Daniel in the lion’s den

Daniel 6:16 “Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions.  Now the king spake and said unto Daniel,   Thy God whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee.”

We often think of our circumstances, especially when we are in storms and troubles…that we are overly tried.     That we go from “the frying pan,  to the fire” sometimes.

        And we  think of Daniel as privileged….he was in a palace, not Jerusalem that would be destroyed…

…..he was placed in a position of authority…not in the fields and poor villages of Babylon with Ezekiel and many of the captives.

We think he had it “pretty easy”! (and often times we think others have it “easy”….when we do not necessarily see behind the scenes.)

But…

I want to first mention about Daniel…that as a young man, problably in his teens,….he was taken to Babylon.   Since he was educated, for he was a prince in Israel,  he was put in with others who were to become the advisors and “wisemen” to Nebuchadnezzar.   

        Daniel prayed to God, and he and his friends, were set aside from the normal food and drink of the king’s portion which was first given to  idols….

….”But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank:…”( Dan. 1:8)

        Yet a while later, he was almost killed…along with all the other “wisemen”,  because the king’s dream was not being retold to him.       Daniel prayed, and had the dream told him….and, giving all the glory to God Who knows all things,  told the dream to the king…and saved the lives of all the wisemen.  (Dan.2:27-28)

         Because of this,  he was placed in a position of some authority and access to the king….

        Some time later, another dream was given to Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel prayed, giving all the glory to God for the interpretation again…..

……and boldly told the king to stop being so proud, for God had given him all he had….and to stop being so violent or he would suffer madness.  ( Dan. 4:27)  

        This happened….seven years of Nebuchadnezzar’s madness….where Daniel is set aside, till Nebuchadnezzar is given sanity….and his kingdom back.

        When Nebuchadnezzar dies, all goes silent for Daniel…he is not consulted or called for (at least three years)…..till Belshazzar’s feast…and there Daniel boldly speaks for God and His judgment on them,  for their mocking Him.  Their kingdom was to end,  that night….and it did. (Dan. 5:22-23, 26-28)

How old Daniel is,   the scriptures do not say….yet when Darius came to power,  Daniel had been at court for many years.   He would have been middle-aged or “older” by then.

His life already had many ups and downs….many visions had been given to him, already….and he had become a man of prayer.    Three times a day he set aside for prayer.

Then:  Darius came to power in Babylon.   He was a Median…older and greedy.   Very much interested in the accounting of the kingdom…for his own gain, of course….so:

        Daniel 6:1-3 “It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes,  which should be over the kingdom;

       And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first:  that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.    (He would not be cheated by having  so many checks and balances!)

       Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him;  and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.”

(Daniel was a honest man who could be counted on.   “…they could find none occasion nor fault;  forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.” Dan. 6:4

        And so should every Christian be….in business, in our homes and churches,  with our friends and enemies,…honest and faithful.

       Daniel, at this time, realized that God’s time for bringing back Israel to the land after their captivity, was coming…so he began to pray fervently for that promise  Dan. 9:1-3)

Envy and  jealousy are sins which cause the sinner to reject, and hate the one they are jealous of.

       Hate never stands still….it moves the sinner to act against….in some way the object of their envy.

So the other princes come up with a plan….”we shall not find any occasion…except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” (Dan. 6:5)

        So they decietfully flattered the king Darius….and said that they (all his counselors, and governors and princes) have gotten together and decided that they would establish a royal decree that no one could ask a petition from any God or man….for thirty days, except from the king….you, O Darius!   And they wanted him to seal it, so it could not be changed,…according to the law of the Medes and Persians.

And Darius thought:

“How flattering!   And they did say all the higher-ups had agreed to it!   Wow, think of it!  Every one would have to come to me,  Darius, to get an answer to anything!     

        Let me sign it right away!”

As I said,  Daniel’s life was full of ups and downs….he was in a place of position…and intrigue.   

        But Daniel’s life was in God….therefore he let all that pomp and authority and intrigue not trouble him one bit…

…again his life was in God….in prayer for His Will done for Israel,  God’s people, was a burden on his soul….and he continued to pray…

…even when he heard of the decree.

Well, we know he was arrested, brought before Darius….who was flabbergasted…and tried to save Daniel….but could not…

…for the decree could not be changed,  “according to the law of the Medes and Persians,  which altereth not.”

Hungry lions eat anything.   And Darius had to throw Daniel into the pit of hungry lions….had to.

      (  But notice,…and I think this is wonderful.  

         Daniel did nothing.     Daniel said nothing.     Daniel submitted to their actions….leaving all to God.  

         And doesn’t this remind us so much of Jesus Christ before the Sanhedrin and Pilate!  )

Now the law could not be changed….

