The Joy of the Lord is your strength

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:  neither be ye sorry;  for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Joy is the attitude of heaven.   In heaven there is nothing to fear,  nothing to afflict,  nothing to give stress and strain to the lives we will enjoy.

            Yet,  our God wants us to have the earnest of that joy that is in heaven….here,  by the Holy Spirit.     (It is one of the fruits of the Spirit   Gal. 5:22-23)

Deuteronomy 28:47 “Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;” 

Here we see the value God places on joy in our lives!

“Because thou servest not”…..even in the “abundance of all things”!  

First, I want to ask….what abundance of all things?      

          This was said to the Israelites,  Who God delivered out of slavery….and brought into covenant relationship with Him.    Who gave them a Tabernacle in the midst as a place to meet with Him.

          Who gave them Manna,  which tasted like coriander and honey.   It could be eaten as is….or ground into flour and mixed with other things into bread…or mixed in with meat as a stew.

          Who gave them water, and quails,  and laws which showed them HIs holiness….and yet His desire for fellowship with them.

          Who gave them victory over the enemies which came against them.    Who led them, even when they sinned against Him….till He brought them (as He promised) into the Promised Land….and gave it to them….as their inheritance.

         And notice it is “Who”…..not just what.    He was their reason for joy….and it is the same for us.

         “In Christ Jesus” is the inheritance begun…..and the first earnest of that inheritance is the Holy Spirit….Who gives joy!

(My husband once noticed a verse in Psalm 22.   Now this psalm is the closest picture of Christ on the cross.   Many of the prophecies which this psalm state are seen as we stand at Calvary!

The agony, the jeering, the scorn, the pain and especially the forsaking of God the Father is all there…..

…..but so is this verse,  which astounded my husband when he read it:

Psalm 22:3 “But Thou art holy,  O Thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.”

          Why should this be there?    Because, in the midst of sufferings,   God is reminding HIs true people, that doing His Will…even in suffering….is joy,  if we are reconciled completely to God.

         If you go to the end of the Psalm….Jesus cries,  “Save Me from the lion’s mouth:  for Thou hast heard Me from the horns of the unicorns.” (verse 21)

        And then,  in confidence in His Father….”I will declare Thy Name….in the midst of the congregation will I praise Thee.”

        This is the same as in Hebrews, where Paul is showing that Jesus rejoiced in doing the Father’s Will….and accomplishing our Salvation:

        Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;     Who for the joy that was set before HIm endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

        HIs joy was in doing the Father’s Will,   manifesting the Father to the world, and bringing about our Salvation!      Yet it was through much agony….that He did it.    He despised the shame…He hated the defilement of our sin….yet He saw the joy of HIs heart…us,  saved and and set aside to Him…even on the cross.)

And we are all called to joy in the Lord:

       Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say,  Rejoice.”

“Rejoice” here, means to be  “calmly happy”. 

In this world we can get stress,…frustration with plans that never seem to work out,…we can acquire burdens of cares….we can become jealous or envious….we can let resentments destroy relationships or our peace.

But,…..if we are not rejecting the Lord in our circumstances,…then He is there in a powerful way, for us in all our situations….and relationships.

“The Lord is at hand.”  (Philippians 4:5)

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

The Lord knows we need things….He is not saying to forget what is going on around us….

….but He says in everything:

      To pray about it…..to supplicate HIs throne for mercy and grace (Hebrews 4:16)….with thanksgiving for all the abundance of things He has already done.

Be careful for nothing:  Stop worrying about this…that….or the other.   How?

      The answer is to:   in everything…. Pray,   and supplicate God’s throne.

The Word plainly says:

       1 John 5:14-15 “And this is the confidence that we have in Him,  that,  if we ask any thing according to His Will,  He heareth us:

       And if we know that He hears us,   whatsoever we ask,  we know that we have the petitions that we desired of HIm.”

       This is to pray.

(I use this promise everyday….where we ask the Lord for the things that He has shown us is His Will….for the day,  for ourselves,  for others.)

       To supplicate is to “beg”…..here we come as the poor petitioners we are….not looking to any other help….and beg God to give an answer……for what we need is to hear Him….to know His mind concerning these things.

“With thanksgiving”   How it lifts our hearts….and minds….when we thank Him for that which we have already experienced….that which He has said will be.

For I have found that though the answer may be exactly what I have asked for….halleluiah!

       It is also wonderful when the Lord works His subjection within my heart to have joy and peace with His answer….when it is not what I asked for!  Hallelujah!

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

Again let me say…if we are not rejecting the Lord in the circumstances…then….He is there:  The Lord is at hand!

The Peace of God,  which passeth understanding….how many times have we experienced that!

       In a sweeping purifying way His Holy Spirit fills my being,  to assure me that I am right with God….and that I am made right with others, and they are made right with me. 

       The deep assurance that I am right even with myself comes….and that assurance will keep….will guard our affections and our thoughts through Christ Jesus.

