Diotrephes,….and Gaius

3 John 9 “I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, recieveth us not.”

This is an amazing statement….the beloved Apostle John….the one that leaned his head on Jesus shoulder at the Last Supper….the one that ran with the other disciples, but then came back and followed Jesus into the Judgement Hall……the only one of the twelve that stood at the foot of the cross, as Jesus was crucified…..

…..was not received!

Who would even consider such an action? And what was this about?

(We think of apostolic power…..of how much they accomplished for Christ Jesus….going out and spreading the gospel….because of the great love they had for Christ…

….but here is a picture into the decay of a church.

A church that went from the bright, joyful fellowship of believers….into one that allowed this one who “loves to have the preeminence”, to rule.

John lived longer than any of the Apostles….he was younger….and he was the only one who died a natural death….the others were martyred.

He had been imprisoned (Revelation 1:9, 10:11)…….and let out, to preach and teach again….mending the church, with the Words of Christ:

Revelation 2:4-5 “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works: or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”

This candlestick was the Light of God shining through them….they were quenching it, by “leaving their first love”….Christ. Other things had come in….and their “light” was dimming.

And here is the state of the church now……”lukewarm”. We think they are all right….but God wants us zealous….boiling hot….and to get there we need to repent.

Revelation 3:15-16, 19 “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold or hot: I would that thou wert cold or hot.

So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold or hot, I will spur thee out of my mouth.

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”)

Here, in his last epistle, John was writing his friend Gaius, and thanking him for receiving the men, who for Christ’s sake, were going around as itinerant preachers….to the churches.

3 John 7-8 “Because that for His (Jesus Christ) name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.

We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellow helpers to the truth.”

Now these men, who had been called to go out and preach at churches for their instruction and encouragement….had not asked for money from the churches…..and had only gone into homes that asked them in.

Yet there was one in the church, Diotrephes, that wanted to have the say about who would speak in the church….and who would not.

3 John 9 “I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the pre-eminence among them, receiveth us not.”

These men that had come, were Jewish/Christian preachers……sent from the Apostle John to this church;…for it’s good.

But because they were Jewish……that gave this man an excuse for “prating” about them…..to berate them….and by implication,….

….to refuse the Apostle John’s recommendation.

Instead,…substituting his own opinion as right…..which had to be obeyed.

(The criteria for receiving those who say they are Christians, was set down by our Lord Jesus, and the Apostle John:

John 13:20 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that recieveth whosoever I send receiveth Me, and he that receiveth Me receiveth Him that sent Me.”

And how do you know that the Lord sent them? By the doctrine they preach….is it the Word of God?

2 John 9-10 “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him Godspeed:”

How important it is, for us to know God’s Word!)

Love and fellowship, is a predominant topic with John….and this man, Diotrephes, has neither.

Diotrephes, instead, uses his influence,….for the love of being in charge….not for the love and good of the church.

He went even further, than speaking against them. He demanded that they would not be received!

Then, a step more……he demanded to have those people who would want to hear these preachers,….or give them a place to stay…….to be cast out of the church!

3 John 10 “Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbideth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.”

But the Apostle John spake out against such behavior of fellow believers.

3 John 11-12 “Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

Demetrius (one of the men John had sent) hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.”

(There is personal conviction for each believer….

….so if Diotrephes could not hear them….or open his house to them…..fine.

But others could….and would have,….

….except, that he threatened them…..

…..but where did he get such authority? Not from God….but from those in the church….who let him take over their own responsibility.

Paul warned the church at Ephesus, about the same thing:

Acts 20:28-31 “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood.

For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

Also of your own selves, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

Therefore watch,…”)

But Gaius is of another spirit….he recognizes another Christian, by their conversation and reactions……especially some sent by the beloved Apostle

John…..no matter what background they are from….

….and he welcomes them into his home….giving them food and lodging….having fellowship with them…..taking them to the church…

….and when they are refused there….he keeps them till they are ready to depart to the next place…and sends them away with food.

3 John 3, 5-6 “For I rejoice greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.

Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;

Which hath borne witness of thy charity before the church whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:”

As Christians, we are to love one another….looking for the Word of God to be worked out in ourselves, and others through the Holy Spirit…

…..to grow in grace and the knowledge of God…. for God’s glory…..and for the strengthening and encouraging of the local church.

1 John 2:5-6 “But whoso keepeth His Word, in him verily, is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him.

He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also to walk, even as He (Christ Jesus) walked.”

Each Christian’s responsibility before the Lord……is to know the Word of God, listen to the Holy Spirit, and to love each other in the Lord.

Cares 

1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.”

Cares…what are they?

We think of anxieties or troubles….and certainly, they can be….but,…

….here, they are distractions….things which, even for a little while, take our concentration off of the Lord’s Will for us.

The Lord has been teaching me for a while, to really focus on Him….in every situation.