……..but God didn’t change the law….but “shut the lions mouths”!

And how many times the Lord has delivered us from “hurt”,…and from enemies,…in a different way then we thought…or even prayed for.    His Way is best.

         Daniel had to go through the lions den….but God’s angel was with him….not to destroy the lions, or fight with the lions….but to simply close their mouths!     And God can do the same for us!

Daniel 6:19-23 “Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.

         And when he came to the den,  he cried with a  lamentable voice unto Daniel:…O Daniel, servant of the living God,  is thy God,  whom thou servest continually, able to deliever thee from the lions?”

        Then said Daniel unto the king,   O king, live for ever. 

        My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me:  forasmuch as before Him innocency was found in me;  and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. 

        Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den.  So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him,  because he believed in his God.”

“…because he believed in his God.”    Let us be faithful to our God,  and let us believe Him.

        He has given us HIs Word to read and appropriate….to get those promises in to our lives….let us do it.

Daniel in the lions den is history we all know….but it has come to mind again and again lately.

        We all must pass through….again,… “pass through” tribulations and troubles.

But God is with us….to keep us before people of position and accusors,  alike….wherever they are.

 Let us be faithful to God…..that it may be said of us…”we are people of prayer”…..”we believed in our God.”

      (And remember…to believe is to put the full weight of ourselves, our lives on Him.)

The Way of the righteous

Psalm 1:6 “For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”

           It is a constant source of peace when we recognize that “The Lord knoweth” my way….the way He has led me in….and…that He knows what is in that way, for me.

           John 10:27, 12 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me:

           But he that is an hireling (one doing it,  just for the money,  not for care of the sheep), and not the shepherd,  whose own the sheep are not,   seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth:   and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.”

How important it is that we know “the way of the righteous”….the way He leads us “in and out,”…and to “find pasture.” (John 10:9)…and to follow His Way.

Nahum 1:7 “The Lord is good,  a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him.”

(When God is said to “know” someone,  He is said to recognize them….the real them. 

          For the righteous,  this means to care for, and instruct.

          For the wicked, this means judgment as to their attitude and actions.)

Proverbs 11:30 “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.”

This is the way of the righteous….and we should all walk in it.   We should be diligently concerned for the souls we come into contact with….that they, too, might be saved.

          And once saved, that they might come to the full realization of the life of Christ in them.

Hebrews 4:13 “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight:  but all things are  naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do.”

(As children, we are taught that our Heavenly Father sees us, and watches over us…to keep us from harm.

          “Be Careful little eyes what you see, be careful little eyes what you see,  for the Father up above is looking down in love, so be careful little eyes what you see.

           Be careful little feet where you go, be careful little feet where you go…for the Father up above is looking down in love, so be careful little feet where you go.”

          It continues with “hands, what they do”…and “mouths, what we say”…

Perhaps this isn’t taught anymore….but it always was a good way to show that God knows us…who we are,  and what we do…

…and because He loves us,   He wants us to be careful in this world.  

         This is a good foundation to show God’s Almightiness and Goodness….and the evil that can be in this world.

Psalm 34:11 “Come, ye children, hearken unto me:  I will teach you the fear of the Lord.”)

God “knows”….

….if we would come to God with this in mind….we would find it easier to get honest with Him, and ourselves.

Our souls…our thoughts, affections, and our willful actions.   God knows us.   And sent His Son to seek and to save the lost…because God valued our souls.

           Now,  that we are saved,  we need to follow our Lord, wherever He might lead….whether into prayer for others to be saved….or in witness to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ….or in leading others to Him, by the Word of God…God values their souls.

          And we too, should value the souls around us.

Righteous….or to be right-wise with God….to think God’s thoughts after Him.  

          For in our thoughts are the intents of our hearts made manifest.

(Are we following the Lord in this?   Are we thinking His thoughts?   Or,  are our thoughts after the world’s ways?)

Hebrews 4:12 “For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword,  piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Piercing….that certainly describes the Word of God when we are being dealt with about something.     

          It pierces our excuses,  our reasons,  and our affections that have gotten tangled up into things….it pierces and opens us up to the truth…

…….and then (blessed be HIs Name!) He gives discernment in the way to go to set these right…and to get back into the way of the righteous.

Psalm 34:15 “The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry.”

Psalm 37:17 “…but the Lord upholdeth the righteous.”

Psalm 55:22 “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee:  He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”

Psalm 112:4 “Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness:…”

Psalm 112:6 “…the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.”

Psalm 146: “….the Lord loveth the righteous:”

The Way of the righteous is to follow the Lord whithersoever He goes….and it is shown us in HIs Word….again and again.    

            His promises to us are in some ways an anchor to hold us against the storm….

