Destroy your Wall 

Song of Solomon 2:8-9 “The voice of my beloved!  Behold,  He cometh leaping upon the mountains;  skipping upon the hills.

                                           My beloved is like a roe or a young hart:  behold,  He standeth behind our wall,  He looketh forth at the windows,  showing Himself through the lattice.”

This maiden (a picture of a believer) is at home.  She is saved, and has had fellowship with the Lord.   Wonderful personal experiences in prayer, and communion.

She loves Him,  for she calls Him “my beloved”.

She hears Him speaking to her, but she is on the inside and He is standing, waiting,  on the outside….ready to go on and work.

Song of Solomon 2:10 “My beloved  spake,  and said unto me,   Rise up, my love, my fair one,  and come away.”

This is the reason He has called to her;  He wants her to come with Him and go on in the spiritual experiences of life.  

She cannot grow much,  hiding behind the wall of her personal experience up to date.     

She must come out and go with Him, into the streets and byways.   The places where people need to hear her testimony and see her witness of Him.

But they are to go together.  So He calls to her to come,  come away.

She can see through the lattice at the windows that this is her Beloved.  She can hear His Voice, calling her.

So what hinders?

There is a wall between them,  made very plain in the verses.  “He standeth behind our wall”

It is our wall,  because the stones of it are those experiences with Christ that she has “stacked up”.

She has made a wall of what she knows,  what she has experienced with Christ;  so she can feel safe.

But that can not be.   It is not safety in the past experiences;  but in Christ.

        It is not the knowledge about Christ,  it is Christ,  that makes life worth living.

         And for that to happen,  every Christian needs to progress in their walk with Him.

Now, it may be personal things to pray for and see to.   Next,  it could be a calling to fulfill.  But where ever He leads,  it is always forward.

So He calls.   And calls again, telling about the beauty beyond the enclosure of the past (even though the past is wonderful…we can not live there.  We must go forward,  or we are stifled.)

Song of Solomon 2:11-13 “For, lo, the winter is past,  the rain is over and gone;

The flowers appear on the earth;  the time of the singing of birds is come,  and the voice of the turtle (dove) is heard in our land;

                                             The fig tree putteth forth her green figs,  and the vines with the tender grapes give a good smell.    Arise, my love, my fair one,  and come away.”

Here He tells of the beauty of fruitfulness in our Christian life.

Hear the sweetness, and song of all creation crying to “come out with Christ”.

He calls to her to come on with Him, to leap over mountains with Him.  

Impossible!

Yes,  mountains are impossible things in scripture;  yet as He leaps over them,  we can too…with Him.

He calls to her skip upon the hills,  with Him.   These hills are difficulties and trials, we face every day.  With Him we can skip on them.   

(Notice it says leap over the impossible things,….but skip upon the difficult everyday things.  How full is His grace for us….to take us through as well as over the problems we face!)

But how to destroy the wall?       Simply bring them before the Lord,  and place them at His feet.   Thanking Him for every blessing….   And then as Paul says:

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

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

Some of us do not like changes.   

We like things steady, and quite.

But when the Lord calls us to go,  we must decide whether it is the safety of our past experiences we will trust.

Or Jesus Christ.      

Do you hear Him calling you on, today?

Propitiation 

It is wonderful how many titles of the sacrifice of Christ,   is given in scripture. 

Each with a fullness of meaning for us.

Propitiation is one of them.

It means…”the appeasing of God’s holy wrath and anger” against sinners.

How this shows us the fierceness of suffering and pain,  of defilement and horror, that fell upon the Savior….for us.

Romans 3:24-25 “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

       Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation  through faith in his blood,  to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past,  through the forbearance of God;

       To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”

That God might be just:

….for if God allowed a sinner into heaven with their sin still on them….heaven would be defiled.   He would not do so.

So for God to be just……to be true to His Holy nature….He became also the Justifier of those that believe on Christ Jesus.

How could the Most Holy God ever bring us….HIs sinful creatures….to fellowship with Him?

       There is only one way:  only by the removal of our sin….both in actions already done….and intents of the heart;…..and in what we will do.

       And there was only one way to meet this criteria…..by sending His Son to become man….a perfect man….

……who would die as a sacrifice….a perfect sacrifice for all mankind.   Only His  Son could take all our sin upon Himself….and appease God’s justice.

Psalms 14:2-3 “The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

        They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy:  there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”

Christ, God’s Son would be God/Man…..fulfilling all of God’s commandments and Law…..and then give Himself over to be a Lamb slain for our sin.

        Imagine the force of our sin…..even one person’s anger and hate,  and maliciousness and meanness…..past, present and future……put upon the shoulder’s and heart of the Lord….