      I can get easily distracted from my purpose….when something unexpected comes up!

And I have been learning that the first thing to do, when that happens….is to give it to the Lord.

He is not taken by surprise….He knows what to do….even when I begin to run about in my head trying to “take care” of the situation.

      Therefore, it is my peace….to give it to Him…and do as He says, even in chaos.

(My husband and I were going to visit a pastor in the wintertime, several years ago.   The  road seemed clear, as we entered the interstate….but it was deceptive, for black ice…that thin coat of very slippery ice, was all over the road.

      We drove on, and everything seemed fine, till someone braked ahead of us, and I went to slow down….and wow,  what a ride we had!  Back and forth from one lane to another….and finally in the ditch!    Others, too, were having the same trouble….and although we were fairly close….no one hit another!

     The object of the this story….is my peace.   At first,  I was in a panic….thinking about the other cars, and how to get out of this,…what would happen…and all the thoughts came at once!

     And then….the Lord’s peace and voice told me what to do.

We were not injured and the car was not hurt.    A tow truck came by about five minutes later…pulled over and offered to help us out!)

Life in this world is full of distractions…where our eyes,  or thoughts become clogged with other things….that seem to need our attention…now!

     But the Lord is here with us.  “He careth for you.” 

(I love the fact that it is in the personal pronoun.   The Lord cares for me….so I can safely place my cares…distractions….onto Him, and He will deal with them,… and me.)

     He is still Light, when we let a shadow of trouble darken our outlook.  Let us immediately look to Him.

And here is the reason, Peter says, that we should cast our care upon the Lord:

1 Peter 5:8-9 “Be sober, be vigilant;  because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

      Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”

Our adversary, the devil, is always on the lookout for Christians that are troubled, worried, and distracted.

      And he adds a suggestion….or a fear…for that is what the roaring of a lion does…it strikes fear into the heart of it’s prey,…and causes weakness.

“But resist steadfast in the faith.”   

      Stand and stay with the Lord.   Cast your care…whatever it is…on to the Lord, immediately.

Be still and wait for Him to show you what to do.

…”knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”

We are all in the warfare…and all have surprises that come up.  

      And here is the amazing thing about this:

God knows my situation….and He knows the situation of each of His believers.  

God has peace and direction for me….and He has the same for all who will turn their eyes toward Him.

“Casting all your care upon Him”

Casting….get rid of it right away.  Totally give it to Christ Jesus.

“For He careth for you.”    This “careth” is a verb…and action word.  He is interested in everything that comes to me,…to you.   He careth…does something about it….for me…for you

Are Your Eyes Opened?

When Jesus came forth to do His Father’s Will; He proclaimed that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 4:17)

He spoke to the people, of the Father in heaven which wanted their good; and had given laws and commandments which reflected His holiness and their duty; which if they followed, would bring about their blessing.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted. “(Matthew 5:3-4)

Simply, if you know that you are “poor” (without strength and power to do the law and commandments, because of your sin); and mourn over them (repent)…..

Then….because you see and know your sin, you can be saved from them and enter the kingdom of heaven, now.

(“..theirs is”, not will be. Eternal life is a condition of life, here and now; and a life in heaven, hereafter.)

I am going to use a blind man, who gained his sight by Jesus;………

….and seeing men, who refused to acknowledge Jesus……..and were blind; for an example:

John 9:1-3,5 “And Jesus passed by, He saw a man which was blind from his birth.

And His disciples asked Him, saying, Master, who did sin this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

As long as I am in this world, I am the light of the world.”

Here was a blind man,….from birth;…….and Jesus said that he was blind so that the glory of God should be shown by him.

Notice the Name He speaks here….”I am the light of the world”.

There is no reason that any should walk in darkness….Jesus is the light of the world”!

John 9:6-7 “When He had thus spoken, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent). He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.”

Making clay, Jesus puts it on the eyes of the blind man, and tells him to go and wash in the pool of Siloam.

(Notice, even mud is called “anointed” by the Holy Spirit, when Jesus does it.)

When the man obeys,……he sees,….his blindness is gone.

Now you would think, that it would be finished. But, not so.

This set in motion what Jesus had said: the works of God should be made manifest by this man.

And it all started with the neighbors: it was a back and forth about whether he was really the blind man.

‘Yes, he was.’

‘Then how did you get your sight?’

‘’A man called Jesus.’

And he told them how Jesus healed him. (John 9:8-11)

This leads to the neighbors bringing the blind man to the Pharisees.

(Now it was the Sabbath when Jesus spit upon the ground, made clay and put that on the eyes of the blind man.)

The Pharisees asked him how he got healed.

And when he shared his testimony with them….it started a argument.

Some argued that Jesus had not kept the Sabbath because He healed on him on the Sabbath……..and so He was a sinner.

And some said that He could not be a sinner, and do such miracles.