Nothing guards our hearts and minds….like His Peace.    Nothing supports our hearts and minds in His Will, day by day…..like HIs joy.

Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord alway:  and again I say,   Rejoice.”

      Be calmly happy in the Lord….alway!

Paul’s first missionary journey

Acts 13:1-2 “Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers;  Barnabas….and Saul.

              As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said,  “Separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.”

Now I want to mention here, that my husband….years ago….received that we all are “missionaries” in a sense.   We all have a mission to perform to the Lord Jesus…we all are called to spread the gospel…by word, deed, and prayer.

             We may not be called to foreign lands….or we may be.   But the work of a missionary is to go to a people that we are called to….and preach the gospel….and make disciples of those we preach to.

Barnabas and Saul were in the church of Antioch….the place they were first called “Christians”,  which means “little Christ”.

            Saul, after his conversion had traveled back to Jerusalem….but the brothers there did not believe him….until a man named Barnabas brought him before the apostles “and declared how he had seen the Lord in the way.”  (Acts 9:26-30)

Then he went home to Tarsus….always a good place to start any ministry….at home.

But then,  when the gospel was being spread about….a church was made by the preaching of the Word, in Antioch.

           Acts 11:21 “And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.”

Barnabas was sent from Jerusalem, to encourage and exhort them….

          Acts 11:23 “Who,  when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.”

(And may I say that “with purpose of heart”….or with the willful actions of our hearts to the Lord…we too, should “cleave”…….be joined to the Lord.    To stand with HIm, in all our thoughts and actions.)

But having come,  Barnabas sees that this church needs more instruction in the Word….so he goes and gets Saul at Tarsus.  

         (Remember Saul/Paul has been raised in the Scriptures under a great teacher….and knew them well!    How much the Lord Jesus had showed him concerning Himself, through those Old Testament scriptures is seen in how much Paul uses them in his letters and when he preaches)

This begins their ministry together….both at the church in Antioch….and on their first missionary journey to other places.

Acts 13:4-5 “So they (Barnabas and Saul),  being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Sleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus…..and they had John to their minister.”

            Having been sent by the Holy Spirit….they took John Mark as their helper.   He was there to help them in prayer, and to see to the things they needed,…such as food and a place to rest.       

           He was not a preacher or teacher….simply, a helper, at this time.   He needed  to grow in grace,  and learn from them….about the Word, and faith in the Lord.

We know they preached to the people, as they went…across the whole island…

…….but their first interactions with the authorities in Cyprus….was with a deputy of the country.   (Acts 13:6-7)

          He wanted to hear the Word of God!

(What an amazing thing….that after preaching for awhile,  to be understood as preaching the Word of God!)

But here also was the first antagonist….a sorcerer, a false prophet, whose name was Elymus.

          He “withstood” them.   He was defying them and their “gospel”….wanting to keep this deputy under his control.

As one old preacher used to say:

        “ Everyday we serve the Lord….and in every situation we enter….is to be seen as us traveling through enemy territory….and we should always be ready to give an answer to every man.”

          We never know how things will turn.    We always need to be prepared in the Word of God….and standing with the Lord…in all the circumstances we enter.    Then we can know what to do….and how to do.

Acts 13:9 “Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost,  set his eyes on him,”

Now I want to say here….that there is a shift in the actions of Barnabas and Paul.     

         Barnabas had been leading,  with Paul as back-up preacher….showing the Word of God and how it proved Jesus was the Christ of God.

But now,  Paul, steps forward and looks this man right in the face.    The Lord Jesus,  Who knocked him down on the road to Damascus,  was no weak or powerless man….but the Son of God…Who has all authority and power.

          They were there because “God sent them”….and Paul was going to show the truth of this sorcerer…..so  that the  Word of God,  this deputy wanted to hear….was not interfered with.

          Acts 13:10-12 “And said,  O full of all subtilty and all mischief,  thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

         And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season.    And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

        Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.”

Let me say here….most “religions” that he had probably heard of were powerless rituals….but “the doctrine” this deputy believed was that Christ Jesus was indeed the Son of God,  in charge of all His servants,….even poor servants going about preaching HIs Word.

When they left the island, they sailed to Perga in Asia Minor….and when they landed….John Mark left them and went back home to his mother’s house in Jerusalem!

          This was another affliction, of a different kind.

One they had trusted and counted on to help them….deserted them, and the work of Jesus Christ!  

 (He was young,  and they had been through some trials….but when he left,  it was a real blow to them both.   

          Sadness must have come to Barnabas especially because John Mark was his nephew, his sister’s son.   But both men felt this loss….

…..how much our ministries count….even when we do not think so!)

          Neither Barnabas nor Paul mention this,  now….but instead they concentrate on the ministry that God sent them on…more fervently preaching life, death, and the resurection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

They went from Perga up into Asia Minor….going into synagogues preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ….showing His salvation to all who will believe!