….for it was not just the sin,  but the wrath of God against that sin….that fell on Jesus.

       And He did it……for all who would believe….this is propitiation.

1 John 2:1-2 “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not.  And if any man sin,  we have an advocate with the Father,   Jesus Christ the righteous:

        And He is the propitiation for our sins:  and not for ours only,  but also for the sins of the whole world.”

There were three hours of darkness….not just grey, or cloudy…..but real darkness,  when our sin fell upon our propitiation, Jesus Christ…..and He became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Matthew 27:46 “Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.”

(From about eleven o’clock…the sixth hour of the day….to two o’clock in the afternoon…..what would normally be the brightest time in the day;…

…..instead of bright light….there came a darkness,  like the night over the land.   

        Sin and God’s wrath for it,  had fallen on Jesus Christ….and darkness manifested that terrible time.   About the ninth hour,  Jesus cries “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”  

        The agony and pain would have been unbearable…..yet He hung on….till He yielded up the ghost.   

       Till all was fulfilled,  he bore and bore and bore it….then He gave Himself up to die….counting on His Father to raise Him up.)

1 John 4:10 “Herein is love…..”

Here, God could talk about His strong feelings and plans for us.  He could speak about the grace that will keep us…..

But what He says here,  through John, the beloved Apostle….speaks of the greatest act of love…..

…..Christ taking away our sins….the great obstacle which keeps us separated from God….by placing them on Him,  and Him paying the penalty for them….for us.

This is love.

1 John 4:10 “Herein is love,  not that we loved God,  but that He loved us,  and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

1 John 4:19 “We love Him,  because He first loved us.”

This is so true.     While we were yet sinners…..turning our backs to Him,  hating even the mention of God in truth…..

….even then,  God set His heart on us…..and then sent His Son to become the propitiation….the appeasing of God’s holy wrath and anger against us, as sinners…..

….that we might come to Him and be saved…..have peace and joy of the Spirit…..and return that amazing love to Him.

Say not, that there are yet four months to Harvest. 

John 4:34-35 “Jesus saith unto them,   My meat is to do the Will of Him that sent Me,  and to finish His Work.

                    Say not ye,   There are yet four months,  and then cometh harvest?  Behold,  I say unto you,  Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields;  for they are white already to harvest.”

This was said, when  Jesus had rested at a well in Samaria,…..and had a conversation with a women at that well. (John 4:4-42)

The Bible speaks often of seed time and harvest.   Though they are different,  they are connected;….though the harvest should be a time of rejoicing;  yet it will never happen without the planting of the seed.

The sowers and the reapers are both necessary….both will be equally rewarded….both are sent of God.

If they do not harvest, when the field is ready….then some of the grain would be lost….

Johns 6:39 “And this the Father’s Will which hath sent Me,  that of all which He hath given Me  I should lose nothing,  and should raise it up again at the last day.”

The Old Testament, for Israel was a “seed time”.    God sowed His Word,  and His laws in the hearts of the people;….sending leaders (Moses, Joshua),  judges,  and prophets to spread God’s Word, and message of the coming Christ.

But now, He has come, and He speaks of this here to His disciples,…..because in a few minutes they will experience a great “harvest” in this Samaritan town.

There was a saying in those times:  “Sow and in four months you will reap a harvest.”

So here, Jesus is speaking to His disciples,  so they can “Look up” and see what God is doing,….by the Word, God has spoken in the Old Testament,……and the Word that He speaks, now, through His Son.

(How much training in “seeing” do we need, in order to see the way the Lord is preparing things!)

In the other places where Jesus speaks of sowing and reaping:   He is preparing to send out the twelve into the fields, to say:

Matthew 9:37-38,  10:5-6 “Then saith He unto His disciples,  The harvest truly is plenteous,  but the laborers are few;

                      Pray therefore the Lord of harvest,  that He will send forth laborers into His harvest.”

Later in His ministry,….Jesus sent the seventy.   Seventy of His disciples went two by two;  to preach “the Kingdom of heaven is at hand”.

Prepare the people’s hearts to hear Me,  when I come through their towns. 

(This was in His last year of ministry…..there was an urgency, therefore He sent more of His disciples out….to minister, and to prepare them for His coming through their towns…..prepare them for His Personal Word.)

And the encouragement from the Lord is the same…..look, for the harvest is ready.

Luke 10:1-2 “After these things the Lord appointed other servants also,  and sent them two and two before His face into every city and place,  whither He  Himself would come.

