The tribes on the other side of Jordan

Background: Israel had finally come to the land on the other side of Jordon after their forty year wandering in the wilderness.

The kings of that land had come out and made war with them….even though Israel had asked to quietly go through their land, paying for water.

But instead they came out with their armies to fight with Israel.

Israel had won the battles against them….

Numbers 32:1-5 “Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle: and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold, the place was a place for cattle;

The children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spake unto Moses…

Wherefore, said they, if we have found grace in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan.”

I have given a definition of temptation before…..but simply, it is something presented to us that holds sway…..whether in heart or mind….and makes us take our eyes off of God’s Will.

This land, on the wrong side of Jordan…..(for Canaan was across the Jordan River….and that was the land promised )….

….was a temptation.

It was a grand place for raising cattle…..and the tribes of Rueben and Gad had cattle.

These men were not of the rebellious generation which wanted to go back to Egypt…..but of the generation which wanted to go into the land promised Abraham….

….at least, until they saw this good cattle raising land.

But now, they were willing to settle for less than God’s best.

Notice, they were not rebellious, demanding this land.

No, they were just tempted to settle for second best.

Numbers 32:6 “And Moses said unto the children of Gad and….of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here?”

This was Moses concern. All Israel had helped fight for the land they were now requesting be given them…..

…so…if they would sit down here….

….. and let the other tribes go over and fight for their inheritance….while they stayed here…….they would discourage Israel.

Numbers 32:16-18 “And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:

But we ourselves will go ready armed before the children of Israel, until we have brought them unto their place:….

We will not return unto our houses, until the children of Israel have inherited every man his inheritance.”

Well, this sounds pretty good!

Everything that Moses was concerned about….seemed to be taken care of!

So Moses agreed:

Numbers 32:29 “And Moses said unto them, If the children of Gad and the children of Reuben will pass with you over Jordan, every man armed to battle, before the Lord, and the land shall be subdued before you; then ye shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession:”

And they did exactly what they said they would do! They fought for Israel, till the land was being divided….

…then they went back across Jordan to the land they wanted.

Years pass…..and the Ruebenites, Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh across Jordon, think of themselves as too far away from the place of worship….

……although they were not really any further, for Shiloh….and then Jerusalem was close enough.

Also the River Jordan was a larger barrier then they thought it would be…..they came to think of themselves as separate from Israel.

(The only time they were joined unto the other tribes was under Joshua and under king David.)

They “forgot” that they had a duty to stand with the rest of Israel.

And these tribes on the wrong side of Jordan, were always a snare.

They would be the first attacked,….and the last to come and help Israel.

Finally,….

1 Chronicles 5:25-26 “And they transgressed against the God of their fathers, and went a whoring after the gods of the people of the land, whom God destroyed before them.

And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, even the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh,….”

We often think God puts certain circumstances in front of us…..for our good….but we need to discern whether this set of circumstances is a blessing or a temptation.

It’s a blessing if it leads us closer to God.

Or,

It’s a temptation when it leads our hearts away from the Lord’s Will.

We are called to have all that God has purposed for us:

To inherit, if you will, the “good land” of joy and peace, of gentleness and patience.

All the graces and promises that God, by His Spirit, prepares for us…..we are to obtain.

This is to be like Caleb, when he came for his inheritance…which was one of the hardest:

“I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.

Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day…if so be the Lord will be with me, than I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said.” (Joshua 14:11-12)

This is God’s best, Christian…….to use the faith we have, to get all that God has promised us.

2 Peter 1:5 “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;”.

Peter goes on to list….temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, love.

All beginning with our diligence and faith.

2 Peter. 1:8 “For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

To settle for less than that…… is to lose God’s best.

2 Peter 1:9 “But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.”

The “forgotten” here is “let be taken away”.

Though diligent at first to stand with the rest of Israel….these tribes on the other side of Jordan…….let time and circumstances draw them away from the worship of God, in His place…..

….and then with less diligence, came forgetfulness to the duty they said they would do.

Then their love of God was “forgotten”….let to be taken away….and later, they were taken away.

Let us see what hinders our diligence for the Will of God in our lives,…..let us have God’s best…..for ourselves.

We all have a “sin which so easily besets us”

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

What is weighing you down? What care? (2 Peter 5:7) What resentment? What grief?

“Lay aside” here means to roll it on to Jesus.

To really give it to Christ, means that you are not carrying it any more. It is gone….

And what is our besetting sin?

Our besetting sin is one which is so ingrained in our character….so intertwined in our personality….

….that it is like cutting off right hands and plucking out eyes….to deal with it.

Matthew 5:29-30 “And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.”

(Matthew 18:8-9, Mark 9:43-48. This is worth noting, for three times Jesus says this)

Sin is rebellion against God.

It is the desire to rule ourselves.

It manifests itself in lots of ways…..

….but our besetting sin is our “pet”…..it is first in our thoughts….often. It so “easily besets us”….because it has power over us.

God gives us victory through our faith in Him…..but it is a battle we must fight….or we will lose out on the best God has for us.

(And there are many who settle for something other than God’s best….because of their besetting sin.