Then the Pharisees asked the blind man who now could see,……what did he think of Jesus:

and he said, “He is a prophet.”

(See how Jesus separates people? Some see Him as He is; from God. Others will not see any thing good about Him.)

Then the Pharisees called this man’s parents: who did not want anything to do with the whole thing. They were afraid of being put out of the synagogue.

So they reinterviewed the man born blind, but who now was seeing…..again.

They wanted him to say that he knew that Jesus was a sinner.

But he didn’t.

Instead he took his faith in Jesus, a step further.

(Seeing always leads to more light)

John 9:25, 30-33 “He answered and said, Whither He be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvelous thing, that ye know not from whence He is, and yet He hath opened mine eyes.

Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth His will, Him will He heareth.

Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.

If this man was not of God He could do nothing.”

So the Pharisees excommunicated him.

But Jesus “found him”.

(Has He not said that He came to seek and to save that which was lost?)

John 9:35-38 “Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

He answered and said, Who is He, Lord, that I might believe on Him?

And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen Him, and it is He that talketh with thee.

And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped Him.”

“I believe.”

True spiritual sight begins with believing obedience to Jesus Word…and leads to believing on Christ Jesus, Himself.

John 9:39-41 “And Jesus said, For judgement am I come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

And some of the Pharisees which were with Him heard these words, and said unto Him, Are we blind also?

Jesus said unto them, If you were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; Therefore your sin remaineth.”

If we truly “see” our blindness by our sin, and mourn for it,……..we will obey Jesus Word and “go and wash” them away in His sacrifice.

If we truly believe His Word,…….we will come to believe on Jesus Christ, Himself as our Lord and Savior,…….and enter the kingdom.

We will be His people and servants;……..and manifest the works of God in our lives.

O My dove, that art in the clefts of the Rock

Song of Solomon 2:14 “O My dove, that art in the clefts of the Rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let Me see thy countenance, let Me hear thy voice;  for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.”

The Lord has just called His loved one on to a more victorious life….”leaping on the mountains with Him…and skipping on the hills.” (Song of Solomon 2:8-13)

And now He calls her to a One on one fellowship…and it is a call to be what we are…which is His.

First He calls us….His dove….My dove.  Intimate and personal. 

Doves can see only one thing at a time.   He is stressing the singleness of vision that we should have…keeping our eyes on Him……for we are following on with Him.

Matthew 6:22 “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single,  thy whole body shall be full of light.”

     Simply said,  When our vision is full of Christ and “things”….we are not seeing in the light.   We are accessing the situation.

     But when our eyes are seeing Christ and His glory alone….no matter what is around us….then we are full of the light of His instruction and grace.

Then the Lord states that we are “in the cleft of the Rock”.   He is that Rock that was cleft.  And He would have us spend precious time with Him.

     (In the Rock.  This, we know, is our state.  We are born again.  We are in Christ Jesus, seated in Him, “in the heavenlies.”

And as He is there representing us before the Father…we are to represent Him before all men.

This is what the Lord is calling this believer to.

Ephesians 1:3, 2:6 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

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

Ephesians is the book of our possessions….in Christ)

“In the secret places of the stairs”

     This is a “lovers’ rendezvous”…a place where you can tell Him everything…and He makes known to you His heart concerning you and the things that concern you.

This is the same as in:

     Psalm 91:1 “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”

     The wonderful safety here is for those who “abide”….or have continuous communion with the Lord.    Some picture this as a castle….wherein the storms of life rage around…but do not enter.

Here we make known our hearts…our needs,  our thoughts and feelings, our anxieties, our sorrows and our joys…to our loving, perfect Friend.

     And here,  the Lord makes known His “secret”….or the personal communion of Himself.

And here is the crux of the verse:

     “let Me see thy countenance…let Me hear thy voice”

We must, if we are Christ’s, show Him in our lives.    But how does He want us to manifest Him?  

     Our countenance…or our seeing.   The way we are now, because we belong to Him.

1 Peter 4:4 “Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:”

1 Peter 2:12 “Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers,  they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

    Our voice….or our testimony and way of speaking,  to and about others.

We are His….therefore we speak of Him,  and His Word and Way.

Then the Lord reiterates:   “let Me hear thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.”

    Whether others will hear it,  the Lord wants us to speak to Him and of Him.

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

    Because we belong to Him,  we are “beautiful”…for the Holy Spirit dwells within us.

                     1 Peter 3:4 “But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God  of great price.”

How many examples of this is spoken of in the Word!   Knowing God brings separation and testimony!   (Think Abraham…Genesis 12:1-4.   Think Saul/Paul…Acts 9:20-21)

The closer we come to the Lord….”in the clefts of the Rock, in the secret places of the stairs”…

….the further away we go from the world….and it’s clutter in our thoughts and lives.

So the Lord calls His dove….the one who seeks to see Him only, in everything;  to come along further. 

Do we have set times of devotions and prayers?