                       Therefore said He unto them,  The harvest truly is great,  but the laborers are few;  pray ye therefore the Lord of harvest,  that He would send forth laborers into His harvest.”

Jesus is showing them (and us) the work they are called to do:  sowing and harvest.

1 Corinthians 3:8 “Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one:  and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.”

(Planting, is to spread the Word….the good news of Christ.    Watering is to pray for the Word to take root in the heart and life of a person.)

Psalm 126:5-6 “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

                    He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed,  shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,  bring his sheaves with him.”

Later, right before the Last Supper,…..Jesus speaks again about that “Precious Seed”……which will die that it might produce a great harvest.  

This time, not just in Israel…..but throughout the whole world.   

A harvest of believers in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

John 12:24-25  “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.”

The Lord was showing His disciples that He, as the Son of God,  was going to die,…..but that was not the end.  

He would be raised up in newness of life (in His resurrection, and ascension) to produce a further harvest:  “much fruit”….

…..the fruit of a believing “harvest”….in hearts all over the world.

From His death and sacrifice, the knowledge of His atonement, has spread……and from His resurrection and ascension,  the power of His eternal life has been given……To those that believe on Him, to the saving of their souls.

And He went on to say,  that, as His believers, we, too, are not created,  to be unto ourselves…..

Our Salvation was not an end,…..but a beginning…a sowing,  for the harvest to come.

We are being “sent forth” today…….to bear our “Precious Seed”—Jesus Christ,……that we might return in joy,…..rejoicing in His Salvation for men.

Worketh Patience

Romans 5:2-4  “By Whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand,  and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

       And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also:  knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

       And patience, experience; and experience, hope:”

Worketh patience….”knowing that tribulations worketh patience”….worketh.

      We are not “zapped” with patience.   For the scriptures clearly state;  it is worketh patience.

If we are having trouble with a particular set of circumstances in our lives….maybe even having a fit about them…..

…then rest assured we will never acquire “hope”…or we will never “glory in tribulations”…that will enable us to acquire patience.

Patience is one of the strongest virtues of God!    Think how patient He has been with His people (me,  you) over all the years!

And patience works strength in us….strength to wait on God,  on people,  and on the right time.

Patience gives us calm assurance that God has not forgotten His Word to us….nor will He.   

Patience does not “sit down”….but goes ahead and works today what must be done….keeping our eyes….not on next year, or next week, or next anything….but on the task at hand….”for  the glory of God.”

As we receive all things which come to us….as from our Heavenly Father’s hand, we will know patience.

Patience is cheerful endurance…or hopefully keeping oneself under!   

        Under God’s Will and Way….under the circumstances till God changes them or us.

(Years ago, I taught Romans in our church Sunday School.   

We all know the verses:

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”

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

But the context is amazing.  

Paul is manifesting in this letter to the Roman Christians….that the whole world is on trial before God!

The measuring stick is:   the glory of God!   For that was what we were created for….to show forth His glory. [Revelation 4:11]

Here is the God the Judge,  Who hath given His laws…and when those laws were grievously rejected and abused…

…He hath “commendeth HIs love toward us”[Romans 5:8]..sending His Son to save all who believe.

Here is God the Son, Jesus Christ,  Who hath given Himself to save His people, and give them eternal life to the glory of God. [Romans 5:17]

Here is God the Spirit,  Who hath given us the “quickening” to live by the Spirit of God to His glory. [Romans 8:11]

The great example Paul gives is Abraham…for Abraham “believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness” [Romans 4:3]

       “Who against hope believed in hope,….and being not weak in faith,….he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief;  but was strong in faith,   giving glory to God.”  [Romans 4:18-20]

Giving glory to God. 

        Patience had her perfect work [James 1:2-4] in Abraham….and Paul is saying that it works in us as well.)

Tribulation worketh patience…this tribulation is pressure, afflict, trouble.   And in these,   we are to give glory to God…

…which is impossible if we have not learned patience.

Hope is the confident expectation that God will do what He says….and that hope will lead to the trying of our faith (tribulations:  “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12)

        And amid these tribulations…pressures, afflictions, troubles….will work patience in us.

Again,  patience is a strong attribute of God….and He works it within us, by His Holy Spirit, to be able to cheerfully endure our walk through this world…for His glory.

The Pharisee’s meal

Luke 7:36 “And one of the Pharisees desired Him (Jesus) that He would eat with him.   And He went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat.”