          Acts 13:26, 28-30, 38-39 “Men and brethren,…and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

          And when they had fulfilled all that was written of Him (Christ Jesus), they took HIm down from the tree, and laid HIm in a sepulchre.

          But God raised Him from the dead: 

          Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man  is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

          And by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.”

(Envy is a terrible thing,  and many….fought against the Word of God, because they saw  that this “gospel” put all on equal footing….all sinners needing a Savior.    But this does not please the self-righteous.

     ”But…stirred up the devout and honorable women, and the chief men of the city…and expelled them out of their coasts.”  Acts 13:50)

Persecution came….and they were asked to leave…but many truly believed in the Lord, and a church was formed there.

          In Iconium,  they came and preached….

…..and,  as it does everywhere….the gospel divided the city.   

     So much so, that there was a plot to stone them!     So they fled to Lystra and Derbe,  to the east in Asia Minor.  

Here,  a lame man,  hearing the gospel, is healed….both spiritually and physically.     This man had never walked….yet when Paul told him to stand,  when he saw that he had been saved,  receiving faith in Christ to be healed….this lame man stood and leaped!

         But like people everywhere….with this miracle…they first wanted to worship Paul and Barnabas (though they preached Christ to them, to turn them from their idol worship)….

….then,….these very people were “persuaded”…by people who had come from Iconium to stone Paul!

         Paul is stoned and dragged out of the city….believing him to be dead.   “Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him,  he rose up and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe” (Acts 14:20)

Notice that there are already disciples….some probably who had joined them from the other cities….some from Lystra….who were brave enough to come and stand with Paul and pray for him.   

        How great is the grace of God to us,  if we yield to it!   How much courage and strength the Holy Spirit gives as we yield to Him!

        In the midst of the frenzied stoning of Paul….men stood up with him,  and saw him come to, and rise on his feet…..and walked back into the city with him,  under the eyes of the city!

        How great our salvation is!

Barnabas and Paul went on to Derbe and preached there….”and taught many”.    This is the commission from Christ….”Go and make disciples”  (Matthew 28:19-20)

         Then they turn around,  go back to Lystra….then to Iconium, and to an Antioch in Pisidia:

Acts 14:22-23 “Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith,  and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

         And when they had ordained them elders in every church,  and had prayed with fasting,  they commended them to the Lord,  on Whom they believed.”

They continue down to Perga (where John Mark left them)….and they preached there,  and then returned to Antioch….”from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.”   (Acts 14:26)

         They fulfilled the work they had been called to.   It was Paul’s first missionary journey…..there were two more before his imprisonment….and one to Spain between his first and second imprisonments,  after which he was beheaded.

         He learned  that everywhere,  there is the need of the Salvation of Jesus Christ…and the need for instruction in the Word….

……and that through trials, loss, persecution, and even threat of death…..the Lord is working His Will,  as we will yield to it….in every place,  in every circumstance.

Our work and ministry is the same…..we will meet with many trials,   and losses,    and persecution…and even threats of death…..

….yet the Lord is still the Salvation of all who will believe and receive Him.    And the One who meets every need that comes up.

If Thou Wilt. 

James 4:13-14 “Go to now,  ye that say,   Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city,  and continue there a year,  and buy and sell and get gain

                            Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow.   For what is your life?   It is even a vapor,  that appeared for a little time,  and then vanisheth away.”

Only God can say “So be it”.  For it is His Will alone,  that stands every test.

We, as Christians,  may say,  “If God wills”,  we will do this or that.

        How many plans have been destroyed or laid aside,  because we have not considered what God wanted with our time?

As Christians we should not walk through life “Willy nilly”:…..this way, then that way.  

       We should have a definite goal to head toward,  and find out God’s way to get there.

Philippians 3:12-14. “Not as though I had already attained,  either were already perfect:  but I follow after,  if that I may apprehend that for which I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

                                 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.”

Paul “followed after”;…..not knowing what lay ahead.  

       But knowing that Christ Jesus did;  and that whatever was ahead, was prepared for.   Grace was laid up for him to get through each situation.

This should be the goal we are headed for:  what Christ Jesus has saved us for.

       We are to grow up into Him.  For we are all called to go from babes in Christ to full grown Spiritual Adults.

       We should ascertain our calling.  (We are all called as witnesses,  if nothing more.     A witness is a personal testimony of what Christ has done for me.)

And this should be the way we go:  forgetting those things which are behind me—really putting them behind me—failures and successes;  

        And reaching forth (in heart, in mind, and in will)  to those things He has before me,  today,  tomorrow, and on.

We have family.  We have jobs.  We have friends.   All of these,  we are not to neglect—that is not God’s will.

But before all of these, as Christians,  we have our personal duty to God,  and His Will.

1 Corinthians 4:2 “Moreover it is required of stewards,  that a man be found faithful.”

God’s stewards, are Gospel Stewards.  Their duty is to live the Truth of the Gospel.