….and in other ways a warm breeze which fills our sails and keeps us moving toward our home in  heaven, in peace.

Let us get into His Way,  and stay there…for there are many ways presented to us from the world….and we need His discernment in these days. 

Ultimate Reality. 

I believe our souls are the most precious thing in all of God’s Creation.   

Having lost it through the fall of Adam (Romans 6:18-19);   He bought it back again, at such a high price:  the sacrifice of His beloved Son.

I believe that our souls are our personalities.  They are what makes us unique.  No two are exactly alike.

They are what the Bible calls “the heart”.

Our souls are the seat of our personalities….all that makes us, us!

When Christ Jesus was here, He set forth a way of following Him: 

Deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow Me.   Lose your self-life,  that you might find your Christ filled life. (Matthew 16:24-25)

Then He added a verse which often confuses us,  but it shouldn’t.   

Jesus spoke in terms of profit and loss.  Showing the value that Jesus placed on our souls.  One soul is worth more than a whole world of things.

The question is:  how much do we value our own souls?

Matthew 16:26 “For what is a man profited,  if he shall gain the whole world,  and lose his own soul?    Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

What, of all creation could possibly be of more value than our eternal soul?

What will we give in exchange for our souls, in this world?  

For that is what Jesus is asking.

Will it be temptations, cares, riches, or pleasures of this life? (Luke 8:13-14)

In Luke, Jesus says:

Luke 9:25 “What is a man advantaged,  if he gain the whole world,  or lose himself,  or be cast away?”

Or “lose himself”;……….for our soul is our personality,  our mind, heart and will.

When we are immersed in the world, we are conformed to it, and really lose who we really are.

Come to Christ, and have your soul “saved”….freed from all the entanglements of the world,…..freed to be all He has created you for.

Man is an eternal being.  He will exist for eternity in one of two places:  we will save our soul, and live for eternity with God in bliss.

Or we will lose our soul,  and spend eternity with Satan in torment.

There is no other ultimate reality than this.   

People have tried to say that God is too merciful to condemn people to hell.

God is merciful:  that is why He saves anybody who comes to Him……because He is merciful.

That is why He sent His Son to save us, by the sacrifice of Himself.   

He came and lived a perfect life…becoming the perfect sacrifice.  

Not in His Divinity,  for He always was and is holy.

But in His humanity.   And because there was found no sin in Him (Hebrews 4:15);  He could give His life a ransom for all,  who will come unto Him.

Here then is what Jesus says we are faced with:  our souls must choose.

Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior?

Or some attractions in the world? 

Romans 10:9, 13 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,  and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead,  thou shalt be saved.

         For whosoever will call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

In this age for each Christian;  to answer the call of Christ,  is to come with a life open to and receptive to Him.

This is a continual open door to Christ.  

Christ Jesus is still asking all who will follow Him:

Will you bring yourselves to Me?  Will you fully surrender your wills that they may be Mine?

Hear My word to you;  for My Word is a living Word,  it will not return unto Me void.  But it will accomplish My purpose in you,…. yield to it.

I will empower you to do My Will;  only get it settled that you will do it. 

(And If there is someone faced with that challenge especially at this time;  remember time has a way of dimming the value of all things in this world.   What we consider “essential”,……….can become sawdust in our mouths,…..though it may not seem like it now.

You can turn your life over to Jesus Christ,  and ask Him to make it whole in Him.)

Know the liberty of the Spirit of Christ,  in your union with Me. 

Hear and your soul shall live.

Only Christ knows the true value of your soul,  for He paid the ultimate price to save it,…….He knows you,  and loves you.

Amazing love for such as I.

The Everlasting Covenant and His Everlasting Love

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

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

A covenant is an binding agreement where one agrees to give something, if the other agrees to do something.

God the Father agreed to draw and give all the elect,   to God the Son:

John 6:37 “All that the Father giveth Me  cometh to Me;  and him that cometh to Me  I will in no wise cast out.”

God the Son, agreed to become the man, Christ Jesus and die for all the elect at the fullness of time:

Galatians 4:4-5 “But when the fullness of the time was come,  God sent forth His Son,  made of a woman,  made under the law,  

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

John 6:40 “And this is the will of Him that sent Me,  everyone that seeth the Son,  and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life:  and I will raise him up in the last day.”

God the Holy Spirit, agreed to be the agency by which faith is produced within us,  and to stay with us, as our Comforter:

John 14:26 “But the Comforter,  which is the Holy Ghost,  Whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things,  and bring all things to your remembrance,  whatsoever I have said unto you.”

The triune God made this Everlasting Covenant before they even created the earth.

For They saw, by their Omniscience, that sin would enter into the world by the man they would create.   And that by that sin,  man would have to be separated from God, the greatest Good.