Jesus had been speaking about John the Baptist (verses 24-28)….the forerunner of the Messiah.   But…

Luke 7:30 “But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves,  being not baptized of him. (John)”

Notice, that John’s call to repentance was rejected.   That was the counsel of God for them…for all Israel, to repent of their lax ways….their greedy ways….their self-righteous ways…. to welcome the Messiah,  Jesus Christ, the Savior and King.  (Luke 3:7-9)

But the Pharisees rejected this counsel from God….Him speaking through John the Baptist the best advice to get right with God,  that their hearts might be opened to receiving the Christ.

After hearing Jesus speak,  one of the Pharisees invites Him to come and eat with him (probably thinking he was giving Jesus an advantage by being there).    

      For the Pharisee….Jesus was on trial.   The Pharisee would listen to what He said,  then judge for himself about “this man”.

But what this Pharisee didn’t understand was,….that he was on trial.   “What will you do with Jesus?” was always the theme of every encounter….for Jesus came to save His people from their sins.

      What would the Pharisee,  Simon,   do about that?

Enter,…the sinful woman:

      Luke 7:36-37 “And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house,  brought an alabaster box of ointment,

      And stood at His feet behind Him weeping, and began to wash His feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed His feet, and anointed them with the ointment.”

When do we see our sin?   

      When do we come to Christ Jesus, the Lord?   When do we “see” Him for Who He is?

God’s goodness…when it is realized by the sinner….is the only thing that leads us to true repentance.

In the light of God’s mercy, grace, and love….in sending His Beloved Son as Savior for us….then we see our sin…(and if we are fortunate), we see it as in the eyes of a Holy God…

…and repent and adore Him for His forgiveness.

This woman, a sinner, came to Jesus for forgiveness….yet notice she does not ask Him for anything….

….but her heart and actions speak volumes!

                   She stood behind His feet, weeping.  

(Most meals were eaten in a half laying down position…so Jesus feet were beside Him…not under Him.)

                   When she saw that He did not rebuke her, a sinner, for being there….what mercy!   Then she began to wash His feet with her tears and wipe them with her hair.

(Perhaps she saw that they were dusty….for Simon had not washed His feet when He entered…but she did)

                  Then, when they were clean,  she kissed them….surely, she, a sinner, could not even be so bold as to kiss His hand….no, she knew she was greatly privileged to kiss His feet.

                  Then she took that alabaster box of ointment…which would have been expensive….and anointed His feet….for she knew that every part of Jesus was precious.

Luke 7:39 “Now when the Pharisee which had bidden Him saw it,  he spake within himself, saying,  This man, if He were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth Him:  for she is a sinner.”

It is interesting to note that Simon knew she was a sinner,  yet failed to see his own sin.

      (Are we not the same way at times?)

       But Jesus is going to “answer” his unspoken criticism and judgment…with Truth.

               If Simon will see it, when it is pointed out to him….perhaps, there will be another sinner, seeking for forgiveness from Jesus.

“And Jesus answering said unto him,  Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee….” (Luke 7:40)

First Jesus gave the story of two debtors….one owing 500 pence….the other 50 pence.    The creditor forgave both of the debtors….

…but the question I have for you, Simon, is…which would love the creditor most?

Simon quickly answered the question….correctly:  the one that owed the creditor the most money…for he was forgiven the most.

Jesus told Simon,  that concerning the question….he judged correctly….

….but, concerning Him….his judgment had been wrong.

       If He (Jesus) had even just been a prophet….surely Simon would have treated Him with care and honor….but he had not.

Then Jesus showed Simon his many errors….in polite custom….and in love to Him….Who was more than a prophet…for He was a Savior.

       When Jesus came in….no water was even provided for Him.   (usually servants…or if it was a special person, the householder himself would wash the guest’s feet.)

       Simon had not kissed Him.  (again, a custom for guests.)

       Simon had not provided or given oil for Jesus’ head.(which was always done, as a perfume before seating to eat,  and as a mark of gladness that the person is there.)

“Why were these things not done, Simon?   Because you love “little”.    Your self-righteousness is always judging others,  but you  believe you don’t need to be forgiven….much…

….so you love God’s great gift, in the person of Me, God’s Son…”little”.

You think you honor Me with a meal….

…but this woman has honored Me with her love….which she gave without request.

       This woman, has loved much, for she acknowledges in her actions,   that she has sinned much, and that I am able to forgive her”

….and now He finally speaks to her:

        Luke 7:48 “And He said unto her,  Thy sins are forgiven.”

               Imagine:

Forgiven!  All my sins….at once, forgiven forever!  

Luke 7:50 “And He (Jesus) said to the woman,  Thy faith hath saved thee;  go in peace.”

Here was a message to all who were there….Simon and all his Pharisee friends….if they would hear it:

Faith in Jesus, saves.  