Truly, if we put God first,  He will see to it,  that all the other people, and things in our life are not neglected.

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

God never forgets our faithfulness to Him.   Never. 

Jesus and the Children. 

Matthew 18:12-14 “How think ye?  If a man have a hundred sheep,  and one of them be gone astray,  doth he not leave the ninety and nine,  and goeth into the mountains,  and seeketh that which has gone astray?

                               And if so be that He find it, verily I say unto you,  he rejoicieth more of that sheep,  then of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

                               Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven,  that one of these little ones should perish.”

Jesus thinks children are very important.  The training and guiding them to come to Him, is vital.

Jesus would have them all come to Him and be saved.

“..it is not the will of your Father in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.”

And in order for that to happen,  He will go out and search for them.

In Mark it says:

Mark 10:13-14 “And they brought young children to Him,  that He should touch them;  and His disciples rebuked those that brought them.

                                But when Jesus saw it,  He was much displeased,  and said unto them,   Suffer the little children to come unto Me,  and forbid them not;  for of such is the kingdom of God.”

He was displeased that the disciples wanted to keep the children away.  He took them up in His arms and blessed them.

Children who are brought up to love the Lord, and know His love for them personally,……may stray far,   when they grow older. (My son was one of these.)

But they will be brought back, for He is always their Shepherd.

Matthew 18:12-13 “How think ye?  If a man have a hundred sheep,  and one of them be gone astray,  doth he not leave the ninety and nine,  and goeth into the mountains,  and seeketh that which is gone astray?

                                 And if so be that he find it,  verily I say unto you,  he rejoiceth more of that sheep,  than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.”

And why does He rejoice so, over that one?

Because, they are always in His plans and purposes.

Matthew 18:10-11 “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones;  for I say unto you,  that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven.

                                  For the Son of man came to save that which was lost.”

The children are especially mentioned when He comes into Jerusalem.  He is praised by the multitude;  but they fade away.  

But the children come into the Temple with the blind and the lame, after Jesus drives out the moneychangers.  And they keep on praising Him.  

When they are complained about,  Jesus says God has ordained them for praise.

Matthew 21:15-16 “And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did,  and the children crying in the temple,  and saying,  Hosanna to the Son of David;  they were sore displeased,  

                                 And said unto Him,   Hearest Thou what these say?  And Jesus said unto them,   Yea;  have ye never read,  Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise?”

Psalm 8:2 “Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast Thou ordained strength because of Thine enemies,  that Thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.”

After Christ arose, and Peter is forgiven his denials of Jesus, and given his ministry for the rest of his life;  he was told first:

John 21:15 “So when they had dined,  Jesus saith to Simon Peter,   Simon, son of Jona,  lovest thou Me more than these?   He saith unto Him,  Yea, Lord;  Thou knowest that I love Thee.   He saith unto him,   Feed my lambs.”

Sometimes I feel that we are like the Israelites in Egypt under the Pharaoh which killed so many children.   (Exodus 1:22)

Our Adversary, the devil, is seeking to limit the influence of Christ Jesus,……… to destroy our children. 

Pharaoh drowned them in the Nile, and how many children are being “drowned” in things of this world:  the internet, peer pressure, violence……

….there are many others,……but all are choking the knowledge of true life in Christ, out of our children.

It does not matter whether they are rich or poor,  the answer is as Jesus said, “Bring them unto me.”

(Many say that a whole generation is already gone:  Maybe so,  and maybe not.  But, and let us all pray for those we know,  the Shepherd is going out now to rescue these lost ones.)

Proverbs 2:1-2, 9 “My son,  if thou wilt receive My words,  and hide My commandments with thee;  

                                 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thy heart to understand;

                              Then shalt thou understand righteousness,  and judgement,  and equity;  yea, every good path.”

That is what we want for our children,  the “good path”,  wherein is righteousness and peace.

Matthew 18:12-13 “…If a man have a hundred sheep,  and one of them be gone astray,  doth he not leave the ninety and nine,  and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

                                 And if it so be that he find it,  verily I say unto you,  he rejoiceth more of that sheep,  than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.”

The Lord Jesus loves our children,…..let us love them also,…..with our prayers for their salvation,….and our witness of all the good God has done for us.

A new creature in Christ! 

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.”

A new creature….yes, but still a creature.   A creature brought into the path of light……and for the Creator’s Purpose.

None of us is without purpose.

2 Timothy 1:9 “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,”

Now He has a purpose for us through grace.

      It is not of merit,….we do not earn it….we do not deserve it….but we are given it.

      And we are given the grace to fulfill it….as it is made known and comes to us….and a blessing for being faithful in it.

“A fool is he who through this life,

       Pursues the clouds he cannot own;

And leaves a wealth of things undone,

       His tomb, a final stepping stone.”