All was lost to God.   He showed me once, just what a great loss it was to Him.

So They made full provision for  the salvation of man:  through the blood of the everlasting covenant.

That blood was shed on Calvary by our Lord Jesus Christ.  He paid the price to redeem us from every sin, for all who come to Him.

Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

And to make us perfect (complete) in all the works we are to do, by the merits of Jesus.    Changing us into the character of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

They made this covenant before the world was created;  so that we might be saved. For God loved us before He even created the earth. Hallelujah!

Jeremiah 31:3 “The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying,   Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love:  therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.”

Notice how personal His love is…to you, to me.

It was an Everlasting covenant, based on everlasting love!  In Christ Jesus!

Are we enjoying His grace and love?

Will the iron swim for you? 

2 Kings 6:6 “And the man of God said,  Where fell it?   And he showed him the place.   And he cut down a stick,  and cast in thither,  and the iron did swim.”

Elisha is a prophet in Israel.  As an itinerant preacher, he would go around Israel meeting with the sons of the prophets;  a group of people separated to God and His worship.   (There was still a lot of idol worshippers in Israel)

Some of them come to Elisha, telling him that they need more room for their growing numbers.   So they plan to go down to the river Jordan, and cut down saplings from along the bank.

Elisha agrees to the plan…”Go ye.”

But one of them asked him to accompany them; not to work, but to be there.

And Elisha agrees…”I will go”.      

2 Kings 6:4-5 “And he went with them.   When they came to Jordan, they cut down wood.

                         And one was felling a beam,  and the ax head fell into the water:   and he cried, and said,  Alas master!  for it was borrowed.”

This would have been an expensive tool….valuable and rare.

And he had borrowed it;  so the honor of their word to return it, would have been on the line.

So he told Elisha….perhaps this was the very reason God wanted him to be there.

(A word about the Jordan:  it is a very muddy River.  That ax head,  or “iron” which fell into that;  it would be impossible to find it….it would be covered with mud.)

2 Kings 6:6 “And the man of God said,   Where fell it?…”

Elisha, was immediately praying for the matter…..standing in his place as a representative of God.

What should he do?   He could pray for money to be given to replace it…..or he could pray that God would retrieve it…..

….whatever would be more to God’s glory….that is what he wanted.

2 Kings 6:6-7 “…….And he showed him the place.  And he cut down a stick,  and cast it thither;  and the iron did swim.

                        Therefore said he,  Take it up to thee.   And he put out his hand and took it.”

Up from the muddy depths came the “iron”,  by the simple obedience of Elisha.

This was an impossible situation, but the iron did swim.

Are you confronting an impossible situation?   Then,  hear our Lord Jesus to His disciples: 

Matthew 19:26 “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them,  With men this is impossible,  but with God all things are possible.”

I want to point out (as the Lord pointed out this word to me, years ago) this little word “all”.

What does it signify?    It includes the numbers, and the vastness of things.   It is inclusive…it leaves nothing out, not small or large,  not physical or spiritual,  not anything.   It includes “all”.

And that is what the Lord says is possible to God….and it was in answer to a question about salvation. 

Matthew 19:25 “When his disciples heard it,  they were exceeding amazed, saying,  Who then can be saved?”

(Remember salvation is everything related to us from the time we are born again………through all eternity.   

Conviction,       being born again,      being saved from the power of the world, sin, and ourselves,      being saved from others [Romans 8:35-39 “…nothing can separate us from the love of God…”],      being taken to heaven.   

All that effects our walk with Jesus……is included in the term salvation.

God can bring anyone…..”all”…..anyone from drowning in the mire of this world….to salvation in Him.   The iron can swim.)

We are placed in situations, as Elisha was at Jordan, for us to have the Lord’s direction and help, for ourselves….and others. 

(Often by helping others in prayer, word, or deed,  I have been strengthened myself.   By giving the Lord’s Word, grace is also received.)

This is a simple story of a miracle….there are no trumpets or bands….seven short verses describe a amazing feat.

It also is a story of personal loss….not just for the money which he did not have to replace it;……but of his word to return the ax for this believer.

And a story of the Lord’s goodness,…….especially in something we would think insignificant for the Lord to “bother with”.

But He did it.   The iron did swim.

Sometimes, I believe, we pray as though we know the Lord will not answer us….

….we pray…sure,  He could….if He would…sort of, prayers.

Matthew 21:21-22 “Jesus answered and said unto them,  “Verily I say unto you,  if ye have faith and doubt not,  ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree,  but also if ye shall say unto this mountain,  be thou removed,  and be thou cast into the sea;  it shall be done.

                            And all things,  whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer,  believing,  ye shall receive.”

By faith, is according to His Will, as He has shown you.   

