed His leading……and she became a child of God.   

Joshua 3:3-4 “And they commanded the people saying,   When we see the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God,….then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.

        …..that ye may know the way by which you must go:  for ye have not passed this way heretofore.”

There are many “side roads” which we come to,  on our way to heaven…..and they must be seen for what they are.   How?

Plainly we need to keep our eyes on our God…..and use the map of His Word….

….heeding every warning….and using every promise.

If we wait only on the Lord,  in our everyday lives and walk….then…thine ear shall hear a word behind thee,  this is the Way, Walk ye in it.

When the fullness of the time was come 

Galatians 4:4-5 “But when the fullness 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.”

“But…”.   This is a connective term,  which changes the direction of the narrative……having to do with what is before:

          Galatians 4:3 “Even so we,  when we were children,  were in bondage under the elements of the world:”

Paul is explaining that when we “were children in bondage”……this goes back to the traditions of Rome.

        A man may have many children….his, or those he chooses…..but they are just children….till….

….the adoption of sons.    He would go before the court of Rome….and openly declare that this child….was his son….his heir.

God has done this to us…..He has adopted us….and legally declared us to be His sons.

We were in bondage to the elements of the world….

     What elements?   The world’s attitudes,  sins,  anger and jealousy,….the world’s greed and self-exaltation…..the world’s lust for self-seeking pleasures.

     We were under their control…..living and moving with the crowd to destruction…..

“But….”.    Blessed change!   But when the fullness of God’s time was finally come…..He did something so wonderful….

….so magnificent….

so different than expected….

….He sent forth on the greatest errand of mercy and hope….

……His Son, Christ Jesus,  well beloved and holy….to redeem us….that we might be openly adopted and known as His sons.   

Amen….Hallelujah….amen.

When we believe, then we are adopted and given HIs Spirit….as the certification of His salvation….and given an inheritance:

               Romans 8:15, 17 “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.

              And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.”

               Ephesians 1:13-14 “In Whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation:  in Whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 

               Which is the earnest (down payment) of our inheritance…”

And now we will talk of the “fullness of the times”….now….in this time.

And God waited…..till the fullness of the time came for me,…for you….for us.

       They saw our birth, and the gospel given…..how many times?

       They saw our call…and our twists and turns in the way.

       They saw our spiritual steps till now…..some small, some large….

Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

                And be not conformed to this world:  but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

The body is the instrument of the Spirit….so that if it be held for Christ,  then the practical life is His.

         The feet for walking at His bidding.

         The hands to work His Way.

         The tongue to speak for Him.

         The ear to hear His Words….promise and command.

         The eye to look at everything as under His control.

When we are born again,  the body is the Temple of God, for it holds the Spirit of God within—and we are to bring our body to the Holy Spirit, and deny ourselves.

Romans 11:36 “For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things:  to  Whom be glory for ever. Amen.”

This is how the body….the whole life, finds itself under the government of the Kingdom of Christ.

Now the fullness of the time has come for me, for you…..for us…..now.

           As joint-heirs of Christ will we take our  place in His kingdom, now….and be found faithful in that which He has called us to do?