We would deal with the “wealth of things undone”.

I would not want anyone to look back….never a good thing, unless the Holy Spirit is pointing our something to you that needs to be dealt with….

….but we all have promises unkept…..things we have prayed for, yet not held on to…..

…people we come into contact with that we have felt we should witness to….yet we are not diligent in the time, and miss it.

When we are His Will,…..we manifest His presence, without saying a word…..when the Holy Spirit is unquenched, or unstifled within us….His Light shines through us in our actions and attitudes.

Romans 8:32 “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”

This is to be a creature…..but a new creature in Christ Jesus,  showing what Christ has done for us…..in our everyday lives.

The moving finger writes

     And having writ, moves on…

And all your piety nor whit, 

     Shall lure it back…

To cancel half a line,

      Nor all your tears wash out a word of it.”

We reap what we sow, to one degree or another.

Galatians 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked:  for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

As Christians we have all been given seed to sow…..yet are we sowing seeds to eternal life,  or seeds of strife, envy, and bitterness?

Psalm 126:6 “He that goeth forth and weepeth,  bearing precious seed,   shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,   bringing his sheaves with him.”

     This we are to do…..going out and sowing seeds of the gospel….to eternal life.    You may not see fruit immediately,  but when the harvest is come, you will certainly receive your reward for your faithfulness.

Galatians 6:8 “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption;  but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

      To sow to the flesh….is to put our feelings,  our desires,  our lives before Christ and His Will.

      To sow in the Spirit is to yield to the Spirit in word, and deed…..leaving any fruit bearing to Him.

As the creature, we must accept from His hand, that which He sends to us.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In every thing give thanks:  for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

How many times the Lord has reminded me to “give thanks”!    

 

And when we “give thanks”, we show that indeed we are a new creature in Christ Jesus.

       Others may sing when things are good,…..but giving thanks for even the trials and “bad things” is by the Holy Spirit…..and there is a blessing attached to it…..for it is the Will of God in Christ Jesus

Some day all will be concerned about their standing before God.

     In that day, some will be grateful that God kept after them……”well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

     And in that day some will wish they had never been born…..

Would some winged angel, ere too late,

      Arrest the yet unfolded scroll of fate;

And bid the stern recorder otherwise…

       Register….or quite obliterate.

But once we are born….we are eternal creatures.    

We will exist for eternity in heaven with Christ Jesus;

     Or in the Lake of fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.

My prayer is that none that goes to the Lake of fire will be able to point to me and say…..”if you had only told me!”  

       Let us, as His new creatures in Christ,  pray and witness, and give thanks….let us be what His Salvation has made us……new.

We would see Jesus 

How many down through the centuries have said this?

More important,  how many people that are around us now, are saying this?

“We would see Jesus.”

This incident was after Jesus had come into Jerusalem…..with the multitudes shouting “Hosanna:  Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.” (John 12:1)

This was the last week of His life….and many Jews had come from all over the known world to the Passover week.

The Pharisees were worried….”Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? Behold, the world is gone after Him.” (John 12:19)

The Pharisees had tried to slander Him in front of the people….they had tried to trick Him with questions….but He had turned every question into a revelation….of their own character.

John 12:20-21 “And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:  

          The same came therefore to Philip,  which was of Bethsaida of Galilee,  and desired them saying,   Sir, we would see Jesus.”

Philip goes and tells Andrew,….and they tell Jesus.

John 12:23-26 “And Jesus answered them, saying,  The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.

                 Verily, verily,  I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone:  but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

                 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

                 If any man serve Me, let him follow Me;  and where I am, there shall also My servant be:  if any man serve Me, him will My Father honor.”

These verses were spoken to His disciples,….and the Greeks that wanted to see Him,….

This is a bold statement….for He does not try and prove Himself.

He simply sets forth the Way His life would continue to be manifested….

….through His death…. and resurrection.

After which, many will choose….either Him or the world….and those that would believe on Him…..would have life eternal….and follow Him in service.

Wow,  how much He said here….a few verses summing up His life, death, and the resurrection power for His Church.

“We would see Jesus”…..

Well, they saw Him….and received His call….

…whether they received His Word, and followed Him, it does not say.

But there are many around us,…..who have heard of eternal life through Jesus Christ….who are hungry to “see” Him in our conversation,  in our attitudes, in our lives.

Jesus said, right after this:

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

Of course this speaks of the cross, where Jesus was lifted up between heaven and earth for our sins….

….but it also means, that if we lift the Lord Jesus up in our lives,…..He will draw men to Himself…..through us.

Peter and John spoke boldly of Jesus to the rulers…..after Christ had ascended and they were filled with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 4:10-12 “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, who ye crucified,  whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole. 

               This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders,  which is become the head of the corner.”

               Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

And  what was the rulers reaction?

Acts 4:13 “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men,  they marveled; and they took knowledge of them,  that they had been with Jesus.”