Faith in Jesus, leads to peace.

Faith in Jesus, is shown in the love we have for Him….for He is Lord and Savior.

What are we stumbling over?

Proverbs 3:21,23 “My son, let not them depart from thine eyes:  keep sound wisdom and discretion:

       Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.”

Proverbs 4:11-12 “I have taught thee in the way of wisdom;  I have led thee in right paths.

       When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.”

Notice that stumbling comes with ignoring or refusing God’s wisdom and  His Word.

Proverbs 4:18-19 “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

       (the justified are to walk as the sun comes up….first it is not darkness, but grey…then light is brighter and brighter till we have walked with the Lord and there is no shadows in between us….till His light shines down upon us in fullness…”walking in the light” 1 John 1:7)

       The way of the wicked is as darkness:  they know not at what they stumble.”

My husband used to preach on these verses, and say:   “As Christians,  we ought to at least know at what we stumble”.

        Do we?

To stumble does not mean that  we necessarily  fall….simply that we give an occasion of falling….and lose our focus.   

       (And how important our focus on Christ for ourselves is, in these days!)

       But  it  certainly can cause us to fall….give us a ruin….and cause us to be overcome (instead of overcoming in faith). 

Either way, it weakens us….causes us to give way in the things of God…if even for a small time.

       There is also our witness to others.  If we stumble over His Word,….will we not make others stumble also?

Malachi 2:7-8 “For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they (the people) should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

      But ye are departed out of the way;  ye have caused many to stumble at the law:…”

      The Lord showed the priesthood,  that they should be ready to speak His Word to any of the people that came to them….

….but instead they would not honor the Word….

…and because of that,  many were stumbling around, uncertain of what they should do….and many sinned because of the lack of true knowledge.

      And because these men refused to honor the Lord’s Word…. God’s blessing on the people and the nation was withheld.

1 Peter 2:2,7-8 “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby:

      (This is the same exhortation as in Proverbs….since you now have the light of the Word….stay in the light,  walk in the light,  and grow with the light.)

       Unto you therefore which believe He is precious:  but unto them which be disobedient, the Stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

       And a Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the Word,  being disobedient:  whereunto also they were appointed.”

Peter is showing that lack of obedience to HIs Word, leads to stumbling….

….and stumbling leads to dishonoring of the Lord.

He is the Cornerstone of His Word….He is the Rock on which we build our heart-homes.  He is precious to all who obey Him.

(Now I want to talk a little about obedience and disobedience.    We may think that we are obedient.    We pray,  we go to church,  we read our Bibles,  we encourage others to seek Him….but obedience is:

     “Believingly doing His Word to us.”    

How much do we believe when we pray?    How much do we believe when we hear a sermon?   How much do we believe the Bible is relevant to us in these days?  

      This is how much our encouragement to others is blessed.    

Because believing Jesus is part of obedience.

What do you have trouble believing Him for?

Disobedience is to wilfully and perversely [stubbornly] not believe…not do what is being told us by HIs Word.

     Are we being stubborn about what He has shown us….about us,  about our situation,  about another?)

Let us not “stumble” over the Word….let us take it to Him, and even if we cry….”I believe, help my unbelief”….let us put our full weight on Him….and step out in obedience.

A New Way 

Joshua 3:4 “Yet there shall be a space between you and it,  about two thousand cubits by measure:   Come not near unto it,  that ye may know the way by which you must go:   For ye have not passed this way heretofore.”

“You have not passed this Way, before.”

The Israelites were crossing Jordan to obtain their inheritance as God’s people.

They were to keep in their sight the Ark of God,  which was way out front, for that would lead them right.

There would be battles, some miraculous, others hard fought.  (Jericho—Joshua 6:20;    the forced march to Gibeon—Joshua 10:9-10)

There would be failures, and repentance’s.  (Achan’s theft—Joshua 7:10-11)

There would be those who did not want to leave the safety of the camp, to go into their own territory.    (Joshua 18:3-4)

And mostly there would be God, always present, guiding and leading….first, by Joshua.  

Then by the Law and priests.  

Then by their own love of God……if they would continue in it.

We have not passed this Way before.   We are entering into new territory,  new promises.

There is new ground to walk,  new heights to be gained.

Back a few years, my husband gave this testimony to the church…..

       Once I was taking one of my prayer walks, and I was praying about some things the Lord had been dealing with me about….when the Lord showed me that I had finally got these things into my life. 

(Sometimes, when you have been working at something for a while, as I had, we need to see just how far we have come….it is a great feeling to know you have gone  further with the Lord.)

      Wow! I felt on top of the heights!  And the Lord let me feel that for awhile as I praised Him for bringing me through.   