Do we set aside time for the reading of the Word of God, when we can really hear what is being said?

Well, He calls us on….that we may please Him,  Who loves us.

Abominations

Abominations in the scriptures means…”disgusting things”

      Sin is always wrong….but when those who are called to closeness to God, sin….it is especially wicked.   To have light….and choose darkness is great evil. (Matt.6:22-23)

Ezekiel 8:1 “And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord God fell there upon me.”

Why so specific a time?   It was a year and a half after Ezekiel’s call….and God has been relating the judgments to come on Jerusalem….something that had never happened before.

     But was there no hope?  

So here, God shows Ezekiel in a vision,…and through him, to the elders which have come to hear the Word of the Lord. 

God is going to show them the abominations Judah has done in Jerusalem…and especially in the Sanctuary or Temple…

….the things Judah does…”in the dark”.

Ezekiel 8:3 “And He put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head;….and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door for the inner gate that looketh toward the north;  where was the seat of the image of jealousy,  which provoketh to jealousy.”

Here is the first abomination…at the north gate of the Temple….”the image of jealousy”.  

    This is, most believe, the image of Baal, that was replaced after Josiah’s death.   Josiah had taken all the idols out of Judah and Jerusalem,….but now, instead of continuing to follow the Lord….they have reinstituted the idol of Baal….for worship….and right in the gateway to the Temple!

Ezekiel 8:6 “He (God) said furthermore unto me,  Son of man, seest thou what they do?  even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here,    that I should go far off from my sanctuary?….”

The sadness in His voice….for God is a jealous God; and will not give His glory or honor to another.

     He is telling Ezekiel….they will worship God,  or He will leave them to their abominations…for there are more abominations to show him.

So Ezekiel is told to “dig in the wall”.   Inside the Temple,  are priests’ chambers.  

     So Ezekiel is told to go in and see what they do there.

Ezekiel 8:10-12 “So I went in and saw;  and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed upon the wall round about.

      And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients…..and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up.

     Then said He unto me,  Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients…do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery?  For they say, The Lord seeth us not;  the Lord hath forsaken the earth.”

[And what do we do in the chambers of our imagery?   What is portrayed on the walls of our minds?   

Our imaginations can be a great snare….and we are told:

     2 Corinthians 10:4-5 “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

     Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”]

These seventy men were the great council of the nation…the Sanhedrin!  Yet see what they do.  They are worshiping the images of Egypt…”creeping things and abominable beasts”.  They do this in secret…right in the Sanctuary!   

         They should have been leading the nation in repentance….yet they did abominations.

Then…the Lord brought Ezekiel to the door of the house of God….and “there sat women weeping for Tammuz.”  (Ezekiel 8:14)

       Instead of weeping for their sins,  they find women weeping over an idol….over a story….not over what’s real!

Ezekiel 8:16 “And He brought me into the inner court of the Lord’s house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the east; and they worshiped the sun toward the east.”

This place between the porch and the altar was to be the place of gathering for repentance…(Joel 2:16-17 “Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say,  Spare thy people, O Lord,…”)…

…yet here, the priests are gathered to worship the sun…

…and notice…..with their backs toward the Sanctuary…showing contempt on His worship.

     (There are twenty-five because of the twenty-four courses of the priests and the high priest was present.)

Ezekiel 8:17 “Then He said unto me,  Hast thou seen this, O son of man?   Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit     here?….”

Again, you can hear the sadness in the Lord’s voice.

Four abominations….in every direction….right in the Sanctuary!  

   “…seest thou what they do?…that I should go far off from my Sanctuary?” (Ezek.8:6)

God was showing Ezekiel…and through him to the people in captivity….that the sin of Judah was great.    That it was this sin,  that leads Him to judge His people.

(There is a judgment that leads to repentance….…and there is a judgment that is final.   

       God would have us seek Him….then we will find Him 

Isaiah 55:6-7 “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near:

       Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”

And there is some who do seek the Lord in Jerusalem, and cry out because of the abominations.   For the Lord calls out a man, with an inkhorn by his side….to seal those that cry against these abominations.   They would be spared…though they must be tried.

      Ezekiel 9:3-6 “And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up….And He called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer’s inkhorn by his side;

      And the Lord said unto him,   Go through the midst of the city,…and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done…”

And I must include here,  that before the Tribulation judgments fall on the earth…we Christians, who have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise will be removed in the rapture.

     And God will also seal 144,000 from Israel, before the worst plagues will fall on the unbelieving and unrepentant world.)

God, now show Ezekiel, that at this time He  will leave His Sanctuary….

      First He leaves the Holy of Holies, over the mercy seat….and goes to the threshold of the door of the Holy of Holies . (Ezekiel 9:3 “And the glory of God was gone up from the cherub, whereupon He wast,  to the threshold of the house….”)

Then, He elevates His throne above the threshold. (Ezekiel 10:1 “Then I looked…there appeared over them….as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.”)