Believing is the act of obedience to what He wants you to do about it.

(Elisha had to cut down a stick and cast it in the Jordan, to make the iron swim.)

Will the iron swim for you, in your situation….big or little;  crisis or not?

No matter what the size, or extremity;  God hears, and gives guidance.

Will we come to Him believing,  and receive it?   

The Lord will perfect that which concerns me

Psalm 138:8 “The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me:  Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever:  forsake not the works of Thine own hands”

Two things to notice here….that it is the Lord Who will perfect or complete the work in me (and as always, He stresses the personal!  Hallelujah!)

To perfect, or complete that which concerns me….is in my life,  what concerns His Will done in me.

          And to complete that which “concerns” or bothers, frustrates, or worries me.    As we bring all these things to Him,  even as David did in this psalm 

          Psalm 138:7 “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou wilt revive me:  Thou shalt stretch forth Thine hand (notice His hand at work for us, again) against the wrath of mine enemies, and Thy right hand shall save me.”

And second,  that it is with “Thine own hands”. 

         His hands shaped man first out of the dust of the ground.  

His hands were nailed on the cross to redeem me from my sins…and brought salvation to His own.

His glorified hands will hold on to us, till the end….leading us (John 10:10) as our Shepherd.

          But now,  for those who seek Him, and love Him….He speaks again of shaping with His own hands.   (How personal is that!)

           With His own hands means…He will work in a very personal manner for His child….molding us into the character of His Son within us.  (Eph. 2:10)

Isaiah 64:8 “But now,  O Lord, Thou art our Father;  we are the clay, and Thou  our potter;  and we all are the work of Thy hand.”

And what is the ground that we can pray on?   “Thy mercy O Lord endureth for ever”.

(My husband once, years ago, was praying about our ministry….for it seemed that there was  a general apathy, and lack of personal obedience to the Lord.

          He prayed about his own heart….and the discouragement that was there about the situation.   He prayed about our family….and our church….and was given this verse:

          Psalm 138:8 “The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me:  Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever:  forsake not the works of thine own hands.”

We were all called to be there….we were all given promises to obtain.   It was His own hands that had done this work….therefore my husband was to use this as a promise and stir up the gift that was in him….and awaken all of us to God’s warning.

2 Timothy 1:6-7 “…stir up the gift of God, which is in thee….For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;  but of power and of love, and of a sound mind.”

He started praying for the Lord to work….(and it is a prayer that we too, can pray)…forsake not the work of Thine own hands.

Psalm 119:126 “It is time for Thee, Lord to work: for they have made void Thy law.”

          And there was a difference….in him…the Holy Spirit giving him joy again…

…..and in others, once they became aware that they had “fallen asleep”…they were more diligent in seeking the Lord’s Will and doing it….and thanking Him for it!

Eph. 5:14-16 “Wherefore he saith,  Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

          See then that ye walk circumspectly (looking around to check for dangers), not as fools, but as wise,

          Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

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.”)

No matter where we are in our walk to heaven,  there will be times of discouragement.   We will grow sleepy….and our joy in the things of God may be overshadowed by our own,  or other’s lack of diligence and obedience. 

          Let us seek our Lord in these times….and not try and deal with them alone.   

It is His Work we do….it is His Word we preach,….it is His Will we want.

The Lord will (not maybe,  or perhaps…but will) perfect that which concerns me….

….Thy mercy, O Lord endures for ever (praise God, so that I can always look up and see Christ standing before God for me, in power and might!)….

….forsake not the works of Thine own hands (and here is the prayer we can always pray…which will lead us back to placing our all,   in His capable hands.)

We are His Workmanship

Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace are ye saved through faith;  and 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.”

For all those who are saved, we are His workmanship.  This means ” a molded image of “.   

In other words, we are given the grace to be molded into a image of Christ Jesus: in all His characteristics, and in the good works that He did, when He was here on earth.  

We do not have His divinity.   He is God,  we are but His creatures; but we are given His grace (the unmerited favor of power) in our lives, and His Holy Spirit to guide, and comfort us in our walk. 

Now God the Father thought man worth saving.

And God the Son thought man worth dieing for, as the Man, Christ Jesus.

And God the Holy Spirit thought man worth regenerating. (Living within him and using His power to change us from self-centered to God-centered.)

The Will of the Father is the originating cause of our Salvation.

The Worth of the Son’s redemption is it’s meritorious cause.

And the Work of the Spirit makes our Salvation effectual in our everyday lives.

John 6:44 “No man can come to me,  except the Father which hath sent me draw him:  and I will raise him up at the last day.”

God the Father draws us to Christ Jesus, that we might believe on His Person and Works, and receive Him;  whereby we are born again.