Then it was like He nudged me, and said,  “But up there is where we are going”……and as though the fog lifted before me, I saw a mountain,  very high, and a pinnacle there.

     Yes, I had finally gotten what I had prayed for….. but there was so much more to have in Christ….and He wanted me to know the….’where “we” are going’.

     There had been joy before, but now there was joy poured forth.  I felt empowered to leap mountains.

      I have found, since then, the way up, is difficult….but He has been with me.  And He has always been my greatest joy.

“You have not passed this Way, before.”

Our inheritance is in what we become, by the leading of the Holy Spirit.

And the calling and ministries He has given us.

It is the fruit of the Spirit within.  As we bare this fruit within, we conqueror our souls.   

Christ has saved them…now we are to possess them and give them back to Him, in love, joy, peace, etc.

Luke 21:19 “In your patience possess ye your souls.”

In other words,  have your mind, heart and will under subjection to God,….so no matter what is going on around you,  you will be kept and steady in the storm.

The Holy Spirit uses His Word to guide us into bearing these fruits; having what the Lord has for us….within us…and then through us.

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

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

Love: The Spirit first makes sure, you know,  you are loved of God.  (1 John 4:19)

Then He implants love within you, for the Lord, and His people.    He leads you into desiring Him, in all His attributes.

Joy: This is a choice fruit….for it is the lifting up of our hearts and minds, no matter what is going on.   It is of the Lord, and not circumstances…and it can not be “worked up”,  but it is a gift from our most Joyous God.   

(It makes us like cream….always rising to the top)

Peace: This places us firmly on the only solid ground…the Rock of Christ…and keeps us there.  The wind, storm, and enemies below may threaten….but can not move us off our Rock. (Philippians 4:7)

Long-suffering:  This is “putting up with” people for Christ’s sake.  Giving them another chance.  In the Greek it means, “long enduring temper” or patience.

Gentleness:  Being as kind to others, as Christ has been to you.

Goodness:  This comes from the “good works” we are to do as His workmanship…”created in Christ Jesus unto good works…”(Ephesians 2:10).

We are to be useful: to our family, our church, and others. (Romans 15:14)

Faith: This is a gift from God to us, that we might know Him, and this we are to do…using our faith, we are to increase our knowledge of the Lord by believing.  

Matthew 9:28-29 “And when He was come into the house,  the blind men came to Him: and Jesus said unto them,  Believe ye that I am able to do this?  They said unto Him,  Yea, Lord.

                        Then touched He their eyes, saying,  According to your faith be it done unto you.”

If He said, “according to our faith, be it to us”,…..how would we be?

Meekness: This is becoming humble…letting the Lord have all the glory, and letting Him exalt you, when He thinks it is good.   

[It is interesting to note, that as we go on with the Lord, we become more focused on giving Him all the praise…for we realize,  after dealing with us so tirelessly,  He deserves more than we can ever give.]

James 4:6 “But He giveth more grace,  wherefore He saith,  God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

Temperance: Self-control,  or to have the mastery over yourself.   

And this leads us back to:

“In your patience possess ye your souls.”

God wants us  to obtain all the promises, all the gifts, all the fruits…..all…everything that He has for us,  in and by the Holy Spirit within.   

He uses every situation,  everyday to lead us forth to new things.

Will we be lead out, and follow Him?…..”for ye have not passed this way, before”.

Soldiers of Christ Jesus. 

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

Paul, here, tells the Christians at Ephesus, that…. as they are seated in Christ Jesus in the heavenlies;  able to receive all the spiritual blessings He has for them (Ephesians 1:3, 2:6)…yet,….they must now take a stand against the wiles of the devil.

Every servant of the Lord Jesus Christ is called to stand with Him….and if you stand with Him….you stand against the world-system, and sin.

And in order to do that, you must be empowered….for we are not a well: a reserve of water unto ourselves…..but a sponge in an ocean of power….soaking up constantly.

And that is what the original word means:  “..in the power of His might.”    To be constantly empowered.

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

This is one of the provisions from God,  to us…..but we are responsible to put it on.    It is said twice….a witness to us, of our responsibility, and privilege as His soldiers:

Ephesians 6:13 “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.”

Notice it is “stand against the wiles of the devil” ,   And “withstand in the evil day”. 

The wiles of the devil,  or tricks or stratagems……we stand against them….they are the “fiery darts”.    

      The devil is always making suggestions…reminding us of how we used to be….telling us not to believe God….this thing is not “bad”….and so much more.

The evil day….we withstand it, in ourselves, and from others……we will not let the world’s way of seeing, affect us.    