Then He moves to the threshold of the Holy Place…outside in the outer court…..His glory shining there….but the house gets filled with “the cloud” which is more like smoke.  (Ezekiel 10:4)

He and the cherubim stand for a time at the east gate, where the people enter…then He lifts up to be over the cherubim….(Ezekiel 10:18 “Then the glory of the Lord departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.”)

He waits to see if any will look toward the glory of the Lord….

…then He goes up altogether from the city to the Mount of Olives…

Ezekiel 11:23 “And the glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city.”    

    (This is, of course, where Christ Jesus, forty days after His resurrection, ascended to heaven…and where,  one day He will come again.   Acts 1:9-11)

The abominations…..of what should have been the closest of His people,  were what drove the Lord away.

     Abomination means disgusting things….

….and God will not give up His honor….to another.

Yet, in HIs Word  to Ezekiel…God looks beyond the judgment that had to be…because of their abominations….

….to His great mercy and light to those in captivity:

Ezekiel 11:17-20 (condensed) “…Thus saith the Lord God; I will even gather you….and I will give you the land of Israel.

     And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things…and all the abominations…

     And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you;   and I will take away the stony heart out of their flesh,  and will give them a heart of flesh.

    That they may walk in my statutes…and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.”

Seven  times the Lord speaks of what He will do that He may once again be with them….

Ezekiel 43:2, 4 “And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and His voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with HIs glory.

      And the glory of the Lord came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east.”

Now, let me ask each Christian….is not the Lord pictured, standing outside the door of HIs church in Laodicea? (Rev. 3:20)

      Yet there is hope….for the Lord speaks of a way for all who would have His fellowship and presence in their lives…

Revelation 3:18-19 “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou may be rich; and white raiment, that thou may be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thy eyes with eyesalve,  that thou may see.

     As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”

The Lord is still speaking to His church…and waiting to see if they will look toward Him….. to “Open to Me”.

What will we do?  Will we…

….follow the world in worshiping idols, 

…or hide in secret our sin

…or emotionally weep over things that have no meaning

…or turn our backs on the Lord?   As those did in Ezekiel’s time?

HIs Holy Spirit is still convicting and speaking…what will we do?   

     Let us see the uselessness of idols…

     “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen”.(1 John 5:21)

And seek the Lord, who offers His Presence and power…grace and truth.

Are we growing in grace?

2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen.”

Peter knew a lot about this; having denied the Lord three times, once even before a maid.

Yet he was restored, and became the first preacher of the gospel after Pentecost. Three thousand were saved that first day.(Acts 2:41)

He had grown some since he had bragged about his loyalty; and then failed Jesus so terribly.

He had learned his own weakness….when his courage and devotion failed…..even when he loved the Lord….

After he was filled with the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, he learned how to preach……he learned about persecution,…and determined they must obey God rather than man…

…..about the Lord including the Gentiles into the church….

….about the importance of the Word of God….

….and he learned that we are never “too sanctified” to get tripped up.

Galatians 2:11-13 “But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.

For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.

And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried with their dissimulation.”

When this happened, Paul corrected him in front of everyone there…..”when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel…”

Was this Peter,….the one who had opened the door to Gentiles….yet, tripped up? How could this be?

Because we are never out of danger, this side of heaven.

And Peter was weak before the influence of men,……for he was not yielding to the Holy Spirit….he let his emotions lead him, instead.

It says, “….fearing them which were of the circumcision.”

Fear is a terrible enemy….how many have stumbled under the “roar” of the devil, causing fear

(1 Peter 5:8-9 here Peter warns of this very thing).

Peter, corrected, though….went on to preach many places….taking with him Mark…discipling him…till he was a old man…

But he knew he was not done growing….he would continue to grow as long as he would be “in this tabernacle”…..for he (and we) should never stop learning by the Holy Spirit, in our experiences of life about Jesus, and what He will do for us.

And so when he was old, he warned others about this very thing…”that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.”(verse 1:16)

2 Peter 1:2-4, 12-13 “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle (body), to stir you up by putting you in remembrance:”

Every true Christian stands in need of growing in grace.

To do so, we must “eat” the Bread of Life which is Christ.

That involves fellowship with Him….in our everyday tasks.

(Are we spending time with our lovely Lord?)

We must “drink” the water of Life freely which is His Holy Spirit.

That involves yielding ourselves to His guidance and convictions.

If we are to become strong Christians, and not babes, we need to grow.

We need to use what He gives us and gain experience with Him.

(If Jesus were here on earth, and came and invited you to follow Him, would you?

But, though He is not here on earth,…..He is still inviting us to:

Come and Follow Me into the everyday experiences of today, tomorrow, and onward.)

Hebrews 5:14 “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

We have spiritual senses, as well as natural ones.