They saw Jesus….in them….

….what of us?

“We would see Jesus”…many are saying this in their hearts today….

…..a perishing world needs to see our Lord and Savior…

….will we lift Him up in our lives?

Servants, Soldiers, and Ambassadors

Romans 8:28 ASV  “And we know that to them that love God, all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to His Purpose.”

For all the called according to His purpose….the born again ones….in these days in which we live…

…if they are HIs servants, they must assuredly become soldiers.

         And if they become good soldiers of Jesus Christ….they will very shortly become Ambassadors of King Jesus…

…having experienced the life of the Kingdom of God….they will be able to pass it on in  authority and power in Jesus Name.

For all power (grace) is given unto us…who will:

        Matthew 28:19-20 ASV “Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit:

       Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you:  and lo,  I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.  Amen.”

All authority is given unto us….who will obey our Master’s command.   

        We are not all called to preach, or teach, or win souls….but we are all called as witnesses of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

       Witnesses of God’s grace in our lives.   [Grace is the unmerited favor of power]

Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:  and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

First, we are witnesses more by what we are and do, then by what we say….but the saying also must be if we are to complete the Lord’s command.

The Lord Jesus Christ has a purpose for every soul He apprehends:  apprehends means “to take eagerly”.   

( When Jesus Christ saves a person….He claims that person.   “I am my Beloved’s and my Beloved is mine.” Song of Solomon 6:3

       Paul said, “…I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” Phil.3:12

       Christ Jesus has eagerly taken us into Himself….His Kingdom, and His Family.    Therefore, as Paul,  we need to eagerly take all that the Lord has provided in His purpose for us….and work out what the Lord has worked within us.)

       John 15:16 “Ye have not chosen Me,  but I have chosen you,   and ordained you,  that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain:  that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you.”

The Lord chose us….we did not choose Him.      And every servant of the Lord Jesus Christ must become a soldier, if we are to have these blessings.  (Ephesians 1:3 “…Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”)

        For we will never attain to what He has for us….without a battle

As a servant-soldier, our first battle is in the kingdom of mansoul.   

       Our old-nature must be subdued…

…..to subdue something is to bring it under the influence or authority of something else.     Our old natures must be subdued to Christ Jesus.    They must be “brought under” His authority and His Kingship.

Romans 8:13 “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die:  but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”   

       And simply said,   this is real living…to live to God!

Every fruit of the Spirit we yield to….every experience we have in being led of the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14)….every victory we have over our old selves….are these blessings in Christ,  given to you…to me….to us.

The more victory in these battles….the more power (grace) and authority we have in speaking and doing for Christ Jesus with others.

We find ourselves “standing” in the battles of life:

      Ephesians 6:10-11, 13 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.

      Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

      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.”

This standing really means…to hold the ground you have.    All that God has given us,….in Christ Jesus.    What we possess right now….and what He has laid aside for us.

     We do not fight to have these….but to keep them!

The devil can not take away these blessings from you….but he can spoil your enjoyment and use of them,….by his wiles.

The devil can convince us that they are of little value….or that God would not really ever do that for us….or they will delay so long that it will be too late for what we want.

       (the devil convinced Adam and Eve that the one fruit that God told them not to eat, in all the garden of fruits…..was the choicest fruit….and that God was “mean” for not giving them it!

….and he can convince us,  if we listen,  of many things as well.)

The devil does withstand us….and will withstand us, in every way.   Our chief warfare is in dealing with his wiles.

The devil has great power….but we are not warned of his power….but of his wiles,  his tricks,  his lies.

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;  but of power, and of love,  and of a sound mind.”

The ASV says:  “For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness,  but of power and love and discipline.”

The Holy Spirit, within our spirit is a force for strength, peace, love and discipline….or the courage to hang on to His Word…and do His Will.   

      Paul calls it “a sound mind”….a mind set fully to know and do God’s Will..(for that is the safest place to be.)

James 1:5-6a “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

      But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering….”

This is the experience of every Christian:  servant, soldier, ambassador.

The only way we will ever stand and hold the things that are ours in Christ is to become:

         A servant obedient to the Light we have.

And to do that we will have to become a soldier because it will be a real battle. 

        And in our standing,  we will become ambassadors of our King, Christ Jesus….

…for we will have experienced that authority of Christ, ourselves…..and will be able to pass it on to others.

2 Corinthians 5:20 “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us:  we pray you in Christ’s stead,  be ye reconciled to God.”

And we do….if there is anything between you and the Lord Jesus Christ…take it to  Him and be reconciled….joined together with Him again.

(If you are lost….be reconciled to God through Christ Jesus our Lord.   

         Romans 8:32 “He that spared not His Own Son, but delivered Him up for us all,  how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”

With Christ you can have salvation….eternal life,  now and for ever with Him.    Will you receive Jesus Christ as your own personal Lord and Savior…and begin your walk with Him?)