      Worry, tension, fear,….anger, malice, revenge….spiteful words, gossip, slander….and so much more,  can turn any day into the evil day….and we are to withstand it.

Ephesians 6:14 “Stand therefore,….”

I have preached before about the armor…..but the armor is not so many pieces that you wear….rather it is the truth of the experience that each piece signifies….

A soldier puts on his armor before the battle….in preparation for it.  And we are in a battle every day against the tricks of the devil.

Truth : the truth of our salvation…..knowing we are saved.

       Romans 8:16 “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit,  that we are the children of God:”

…..and then knowing the truth of His love to us, personally. (1 John 4:16, 19)

Righteousness : we are clothed with the very righteousness of Christ.  But if we want our heart to be cleansed and protected, we need to live righteously….no hidden sin….all confessed, up-to-date. 

      1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light,  we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

Peace :  the place of rest, being sure of our walk with Christ—garrisoned about with peace. 

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

       It  is the hiding place for every Christian in the turmoil of battle…..learning how to depend upon the promises of God for inner peace….no matter what is going on around us, then we are sure-footed.

Faith :  this is the practical use of the faith given you at new birth,……putting it to use, to overcome in the battles of life. 

      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.”

      Faith always sees God in the situation….and places our confidence in Him.   Faith is “moveable”, like a shield…….it covers our minds, our hearts, and our wills….it goes down and covers our walk, and work…..reminding us of God, not the circumstances.

Salvation : this is to think saved…..think that I belong to Christ,  therefore,  I am to act as His.

     1 Peter 1:13 “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind (gather your thoughts), be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”

The Word of God :  what a mighty weapon, if we use it. (Read it, and learn it).  A growing knowledge of the scriptures, and how they apply to our life.

      Accusations from the devil and the world, come…..and we should do as Jesus did, when He was tempted (Matthew 4:1-11),……we need to meet those accusations with the Word of God.  

      It is that Word that the Holy Spirit reminds us of, at the time……for  then it is delivered with power.

All-prayer :   God answers prayer because we believe Him.

       Mark 11:24 “Therefore I say unto you,  whatsoever things ye desire,  when ye pray,  believe that ye receive them,  and ye shall have them.” 

       We should pray in Jesus Name (John 16:23-24)….asking His will done.

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

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

To put on the whole armor of God,  we need to get in our experience,  the power that the Lord has made available for us in this battle…..whenever and wherever that is.

The power that is set forth in these pieces….and then we need to….”Stand therefore….”

Gratitude

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

Here is a prayer of gratitude…for we find Paul’s thoughts fully absorbed in the subject of the exceeding riches of God’s grace to His people.

Paul’s heart is so overflowing with love and praise to God…that practically the first thing he writes to these Ephesians (with whom he had spent three years)…is adoration of God the Father.

        “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…”

(And Jesus taught us that the first thing we should do in prayer is adore and worship Him….”Our Father which art in heaven….Hallowed be Thy Name”.)

What does it mean to “bless God”?  .   Only God can bless…as all blessings come from HIm.    But for us to be said to bless God….is  to acknowledge HIs goodness and show our highest gratitude to Him for all He has, is and will do.

In this prayer,  Paul is seeking to unite the church in Ephesus,…and all believers through this letter…to magnify the Lord with him….and see and praise Him,  that He is the Source of all spiritual blessings.

       Paul is not asking for anything….He is not petitioning God for these blessings.   He is bursting forth with adoration and gratitude for the blessings God has already given in Christ!

God alone can bless…or give of His bounty…His largeness of mercy, grace, power in the Spirit, personal sanctification, forgiveness, hope and love.

“Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings”.   Each word is chosen with the Spirit’s anointing.

        It is not just “all blessings”…..

       It is not “all gifts”….but “all spiritual blessings”  because Paul is stressing His new covenant title:  God our Father….the Father of Jesus Christ our Lord.  (John 20:17)

(The last thing Jesus did before He ascended back to heaven was to bless His own:

       Luke 24:50-51  “And He led them out as far as to Bethany, and He lifted up His hands, and blessed them.

       And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.”

And in the last day, when the Son shall sit on His throne and judge the nations, He will say:

       Matthew 25:34 “Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand,  Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:”

Our blessings are part of our eternal inheritance…these blessings are universally for His own.   They are not just for the strong and courageous….or the weak and feeble….but for all Who belong to the Lord Jesus Christ….

…for they are “in heavenly places in Christ.”  

In Christ we are completely blessed….for there are “all spiritual blessings”.)

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

When the love of God is “shed abroad” in the heart by the Holy Spirit,  our hearts can not be silent.