We are to have “hearing ears” to hear what the Lord says to us. There is no audible voice; but the internal Voice which guides us.

We are to have “seeing eyes”……eyes of faith…..enlightened by the Holy Spirit and His Word.

We are to have the sense of “smell”.

This Spiritual sense tells us if a thing is good or rotten, just like our nose does. It is discernment.

And we have “taste”. We are called to taste and see that the Lord is good. (Psalms 34:8)

That means, we are to experience His sweetness in the comfort, help, and word He gives.

It is of the Holy Spirit, as all of these are:

but we are to use His enabling, and learn by the experience. This is how we grow in grace.

Peter did…..and when he was old, said….

….remember my example, both failures, and successes……and learn of Christ, by the Holy Spirit.

If we sit on the sidelines….we certainly may be Christians,…

….but we will not grow in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and become strong,….having those “all things that pertain to life….and godliness…” (think of it!)

Again, Peter did…..perfectly? No, but he learned.

Are we willing to learn of the Holy Spirit?

Worldly wisdom

I want to talk a little about the wisdom of this world.

1 Corinthians 3:19-20 “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

And again, The Lord knowest the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.”

All around us, people are talking up…..or talking down….something.

From toothpaste to the state of the Union…..people all want to tell people what is “best”.

Well, I too, am going to tell what is “best”……

…….and what is best is:

……whatever the Lord wants for me,…for you,…for us.

Praise God we are not left to ourselves to see to what is ahead….

…or what is “best”.

No, He gives us direction and peace…..He gives us light and grace for every task.

And that is the best we can ever have.

The examples I am going to give about worldly wisdom:

Goliath…..was a giant. He was nine feet tall. His armor was of brass….the best there was. And he had been a warrior all his life. His life was to kill and maim.

So when the Philistines came up against Israel…..after Israel had chosen a king (king Saul, who was head and shoulders taller than the normal Israelite)….

….Goliath thought himself very wise when he simply went out and challenged any Israelite to battle.

“If I win, Goliath said….you are our servants.

If you win (not going to happen)….we will be your servants.”

Brilliant, he thought!

Who could stand against such an enemy? King Saul did not try….and for forty days the challenge went unmet.

Enter David, a young man of God….who accepted that challenge in the Name of God.

……and all the worldly wisdom of Goliath was destroyed.

God’s power was shown that day…..against all worldly wisdom.

As the scripture said, “For He (God) taketh the wise in their own craftiness.” Yes, He did!

The second example:

In Jeremiah’s day, Nebuchadnezzar had come three times….twice taking the best, most educated and talented artisans and workers.

The third time, destroying Jerusalem’s walls and temple…….taking many as mere slaves.

But because he had heard of Jeremiah’s prophesy…..he brought Jeremiah out of the prison (where the king of Judah had put him)….and let him go free.

Jeremiah could have returned home….could have let the remnant of the people who were left to fend for themselves.

But when they came and asked for God’s Will concerning staying in the land, now that the temple was destroyed…..he sought God’s Word for them….hoping they would finally listen to God’s wisdom,….

…..and do what He said.

Here was the choice: Stay in the land as caretakers of it under Nebuchadnezzar….which was what God wanted for the last of the Israelites…

….or go down to Egypt….where they thought they would be safe from Nebuchadnezzar.

Worldly wisdom said, “Go, and you will live a life of safety.

But God said, “Stay and I will now take care of you here.”

Jeremiah 42:19 “The Lord hath said concerning you, O ye remnant of Judah; Go ye not into Egypt: know certainly that I have admonished you this day.”

But they refused God’s Word…..and were destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar who conquered Egypt. (Jeremiah 43:4-6)

“God knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain”……nothing.

The last example:

When Christ Jesus came to save us…..all the worldly wisdom said that they could kill Him….and be rid of His Words and authority….to save their “place” in the world. (John 11:48)

They paid a good price for betrayal….

….they took Him where He prayed….

….they brought Him to Rome’s Governor…..

….they chose Barabbas instead of Jesus….

….they cried crucify Him….

….they watched as He suffered and died on the cross…

….and they even set a watch of soldiers at the tomb.

But they could not keep God from raising Him up from the dead! And giving Him all authority and power as the Son of Man/Son of God for salvation.

Worldly wisdom tells you…..that you can do….without God.

But that is vain….nothing…

…and leads to all sorts of traps.

But God’s Word is our sure footing.

What He tells us to do is right…..even though it may seem impossible.

Let us believe His Word to us….and walk on.

Isaiah 43:2 “When thou passes through the waters, I will be with thee;

and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee;

when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned;

neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”

God’s Words

Isaiah 28:9-10 “Whom shall He teach knowledge? And whom shall He make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breast.

For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little and there a little.”

If we would grow up into Christ—go on to maturity—this is the path that we must walk.

We are never “zapped”, But the scriptures speak of “growing in grace”, “grow up in Christ”. And these take time and a little effort.