Hosea 6:3 “Then shall we know,  if we follow on to know the Lord:  His going forth is prepared as the morning;  and He shall come unto us as the rain,  as the latter and former rain unto the earth.”   

We shall know…..if we follow on to know.   

Do you want to know the Lord, more?

Isaiah 54:13 “And all Thy children shall be taught of the Lord;  and great shall be the peace of Thy children.”

Do you want to be taught of Him?

God does not yield to experimentation….He does not say….”try Me, and see whether I am God.”

No,  He states….”I am God,….believe Me.”

Isaiah 40:28-29 “Hast thou not known?  Hast thou not heard,  that the Everlasting God,  the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth,  fainteth not, neither is weary?  There is no searching of His understanding.

                He giveth power to the faint;  and to them that have no might He increaseth strength.”

To know God,  is to have a more personal relationship with Him.

Let me ask you…..do you talk with Him, everyday…..bringing both your sins for confession (1 John 1:9),  and your deliverances and victories to Him, in praise?

“His going forth”

This speaks of His Purpose…….which is ever going forward….

……..though we may not see it clearly……..yet,…

His going forth in His Word (Isaiah 55:11);…..His going forth by His Spirit (Romans 8:13-15);……His going forth in battle for us (Ephesians 6:10).

“And He comes unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rains on the earth.”

Rain speaks of His temporal mercies…..for He sends “rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45)

These latter and former rains were essential for a good harvest in Israel.

The latter rains in March-May,  when the crop was coming to fruition….to give the best harvest.

The former rains in October-December,  when the crops were first planted….to give them the best start.

And this was by the mercy of God.

Hosea was calling God’s people to know Him…..God was giving them a chance to rekindle the fire of zeal…but not in sacrifices…..but in fellowship and relationship.

Hosea 6:4 “O Ephraim,  what shall I do unto thee?  O Judah,  what shall I do unto thee?  For your goodness is as the morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.”

The morning cloud and early dew promise much for the crops and vineyards…..they look real good…..but deliver little.

For as soon as the sun comes up…..they disappear…no rain then….the dew gone, and the plants drying out.

They gave no lasting benefit.

So were the changes of Ephraim (one name for Israel, the northern kingdom) and Judah.

They showed promise of repentance….they became very religious….but it was not a lasting change of the heart.

Hosea 6:5 “Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets;  I have slain them by the words of My mouth:  and thy judgements are as the light that goeth forth.”

The Lord sought to restore them….that is why Hosea, and other prophets were sent…..to speak His Words to them, if they will hear, and follow Him again.  He sent judgements to show light on their sins.

“Then shall they know, if they follow on to know…”

The sacrifices were only as good as the hearts that brought them.

Hosea 6:6 “For I desired mercy,  and not sacrifice;  and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”

“I desired mercy”…..”mercy” here is a word which speaks of affection and loyalty under the covenant.

And this affection and love is for both God,  and all the sons of the covenant.

This is what He wanted of them,…..to get their hearts right with Him…..and with their brothers.

“And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings”.

For them to really know their God…..that is what He has always wanted….not just from Israel…..but down through the ages in His church.

For His people to know Him…..

……..and that can not be done,  without fellowship….and following after.

To worship Him in Spirit and in truth….this He wants from all His people….heart worship.

And worship is worthyship…..counting the Lord worthy of our all.

He seeks this from us,  today.

And He is still calling,……all who will,  to……

(Hosea 6:1-3):

“Come, and let us return unto the Lord:  for He hath torn,  and He will lead us;  He hath smitten,  and He will bind us up.”

(How often He had to stand by and let their enemies hurt them….to wake them up to their sin!  

Isaiah 54:7-8 “For a small moment have I forsaken thee;  but with great mercies shall I gather thee.

               In a little wrath I hid My face from thee for a moment;  but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee,  saith Lord thy Redeemer.”)

“After two days will He revive us:  in the third day He will raise us up,  and we shall live in His sight.”

(Some, (I do) see the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ here…and all that it gives us.   Promised so many times to those who would know Him!)

“Then shall we know,  if we follow on to know the Lord:  His going forth is prepared as the morning,  and He shall come unto us as the rain,  as the latter rain and former rain upon the earth.”

To follow on…..because He is going on…..will we go with Him?

As sure as the light in the sky tomorrow….His going forth for us, in His Purpose is prepared and ready.

And He shall…..He shall come unto us in mercy….if we follow on with Him……we will begin to have all that He has Purposed for us.

One day He will come to judge the earth….but today He still calls in mercy….

…..are we hearing Him?

           

          

We are His Workmanship

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

God does all things well.   Even when He made me. I am a sinner, but He has saved me; yes, even me.

Now that I am born again; He creates me in Christ Jesus. For we are His workmanship.

The word “workmanship” comes from the “pouring in of a mold”.

We are to be molded in the same likeness as Jesus,…..in character.