And when we are born again?  What do we do then?

We should walk in those good works which God ordained for us.

To explain:

We were never born again, simply to fill up Heaven one day.

We were born again to “walk” with God.

This walk begins, for us, the moment we are born again, and never ends.

This walk includes personal communion, and those good works we are chosen to do.

First, Personal Communion, by the Holy Spirit, in our spirits to The Lord Jesus Christ:

Ephesians 3:16 “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;”

The Holy Spirit shows us Christ Jesus, and strengthens us to further receive His love:  which is abundant!

Ephesians 3:17-19 “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;  that ye,  being rooted and grounded in love, 

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

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

You may say, I know God loves me.

But this is further knowledge.  One that works in every situation, under all circumstances.

And to be filled with all the fullness of God, you must be willing to be emptied of all the fullness of self interests.

When we are children, we may know our parents love us because we are taken care of.

When we grow up, (if we are fortunate), we come to know the love of protection,  correction,……and friendship.   

So with our walk in our personal communion with Christ Jesus.   By the Holy Spirit, we come to “comprehend”  God’s love which encircles us,  holds us up,  corrects us, and (if we go on with Him) the love of friends. (John 15:14-15)

In these verses Paul puts together the fullness of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and our knowledge of the love of Christ.   

(And they never are separate.  To love Him more is to have more of Him in your life.   To love Him little, is to have little of Him in your life; no matter how much head knowledge you have.)

Second, there is the “walk” in those ordained good works.

This is a personal thing.  He has good works for each of us.  

Ordained means that Christ Jesus has made all the provision (what we need….it is personal)……for these works that He calls you to do.

How  much we disagree with this!    We often murmur at the people, situation, time, or…..our ability…..to the Lord.   

Surely, you have made a mistake, Lord.   (Are we hearing what we are saying?!)

We must seek His guidance,  and when we have it,  use it.   It is a map to show us where to go, and how to go.

Haste can make waste.      And sloth can steal not only time, but every reward we should have received.

Ordained means His Provision is given us.  And we just need to “walk” in what He has said….and with what He has provided.

Which always brings us back to the first:  to know the Love of God, in Christ Jesus, which is beyond measure, a sure anchor for our lives.

Will we fail?  Yes.   

But remember this is a walk with Christ….not a sprint…..but a step by step walk with our Beloved…….and it continues all our lives.

Imagine the amount of love we will know,  in a year, or two.   

Or the fullness of His Spirit we can have as we walk with  Him.

We are His Workmanship;  yield to the Holy Spirit within, and know the Love of Christ which passeth knowledge; and walk in those good works He has for you.

Soul

Genesis 2:7 “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

And man became a living soul.    By some marvelous fiat of God….man became a living soul….meaning man had intellect or mind,  he had affections or heart,  he had will to be active in the Will of God.

Man’s body was formed out of dust by God, the only part of creation that God handled (the others He spoke)….and God breathed into his formed nostrils, the breath of life or the Holy Spirit…giving him a spirit,  and then:

       Man became a living soul…to live to God and enjoy Him.

We were whole then….our consciousness was Godward.   Our desire was toward knowing His Will, and doing it.    

Ecclesiastes 7:29 “Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright;  but they have sought out many inventions.”

This “sought out” is exactly what happened when Eve, leaving her duties as a helper to Adam, went to “look” at the Tree of the Knowledge of good and evil.

       Adam, leaving the duties of seeing to the garden, found Eve and “sought out” the Way to death and destruction, by:

       First: listening to her, as she had listened to the devil  (Genesis 3:17 “And unto Adam He said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife,…”)

      Second: staying,…when he should have run from the temptation.

      Third:  taking what he knew to be wrong, and eating it,…choosing her,  over God. (Gen.3:6)

What they “sought out” was evil….for they already had good.   And are not Adam’s children all the same….our inclination to evil…

      …till,   (and praise God there is a till)….The Holy Spirit convicts us,  and the Lord Jesus Christ saves us….then we can become whole again…with a desire to know and do God’s Will.

Our soul’s are our true personality….the real us.   Granted, they are influenced by our bodies which are in the external world….and they are influenced by our spirits which are the spiritual part of us. 

      (If they are still in a darkened state….that darkness blinds the soul to God (2 Cor. 4:4)

       If they are in a enlightened state (Eph. 1:18), with the Holy Spirit within, after being born again….then they are influenced by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to the soul.)

Accordingly, the principal thing God does when He gives admittance into the covenant of grace is to teach man to know Him.

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

To truly know the Lord, is to love Him.    And this knowledge of God leads us back into the garden of our souls….. to get to work for Him, there.    

I desired mercy….this mercy is “hesed”  or affection for our brothers and sisters in the Lord.