When we first learned to walk as children,….there were a few bumps.

So our Christian walk is a series of lessons, and experiences…..lessons, and experiences….toward the goal the Lord has for us.

Paul said, “I have learned…”

And that should tell us that we, too, must learn from Christ, through the Holy Spirit,…..how to, when to, and what to do.

Philippians 4:11-12 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”

I have never met any Christian that has not suffered defeat…..at least once.

I have never met any Christian that has not battled something….some with terrible battles……some mild….but they would not call it anything but what it is…..a battle.

But our Teacher is the Lord.

And He builds on the foundation of “Come unto Me”(John 6:35)…..our first command.

Then He says, “If any man will…” (Matthew 16:24)

And it is onward from there.

“Precept upon precept”:

Precept means appointed rules, or an authoritative command.

(precepts is used most in Psalm 119:

Psalm 119:4 “Thou has commanded us to keep Thy precepts diligently.”

It is used twenty times, in this psalm. [this is the psalm that every verse but one has a reference to the God’s Word in various forms: law, commands, precepts, etc])

We must realize, that what He says to do, we must do. He is not giving suggestions for our lives…..but He is giving us the authoritative rules to follow, so that we will know the way to go.

“Line upon line”

Line means a cord put together to connect things….and for measuring.

And it is used here to speak of the Voice which has been heard….connecting God’s purpose to His Word…..measuring our response to His Word.

(Psalm 19:4 “Their line is gone out to all the earth, and their words to the end of the world….”. Paul repeats this changing “line” for “sound”, in Romans 10:18)

When Christ was here, the Bible often tells of His “teaching” them. (Matthew 11:1, 26:55. Mark 4:1, 6:2, 6:34, Luke 13:22)

And so He continues to do, to us…..teaching us, through the experiences He leads us into.

Sometimes it corresponds to something in His Word,…..

…or something someone else has passed through as well.

Sometimes He leads us into new paths, which are to strengthen and encourage…..not only us…..but others who hear of it.

And I believe it is true, that no one experiences things, the same way….though they go through the same set of circumstances.

(Loss and grief, for instance. Some are delivered from the waves of emotion, which others pass through. Some are brought almost to the edge of an abyss by the loss of someone….yet saved from falling over.)

Each lesson is to bring us…..yes, that is “me” and “you”…..each of us, to a closer reliance on God…..and a firmer grasp on the reality of His presence and power for me.

That is to grow up into Christ.

Ephesians 4:20-21 “But ye have not so learned Christ;

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

In the battles of life, we need to know what the Lord will do for “me”.

(And on occasion, it is good to make a spiritual inventory of our blessings.

It brings all we are going through into a new focus…..He is able,…..able for me, in this situation;…because He has done great things for me…before.)

Paul, writing Timothy:

2 Timothy 1:6-7 “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance, that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

For God hath not given us the Spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

(“Stir up” here, means to “rekindle” the love, joy, peace, etc of the Holy Spirit within us)

He goes on to say: “….for I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.”

“Persuaded” here means “an inward certainty”.

Paul’s ministry was in the Lord’s hands,…..what he had done (even before being saved on the road to Damascus,…..and later, in the ministry with the Gentiles),…..what he was doing now (in a Roman prison, and before Caesar),….and what he would do (in the death God appointed for him).

Paul was certain His Lord would keep him in all the things he was to pass through; because “He is able”……and because He had.

2 Timothy 4:17-18 “Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom: to Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Paul had heard the precept the Lord had laid down for him, and been obedient. (Acts 9:15-16, 26:16-17)

He had gone to the Jews first…..and when they rejected Christ; gone to the Gentiles…..which was his calling.

He was a Jew of the Jews, a Pharisee of Pharisees,…..yet followed the Word of the Lord,…..and did the work the Lord had given him,…..faithfully, even to Caesar’s household (Philippians 4:22).

God’s Words to us,……what we read, and what we hear,…….should be the authoritative commands of a Lord to His servant…..leading us to connect His Word to His purpose for us…..measuring ourselves and our response, by it….

….that we too, may have confidence that…..”the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom…..

…to Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Peter’s refusal, and quick acceptance.

It was the Passover time. Jesus had come into Jerusalem to celebrate with His disciples, and they were in the upper room.

Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him that night, and that He would be condemned and crucified. (Matthew 20:18-19)

That this night, everything would change.

Tonight Jesus would speak of many things to them, but before this; He washes their feet. (Yes, He even washed Judas feet. How this should have melted his heart, but it did not.)

John 13:4, 6 “He riseth from supper, and laid aside His garments; and took a towel, and girded Himself.

Then cometh He to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto Him, Lord, dost Thou wash my feet?”

It was Peter’s turn.

Frankly, I think Peter should have known that if Jesus did something, it was for a good reason. But Peter was always quick to say or do something!