        The One being blessed by Paul (and he is calling us to bless Him as well)….is the  God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

When God is said to be the God of any person,  what this means is that He is their covenant God.

        (In the Old Testament,  Israel’s God was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.   But God promised a “new covenant”  Jeremiah 31:31-34.

         In the New Testament,  God is seen as “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”….and He is to be seen and praised, adored as such.  Hebrews 10:9)

This grand title also manifests that He is the God of our accomplished redemption.  

       Surely He Purposed it and Ordained it (John 6:27,37, 44,)..sent His Son to purchase it…

….and has now given us this heritage as His children,  His sons:

       Romans 8:1,14-15  “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…

       For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

       For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear;  but ye have received the Spirit of adoption,  whereby we cry,   Abba,  Father.”

As He has redeemed us through Christ, we are no longer our own….we belong to Him.  It is in yielded obedience to this fact in our lives, as we make Him our King, that we truly begin to enjoy these blessings as we should.

As we are in Christ, He is our Father and it is this precious relationship that is our confidence:

       Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace,…

       (that is the Father’s throne, and it is a throne of grace to us who believe, because we are in Christ Jesus)

…that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

Again we want to say:  only God can bless.    We simply return His blessings to Him,  in the form of praise, and worship.

 I started this with the word:   Gratitude.  

       It means an acknowledgement of what has been given to us….through words or actions.

Paul’s adoration of gratitude to God…for Paul saw and experienced the blessings God had for him…overflowed from his heart and lips.

       Paul was in prison when he wrote this….but the circumstances we are in….cannot stop the blessings of God to us as we yield ourselves to Christ Jesus our Lord and King.

Spiritual blessings….all spiritual blessings….how many have we taken from the hands of our God?    For they are in Christ Jesus….let us reach out and submit ourselves to His Will, and surely we, too will know the gratitude….overflowing gratitude to God for all we have in Christ.

Let Us Lay Aside Every Weight 

Hebrews 12:1 “Wherefore, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,  let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset us,  and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”

If we were running in a race,  and wanted to finish it, that we might win;    we would remove every weight from our pockets, every backpack, every jacket;  all that would catch the air, or hinder our running.

This is a long distance race which is being spoken of here in Hebrews;  and we need all patience and endurance to finish it.  Therefore,  we are called upon to remove what would weight us down.

Just what are these weights?

These weights are anything and everything that hinders us spiritually.

They are external things that we can drop or “lay aside”. (Certain relationships are weights, going to certain places can hinder us,  and past failures and thinking of them all the time.  These are weights,  which slow us down.)

To run well you should not be burdened with anything.

And we are called to run the race laid before us.

We are called to walk with God. (Colossians 2:6).   

And run our race. (Philippians 2:16)

The two are different:

The walking speaks of the quiet conversation you have as you walk with a friend, day by day.   This is our life.

The running speaks of our work,  which we are all called to finish.  

If you’re a Christian,  you are in the race.   God has given you a “work, or calling” to do.  

(There are many callings:  as a witness of Jesus Christ, as a prayer warrior, as a preacher of the Word,  as a teacher of the Word, etc.)

Finish it, and you have the reward and honor He has waiting for you, for being devoted to Him. (Well done, thou good and faithful servant.  Matthew 25:21)

But God does not save us, without giving us the Holy Spirit to enable us for anything He calls us to.  

It is not:  You are saved, now do something for Me.

But:  You are saved, now let Me do through you. I in you, and you in Me.  That is the way we will finish…together.

Paul spoke to the Galatians about this very thing:

Galatians 5:7 “Ye did run well;  who did hinder you that you should not obey the truth?”

Men had come to Galatia, to the established church there, saying that being Christians was O.K.,….but if you really want to be….somebody to God,….you have to follow the Mosaic Law, as well. 

Then you will be super-great Christians.  (Not true)

No, Paul says.  You are being weighed down with old traditions,  which were laid aside in Christ’s crucifixion, and resurrection.

Don’t be hindered in the race.  But finish your course. 

Doing the good works that  God has ordained or made full provision for….for you.  (Ephesians 2:10)

We should all seek the Lord that He might show us,  what are the weights which hinder our running.   And as He does, let us lay them aside, and go on to “finish our race”.

Hebrews 12:1-2 “Wherefore, seeing we are also compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,  let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us,  and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

                              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.”

Anything from the Holy Spirit will not burden you down, for “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty”.  (2 Corinthians 3:17)

Let us lay aside our weights which hinder us;  and look to Jesus, Who began a good work in us,……and Who will finish it.