In other words He has been molding us;  in His plans,  before we even were.

By our history,  and circumstances;  He has been molding us……to lead us to Him.

And since we have been born again,  He has been molding  us by the Holy Spirit, in every situation…..pushing here, and pulling there.   

Molding takes heat;….the material needs to be heated in order that it goes into every part of the original mold.

This is the reason that we are born again….to have the likeness of Christ imprinted on my life.

“Good works,  which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

To ordain is to prearrange by His Authority,…….but also to provide beforehand all we need,……in the circumstances…..with the people…..and even with ourselves.

What are these good works?

They are Obediences to Christ in our world (the situations of our life).

Those things which the Lord would have us to do, which show us standing with Him.

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

              Not of works, lest any man should boast.

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

Paul is not showing the Ephesian Christians how to be born again;……they are born again.

But He is speaking of one of God’s Eternal Decrees.

 

This, Paul says, is what God Purposed for us :

To be saved by grace–the unmerited favor of power; God’s power.

Through faith–which is given to us by the Holy Spirit so we may come and believe.

Not of yourselves–Of course not,  we can never please God in our own righteousness;   For we have none.

It is the gift of God–and a gift is freely given;  and either received or rejected.

Not of works–those works which we could come up with, to try and make us acceptable to God.

Lest any man should boast–Which is what we all would do, if we had anything to do with our being born again,   besides to receive it.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus–molded, and still being molded; since our purpose is not done till we stand in His presence.

Unto good works, which God hath before ordained–these are the how and what we should do in our lives to please Him, personally.     

For it is a person to Person life with Jesus

That we should walk in them–It is a walk with Jesus; in that purpose and doing those works,…..which show we stand with Him.

The Healing of Ten Leper’s

Luke 17:11-12 “And it came to pass, as He went to Jerusalem,  that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.

                      And as He entered into a certain village,  there met Him ten men that were lepers,  which stood afar off:”

Jesus is in His last year of ministry, and He is going to Jerusalem, knowing full well what will happen there. (His betrayal, suffering, death, and resurrection)

But He did not just forget everything, or everyone along the way…no..He ministered till the end.

Luke 17:13 “And they lifted up their voices,  and said,   Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”

So here He comes across ten lepers, all standing “afar off”….but crying out for help.   

(It says “there met Him”, as if they knew He was going to pass this way, and waited to see Him)

Luke 17:14 “And when He saw them,  He said unto them,  Go show yourselves unto the priests.      And it came to pass,  that,  as they went,  they were cleansed.”

Simple directions for their healing, if they follow them.   And they did….and they were indeed healed, by obeying Jesus. 

(Interesting fact: Leviticus 14:2 “This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing;  he shall be brought unto the priest:”.   

So their going to the priest was to fulfill the law,  and by obeying Jesus, they were cleansed on the way.)

Luke 17:15-16 “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed,  turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,

                     And fell down on his face at His feet,  giving Him thanks:  and he was a Samaritan.”

Whether the other nine saw they were cleansed or not, right away, as this one did…..his “loud voice” would have told them…..but they did not turn around to give glory to God, or to thank the Lord Jesus.

No thanks is ever recorded from them.   They obeyed and were healed from their leprosy…..without even a word of thanks.

(How do we react to the many blessings God gives us?)

But the one,  a Samaritan, saw…returned to Jesus, praising God and giving thanks to Him…..and received further blessing.

Luke 17:19 “And He said unto him,  Arise, go thy way:  thy faith hath made thee whole.”

But  why does Jesus say “thy faith hath made thee whole?”   Wasn’t he healed already?

Because….

This healing was of the whole man…he was saved by faith in the Lord right then.  

He was healed in his body,  from the leprosy….when he obeyed Jesus.

And healed in mind and heart,  by joyful thanksgiving…to God.

And  healed in spirit, by salvation….when Jesus declared him whole!

Then he was given direction to return to his old life, in faith!   “Go thy way…”

Amazing blessings…and that for the life ahead, and for eternity,……because he came to Jesus in thanksgiving.

The nine knew God had healed them…..and their healing was enough for them, for that is all they wanted with Jesus.  

(It was certainly a picture of the nation of Israel, and many;  who wanted the things Jesus would do,  but did not want Him)

(Are we crying out to Him for what He will do for us, and not who He is?)

But the Samaritan knew Jesus was the Son of God, and that He had healed him.

And he wanted….before anything else,  to give Him thanks, for it.

We are told to:

1 Thessalonians 5:18-19 “In everything give thanks:  for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

                       Quench not the Spirit.”   (Don’t put out the fire of joy of the Spirit within you)

“For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.”

Are we fulfilling this part,  of the will of God, in our lives, by giving the praise that is due Christ?

Well, nine settled for the physical healing….when they could have had so much more….

….but one, came and in praise….received Jesus as Lord and Savior….and was blessed again!