        It is the love of God and love of all the household of faith.    (And true love is a willed action of our whole being.)

These things are the results of the genuine knowledge of God.    (notice it is “of God”,….not about God.)

I want to mention here, that when we are born again…there becomes a unity in our life again.(2 Cor.5:17)   We learn of the Lord, how to be one with Him.

Our spirit indwelt by the Holy Spirit can be ablaze with love,  our soul given a new nature can become holy unto the Lord,  our bodies yielding to God’s Will can become pure and undefiled.

      Our eyes are toward heaven,  where our citizenship is.

      Our hearts are toward His Will done here, that we might please Him,  Who gave all for me.

      Our thoughts are not wandering into “maybe”,  “if”,  and “why not”….for we have learned…the whole of “me” has…”learned, that in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content”. (Philippians 4:11)

Our souls are where the warfare rages.   

       But by the force that is the Holy Spirit within our spirits,   we can bring all the faculties of our soul under His control….by His grace (the unmerited favor of power).

True fellowship with the Lord is in surrender to His Will and Word.   

      We fellowship in prayer

 (and true prayer is asking, seeking, and knocking for HIs Will done 

John 7:17 “If any man will do His Will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”)

      We fellowship in sufferings for His name sake. (Col. 1:24)

Philippians 3:10 “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death;”

      We fellowship in rejoicing in Christ.

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

      We fellowship in the Spirit.

Ephesians 5:18-20 “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess;  but be filled with the Spirit;

      Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

      Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”

      We fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Philippians 2::3-4 “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory;  but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

      Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”

For fellowship is our meat and drink in the Lord.    

Our souls are who we really are….our wills,  our minds or understanding,  our hearts or affections, and our conscience.

When we surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ (and this must be first)…

…”For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet.” (1 Cor. 15:25)

Then we must present our bodies a living sacrifice to the Holy Spirit….

…”..to whom ye yield yourselves, his servants ye are…”  (Romans 6:16)

Then that blessed divine nature, through the Holy Spirit, transforms our minds into the reality of  a spiritual force within our lives…to think after Christ.

No matter how we say it….

….or what terms we use to try and explain it….we, as Christ’s servants….must yield to God and let the natural us…..become spiritual….usable to God, in the garden of our souls, first….

….and then in the wilderness of this world….holding out the Word of Truth. 

Philippians 2:15-16 “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation,  among whom ye shines as lights in the world;

        Holding forth the word of life;…”

Victory that overcomes the World 

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.”

The word “Victory” means conquest.   To completely defeat what we are fighting with….

…..and for the Christian, we have three major enemies: the world, the flesh (our self-life), and the devil (Ephesians 6:10-18)

The world here,  is not the birds, flowers, sunsets….but it is the spirit and actions of the times….

The world would have us be like everyone else…..

…..it is the common “commercial”………advertising the perfume….makeup…..car…..tennis shoes….

…..or whatever it is selling at the time……

….come and be like all of us.

We smell great,….look great,….are successful,….are all your heart could want.

Come and join us.

Peter calls this: “the corruption that is in the world through lust.”  (2 Peter 1:4)

Anything that corrupts….spoils, and decays……this is what the world does to the Christian life. 

But, we often look toward the world,…. even if we do not follow along.

The Lord calls us out of the world system when we are born again…..

Galatians 1:4 “And gave Himself for our sins,  that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.”

He gives us a new life in Him….

“Come and follow Me…and I will make you….” (Matthew 4:19) is what He told the disciples,…

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

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

He works “in you”….to “make you” complete in Him.

He calls us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds….and not be conformed to this world. 

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

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

He gives us a new way to think about our circumstances,  our situation…..His way…..instead of being conformed to the world’s thoughts about it.

The Lord calls us to……get godliness,…..with contentment:

1 Timothy 6:6-8 “But godliness with contentment is great gain.

          For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

          And having food and raiment, let us be therewith content.”

(Example:  Demas had some show of spirituality, for he went with Paul for quite a while….but there came a day, when….”For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world…”2 Timothy 4:10.  

Demas never got godliness….with contentment.)

The world calls us to “be sorry”.    A sadness for being wrong, or for being caught…….but God calls us to repentance….a change of mind, and life….by faith.

2 Corinthians 7:10 “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of:  but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

The Lord calls us out of the world…..but also calls us into a relationship with Himself:

2 Corinthians 6:17-18 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate,  saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing;  and I will receive you,

               And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

And this is all by faith.

Faith is a gift from God when we receive the Holy Spirit….and it is active, always…..working in us.

It is always showing us God:  His Word, and His Character.   What He has done, and what He will do.

Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith….”

