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!

And there is no discharge in that war

Ecclesiastes 8:8 “There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit;  neither hath he power in the day of death:    and there is no discharge in that war;    neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.”

We are in the battle of the ages….the battle between God’s rule in obedience….and the devil’s rule in rebellion.

To see this clearly we must first consider two things:

The first being the Everlasting Covenant.    (Hallelujah!  Before anything was that has been or is….God saw all that was to be,  and made full provision for it….in Christ Jesus!)

The Everlasting Covenant

 (Hebrews 13:20 “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,”)

This covenant was between God the Father….who agreed to draw all the elect to God the Son (John 6:37)….

….God the Son agreed to come in the fullness of time, and become the Man, Christ Jesus and die for all the elect…shedding His blood for the atoning of their sin, the seal of the covenant.…and be raised the third day…returning to Heaven…(Matthew 17:22-23)

….and sending God the Holy Spirit to live in and fill those that recieve Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior…being in fact their Comforter. (John 14:16-17)

This is first,   for God is Almighty, and All-seeing.   He is never taken by surprise…never unprepared.

The second thing is the warfare…and how it happened:

So when God did create the beautiful earth (Genesis 1:1 “And God created the heavens and the earth.)

….and when there was the rebellion of Lucifer…He was not surprised or unable.

Isaiah 14:12-14 “How art thou fallen from heaven,  O Lucifer, son of the morning!  How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

        For thou hast said in thine heart,  I will ascend into heaven,   I will exalt my throne above the stars of God:   I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

       I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;  I will be like the most High.”

Lucifer who became the devil,  rebelled against God…and took one third of the angels with him.    

       (Matthew 25:41  this is his  prepared end…and I believe he fights to attain a better one.   He thinks that if he can defeat God’s plans enough, he will have things different than spoken of.)

      In this first battle, the earth became “without form and void”….under darkness,  till God spoke,  “Let there be light”….and recreated the earth.

This, was the beginning of the Warfare of the Ages.     

       For the devil, full of hatred for God,  sought to destroy God’s plans for man….to enslave him under the principle of rebellion….which is sin.

       And this he did,  darkening man’s spirit…making him dead to God (Ephesians 2:1-3, Romans 8:7)

Till,….God speaks “let there be light” in our lives…

      2 Corinthians 4:6 “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

 This is the warfare of obedience vs rebellion,   if we belong to Christ….and just what is our part in it, in these days?

Revelation 3:21 “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.”

To him that overcometh…even as I also overcame.    

       Now just what did the Lord Jesus overcome?      Every obstacle that stood in the Way of accomplishing His Father’s Will for His life.

He bowed before the Father to every limitation and to all restrictions.   Accepting as from the hand of the Father,  all that came to Him.

And that is the same for us….we must overcome every obstacle that stands in the way of our accomplishing the Lord’s Will for our lives.

[And remember we overcome in three ways:

       First,  by “He that is in you”  ( 1 John 4:4 “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them:  because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.”)

             We overcome those in the world, under the Adversary’s influence (called here, the spirit of the antichrist)….by the Holy Spirit who lifts up to us, Christ Jesus in our hearts.

       Second,  by faith   ( 1 John 5:4 “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world:  and this is the victory that overcometh the world,  even our faith.”)

             We overcome the world’s influence…it’s greed, anger, and seeking it’s own way…by the exercise of our faith,  we received at new birth.

       Third, by Christ’s blood   (Revelation 5:6,  Revelation 12:11 “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

            We can plead the blood of the Lamb over us…and have protection against the Adversary.]

We must overcome!    The letters to the churches all end with “to him that overcometh”….which means that each Christian must overcome all the obstacles the world, the flesh, and the devil places in front of us….

….not in our own strength, or our own devotion….but through His Presence,  His faith,  HIs blood.    (Stop quenching the Spirit!….for it is He Who will comfort us in all our trials)

Ephesians 2:8-9 “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.”

This is one of God’s eternal degrees….HIs Purpose from eternity past.

         The Way of Salvation clearly stressed:

                 By grace

                 Through faith

                 And that not of yourselves

                 Not of works.         

This is the way it is.

         Yet the rest of this eternal degree is in the tenth verse.

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.”

         We are His workmanship….and He doeth all things well.

Created in Christ Jesus unto good works.

Our warfare is in the accomplishing of those good works which God has before ordained,  for us to walk therein.

All provision has been made,  we have but to walk in them….overcoming by the Holy Spirit, faith, and His Blood.   

        And our walk with God is in our everyday things….simple obediences that we do by faith in Him and HIs Word.

These honor HIm most….just a simple walk with the Lord Jesus everyday….becoming His Will wherever we are.

Ezekiel’s wife

The book of Ezekiel is a magnificent book.   It shows forth God’s great mercy to a people who have refused His Word and His prophets….again and again.

Here in the land of Babylon,  in poor villages near the river Chebar,  a priest is called to be a watchman….to warn His people of the dangers of just sitting still in their sins,  or giving up on God.

“Give them warning….from Me.” (Ezekiel 3:17)

He tells them plainly,  if they want to return to the land,…then, get up out of their lethargy…and  return to God in heart and life.

Ezekiel 24:18 “So I spake unto the people in the morning: and at even my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded.”

This is the only personal history we have of the prophet….about his wife.

       Having been called five years earlier, after being taken captive of Nebuchazzer to Babylon.  He has spoken again and again to warn the people that God will indeed do as He has warned and foretold.

      He would, through Nebuchazzer,…destroy Jerusalem,  and His Sanctuary, His Temple…because of their sin,  which He has shown them.

Being a servant of the Lord is often lonely, especially in times of declension and apostasy.