“Lord, dost thou wash my feet?”

Peter was right. Jesus was Lord. And He was Peter’s Lord.

Because of this, Peter thought it was not right for Jesus to stoop to such a humble position!

(How much He humbled Himself when He came to earth to save us! Do we recognize His humility and love?)

John 13:7 “Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.”

That should have settled it with Peter, but Peter thought he knew better!

(We are the same way, often. We think we know what God will do.)

John 13:8a “Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet.”….

Peter would in the next instance, change his mind, but Peter was looking at the moment, not at the lesson Jesus wanted to give.

Jesus wanted to show that they should take care of each other.

He would wash their feet: the job of a servant.

If He would do that for them, they should humble themselves in service for each other.

John 13:8-9 “Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet.

Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.”

Finally, Peter is listening. “…no part with” Jesus? No, no, that was not what Peter wanted.

If a part with Christ came with the cleansing,….Peter wanted a full bath! He wanted all the fellowship with Christ he could have.

But a full bath was not necessary.

John 13:10. “Jesus saith unto him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.”

Jesus didn’t say, If I don’t wash you, you will have no part “in” Me.

But He said, you will have no part “with” me.

Jesus told Peter he was clean “every whit”, except for the cleansing of his feet.

“In Christ”, speaks of our being born again.

“With Christ”, speaks of our fellowship with Him.

Jesus wanted His disciples, especially Peter, to know that fellowship with Him is maintained by our letting Him cleanse our “feet”, or our walk.

(That is why the feet were washed when coming into a house, because, having walked on the dirt roads, their feet would be dirty.)

John 13:12, 15 “So after He had washed their feet,…and was set down again, He said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”

Though Jesus would be taken, tried, and crucified….raised, and ascended…..yet we are to get that cleansing that is through Him everyday….and bring others to Him for cleansing, as brothers and sisters in Christ.

If we are to have fellowship with Christ, and the strength that comes from it, we must be cleansed, daily from our sins, and defilements….for we walk in a “dirty” world.

Christ cleanses us still…..

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

And we are to help others to come to Christ for cleansing.

If we are born again, we do not need a full bath; but the cleansing of our daily walk.

So that we can walk with Him, and with our brothers and sisters in Christ…in righteousness.

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.”

The Creator/creature Relationship.

Psalm 139:1-3 “O Lord, Thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsittings, and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off.

Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.”

Here, the All Powerful and All Seeing God is seen, in a personal sense.

You know me: how I am, how I act, what I think, and the way I like to go.

You know me when I have my fits against Your Providence. You see when I rebel, and seek my ways. You see my imaginations.

Psalm 139:5 “Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid Thine hand upon me.”

The psalmist sees that God has “hedged him in”,……so that he knows he is bare before a Holy God!

That all his plans, and schemes are all known to God.

And in what way do we react to this revelation of God, to our soul?

As we often do, the psalmist runs…just as hard and fast as he can. But….he finds he can not outrun God.

Psalm 139:7, 11 “Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from Thy presence?

If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.”

Psalm 139:10 “Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me.”

He ran, but he found…as we often have, that we can not run from God.

We can not escape the Holy Spirit’s conviction, or the fact that God is everywhere.

All circumstances are made by God; we can try a “climate change”, but God can make every climate as “hot” or as “cold”, as where we were before.

[A climate change is where you find yourself in trouble. You “know” that if circumstances were different, you would not have trouble. If you worked with different people, had a better house, had better neighbors, etc. But when you move, you find that the circumstances are different….but you are the same; so the results are the same.]

The right hand of God is the hand of power. The psalmist here acknowledges that God rules, even in the midst of His enemies: He draws to Himself, or pokes, or prods, and moves….till we are willing.

Psalm 110:2-3 “The Lord shall send the rod of Thy strength out of Zion: rule Thou in the midst of Thine enemies.

Thy people will be willing in the day of Thy power,…”

When we begin to will, to yield as creature before the Creator, we can see ourselves as formed according to His plan.

Psalm 139:13, 16-17 “For Thou hast possessed my reins (our internal moral compass); Thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.

Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in Thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!”

You have possessed; or they are Yours by Your creation,…..make them Yours by redemption.

We are a masterwork: one thing formed upon another, each in it’s place.

His eyes were upon us then.

His plan and power was there for me….that plan and power I have been fighting against.

How precious are Your thoughts of me! “O God!” or as in the Hebrew, “O Master”.

Here is where we begin to bow before God, the Creator; as God, our Lord and Master.

I am finally awakened to Your Purpose: and here, I join with You to fulfill the purpose You have for me.

For now we know the way of Victory: It is in seeking after the Lord’s Way.

For as He sought me for my good, so He will continue to do so.

Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

(This “lead” suggests all that God does: bestow, govern, guide.)

To the psalmist (and it can be to us) Creator God has become the One help and Refuge of his soul: for he sees Him as He is…..and not as he feared He was.