Jude 20 “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost…”

Even while faith shows us Christ Jesus……it is strengthening our belief, so we hang on to Him more…

It is enabling our trust, so we stand more firmly on His Word,….and obtain the promises of what He has said to us.

        All the while saying,  “God is here, with you,  in this….and He is able for this.

Faith leads us out of our selves and into the path of obedience…..for His sake.

By faith we can have the victory.   First it works victory over ourselves,  then over the world.  By faith we can have the power of choice.

1 Corinthians 15:13-14 “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith,  quit you like men, be strong.

               Let all your things be done with charity (love).”

Are You Listening?  

Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door,  and knock:  if any man hear My voice,  and open the door,  I will come into him, and will sup with him,  and he with Me.”

If any man (person) hear My Voice.

Are we hearing what Jesus is saying to us? Each day?

Jesus said:

Luke 8:18 “Take heed therefore how ye hear:  for whosoever hath,  to him shall be given;  and to whosoever hath not,  from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.”

Take heed how ye hear.  

If we have been born again,  then we,  as His children are to hear what He is telling us by His Holy Spirit through the Word, or by direct communication in our spirits.

He speaks to us.

The promise here is:  If you have the Holy Spirit within you,  and have heard Him;  more will be given you.  More light,  more ability,  more knowledge,  more everything we need.

And this is because we hear Him. 

But the promise also says:  If you are one who has heard the invitation of Christ Jesus,  and answered it with all the right words.  

But it has been just that, an answer of words;  not an answer of a life open to and receptive to Christ.

Then that which he “seems to have”, he does not.

[Not that that person can not be saved by opening their heart to Jesus Christ, but that, they have not, as yet,  been.]

Remember,  when Jesus Christ saves a life,  He claims that life.

He will not be used as a “fire escape” from Hell;    but He is a Savior, from sin.

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

That is me, being saved from my sins……and you, being saved from your sins.  We each are sinners…..with our own particular leaning toward certain sins.   Each of us has a “besetting sin” (Hebrews 12:1) which gives us a lot of trouble.  Yet He saves us from our sins…..all of them, by cooperating with the power of His Holy Spirit within us.

Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”  

When we are saved;  from that time on we are bought with a price and no longer our own.  

Luke 8:16 “No man,  when he hath lighteth a candle,  cover it with a vessel,  or putteth it under a bed;  but setteth it on a candlestick,  that they which enter in may see the light.”

This is what we are to do with what we hear:  light a candle.   

By our obedience to what Jesus says,  we are manifesting Him in this lost world.  We are lighting a candle.

It is amazing when you go into a dark room…really dark.  Blackness seems to surround you.   Then to light a candle, there, will make the darkness flee.

True, the whole room will not be as light, as it is around the candle;  but it will force the darkness into the corners, away from the light….even a small one, like a candle.

Raise that lit candle up,  and more light will be shone around,  for you are not blocking the light, but it shines all around.

Amazing, right?   The Lord Jesus uses this example for that very reason:  a candle can bring a lot of light,  if it is placed where “they which enter in may see the light.”

In another place, Jesus accused the religious lawyers of hindering those which would “enter in” to the kingdom of God. (Luke 11:52)

Let us not do this.  Instead let us hear Him,  and recieve the light He gives by His Word, and Holy Spirit;  and then let us shine the light, by holding up Christ Jesus to others.

Ephesians 4:21 “If so be that ye have heard Him,  and have been taught by Him,  as the truth is in Jesus:”

Are we hearing Him?  Are we learning from what we have heard?   Are we holding on to it, and sharing Christ?

(Years; yes, lots of years, ago,  my husband was called to preach.  He had recently been brought back to God; his rebellion and sin forgiven, and taken care of.  He had started to go to church, and after a while, had been asked to sing a song for the church services.

He sang “Trust and Obey”.  

Well, he sang it, and sat down;  and the minister had his message.   Then the Lord Jesus called him to be a preacher!

He could not believe it!  The way he had been?  This must be some mistake, Lord!

But the Lord spoke plainly to him:

“You sang it [Trust and Obey],  now, do it!”

So he went forward and committed his life to be a preacher of God’s Word….to awaken others to Christ’s claims on their lives.)

Jesus Christ always shows us the truth, for He is Truth.  

And as we face the truth for ourselves, He gives us grace.   

Grace is the unmerited favor of power: the power in our lives, to bring us to the place where we willingly do what He has said…to be obedient to all His words to us.

John 1:17 “For the law was given by Moses,  but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”

Will we receive Christ Jesus as Savior of our sin?

Will we hear His voice, and learn of Him?

Will we answer His call to lift our lights, and shine them in this dark world?

Well, if we will,  He has everything we need.  

He can tell us everything we need.  

He is everything we need……and He will lead us into more of Him,  everyday.