       And Ezekiel has told the people, faithfully,  the Lord’s Word about Judah and Jerusalem.

Yet….

…..they did not want to believe it….so refused the Word that Ezekiel speaks.

      Again and again they came to hear…..and heard,….but refused to believe God’s Word. 

And so God warns them that He would stop speaking to them….showing them the things that would shortly come to pass,….if….unless they begin to believe Him.

Ezekiel 20:1-3 “And it came to pass…that certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the Lord, and sat before me.

      Then came the Word of the Lord unto me, saying,

      Son of man, speak unto the elders….Thus saith the Lord God:   Are ye come to inquire of Me?   As I live, saith the Lord God,  I will not be inquired of you.”

God warned them of losing His Word….what a terrible judgment that would be….not to hear from their God.

Ezekiel 24:16 “Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke:  yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep,  neither shall they tears run down.”

That very morning,  Ezekiel had told the elders of his people that this day….this very day Nebuchazzer had set his army around Jerusalem to destroy it! (2 Kings 25:1)

      “…write thee the name of the day, even of this same day: the king of Babylon set himself against Jerusalem this same day.”  (Ezekiel 24:1-2)

Yet how little they “heard” him!    

Had they cried unto the Lord for repentance…and then mercy?

       Had they cried unto the Lord for their children back in Jerusalem to repent?

They simply came…..listened….and left.   

Ezekiel 33:31 “And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as My people, and they hear thy words,   but they will not do them:  for with their mouth they shew forth much love,  but heart goeth after their covetousness.”

(Covetousness here means “dishonest gain”.

Are our hearts yearning for God,  (Psalm 42:1 “As the hart panteth after the water brooks,  so panteth my soul after Thee, O God.)…are we thirsting for God…

….or are our hearts coveting the things of this world? )

Then, in the same evening,  Ezekiel’s wife dies….

….this is momentous!   

       For Ezekiel,  it means a more lonely time, for she was a companion in these trials and understood her husband’s ministry….

….for the Lord plainly says,  “…I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes…”

How comforting to have a help-meet,  a wife or husband who knows your work,  and is there for you,  in it!

Ezekiel had that….then,  the Lord took her away….with a stroke.   She died quickly,  without illness or violence.   The Lord took her.

Now we may think that this is cruel….but God’s ways are best.   Mercy comes to us in many ways….and if we yield to His mercy….even in pain…we are comforted and strengthened, within us.

     ( What a mercy he had her for a wife.    

What a mercy that they loved each other. 

      What a mercy that she did not suffer pain or hurt,   and that he was forewarned….and was there when she died.

       And what a mercy Ezekiel had God with him….bearing him up,  by telling him exactly what to do to make his wife’s death a part of the Biblical record,…

….and, in fact, a warning to the people of the captivity.

What a mercy…God took her….therefore she will be with all the saints till Ezekiel would join her.)

Ezekiel was not to mourn or lament for her.   He was not to go barefoot, nor eat the “bread of men”…the usual food that was brought to people when someone dies.

He was to get up,  dress himself…even his headdress,…and go about his business.  

        And he put all diligence, in doing it.   “…and at even my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded.” (Ezekiel 24:18)

Why?

Our life, as God’s people, should center around God and HIs Word…for our everyday lives….and for the extraordinary times of grief, trouble, and persecution.   

       He is our life….and though we are privileged to have others with us at times … .or to be with others at times….we are here at His appointing….for His pleasure and determination. 

Ezekiel 24:19 “And the people said unto me (Ezekiel),  Wilt thou not tell us what these things are to us, that thou doest so?”

The people must have known how much Ezekiel loved his wife….and came to comfort him…

….but Ezekiel was not mourning!  

What did that mean?

      And here is a interesting thought….they knew that he was a prophet,  because they knew that what he did,  he did by God’s commandment!

       So they asked him, since he was not mourning…what did that mean for them!

       Yet,  they would not get their lives straightened around….because of their covetousness!

(How great can be our entanglement in the world!   How much we want to hear only what is pleasing to us….instead of the corrections we need!    How easily we forget:

        “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children,   My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord,  nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him:

        For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.” Heb.12:5-6

The Lord corrects us that we might find our way back to His side. He comes, like a Shepherd and finds us….will we receive HIs Word?)

So Ezekiel told them….that Jerusalem and the Temple would be taken and destroyed.     Many killed…including many of their sons and daughters, which they thought were safe there!

And when this does happen…one year and a half later (2 Kings 25:2-4)….those parents in the captivity…will not be able to mourn or weep for the Temple…for which they pine now….

….or for their children.

Their captors would see to that….making them go out and labor just like every other day.

They would be unable to mourn…unable to cry for them.

I want to mention one more thing about this incident….

….Ezekiel was told not to speak any more to the people….till….someone would come from Jerusalem after the destruction….

…..and give the news of the city and the Temple being burnt…and the people killed, and taken away.

Ezekiel could not give them the Word of God anymore….till…they too, experienced this loss.

     Till…

….they experienced and knew that what God said through Ezekiel,  was true.

God has warned:

       Amos 8:11-12 “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land,  not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:

       And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the Word of the Lord, and shall not find it.”

And to a degree, I believe that this is true.    People are searching for the Truth….yet often refuse to believe the Word of God preached and taught.

Stop looking to any other consolation than Christ Jesus…..and read HIs Word again.   

       Seek the Holy Spirit’s understanding….pray for it,  for yourself…

…and for your family…and friends.

Ezekiel’s ministry was to a bunch of thankless and ungrateful people.  

    No!

Ezekiel’s ministry…(and everyone who is called)…is to the Lord!    And to the Lord,  he was obedient, even in this most personal loss.