Think of Demas, who after years of helping Paul….left the work, for love of this present world. 2 Timothy 4:9-10)

This “sin which so easily beset us” is a picture of being surrounded….

…..every way you turn….it is there.

You have to work harder to accomplish anything…….for it is always harassing you.

Galatians 5:17 “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”

This sin fights hard for preeminence in our lives…..but the Holy Spirit within us fights back….

Romans 8:13-14 “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

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

So there is hope against this formidable enemy……for we have the Almighty God in the person of the Holy Spirit within us, if we are born again…..

….which will give us the victory in Christ….

…and that victory is faith.

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

I have said this often,….Faith is a gift to us from God when we are born again….

….but God gives it to us,……intending for us to use it, to live in this wicked world….unspotted by it.

It is real, making God and His Word real to us, as His Word tells us [Hebrews 11:1].

Real means…..all things are what He says….whether I see it or not.

He will do what He says….whether anyone else believes it or not.

Faith weans us from our sin….pointing us to Christ….

….wooing us to leave all and follow Him….and enabling us to believe.

I knew a woman, who after years of defeat, told about her besetting sin:

She was a little girl, when she heard her parents talking….they did not want her….

…..a feeling of desertion and fierce anger came over her…..and she became determined to never feel alone again.

This led her down a path of self-exaltation….to make her “worthy” of being loved….she would not be “alone” again.

All her relationships suffered because of this….which led to back-and-forth emotions of self-pity and anger.

She was born again, and though she would try and deal with this besetting sin…..trying to commit it to the Lord; yet it always came back….bringing her into failure, again.

Finally,….the Lord dealt with her about the beginning sin of hurt and anger….lead her to reject the self-pity….and brought her….to take her place at His feet….alone! So that He could be her life.

Since then, she has had stronger relationships….she being in her place before the Lord in each of them.

Our besetting sin attacks each of us differently…..though it could be the same sin.

We are to “lay it aside”…..which means that the warfare with it, is personal……God does not do it alone…..nor can we do it alone….

….it is a combined effort of God and us.

Truly, faith….which always sees God….is the Victory…..God is real, He is Able and willing for me.

His Word is Truth. All the promises and threatenings in His Word is true.

That also brings the Victory, for we hang on to the Truth, when we believe and trust His Word….and deal with the root of the matter….which clears our way….back to Him.

We each have a besetting sin…..but there is victory in Christ.

Will we come and have it of Him?

In this 15th chapter of Luke we find the Trinity in their offices….and a picture of four kinds of Christians

God the Son, as the Shepherd….

Luke 15:4 “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if He lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until He find it?”

Christ Jesus never permanently loses a sheep…..He always goes out to find those that have….”gotten side-tracked”….or chosen another path than the Shepherd chooses….or fallen in a pit.

This the Son of God did when He came to earth “to seek and to save” us……and He keeps doing for all His sheep.

God the Holy Spirit, in the Woman who sweeps diligently….

Luke 15:8 “Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?”

This coin is in the House (church)…..but it is lost, in the sense that it is out of place.

Some believe the Greek to suggest a coin set, ten silver coins, all in their due order,…..

….all but one, who is out of their place.

This Christian wants to sing in the choir, when they should be praying. Or they want to preach, when they should be witnessing. Or they want to just listen as a by-stander, when they should be teaching. They are not in their place in God’s House.

But the Holy Spirit “sweeps diligently”…..brushing away from our hearts and minds the reasons or fears we have…..and puts us back where God would have us.

God the Father is the certain man who had two sons….

Luke 15:11-12 “And He said, A certain man had two sons:

And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.”

This was a legal transaction….the younger got his one-third, and the elder got two-thirds of the estate (in every family the eldest got two portions, while the rest got one.)

From that time on, the elder brother was completely in charge of the estate….for the Father had given them both their “portion”….what would they do with it?

Well, the younger leaves….

….but the elder does nothing different….nothing changes for him….even though everything had changed. His Father was now to be, willingly, an honored guest in his house….with him owner of all.

This sets up the history of the younger (Prodigal) Son and the Elder Brother….

…..and their important relationship to their Father.

But first, let us ask:….What is the “portion of goods that falleth to me?”

The younger son wanted his, outright, so he could go out into the world and seek satisfaction….

The elder brother never used his aright.

So what is it? It is our wills.

Even as Christians, our wills are our own…..though the Holy Spirit is within us to incline our hearts toward God’s Will….yet…

We can “take” our wills and seek our own plans…..as the younger son.

Or we can never willingly will after God’s Will….but just go along, because it is our duty….as the elder brother.

Both are mistakes, by the way…..for neither will bring you closer to the Father in a love relationship.

Well, time passes….and the younger spends all.

He had his fill of the world, and the “friends” it gives…..

….then there is a famine….a real hunger for what is real….in his heart and life.

So he goes and hires himself out,…..he tries to stay in the working world, but he is barely getting by….realizing this world, without God, is a pig pen….

….his mind is troubled, his emotions spent….what to do?

Luke 15:17 “And when he came unto himself…”

This is probably the most important statement about this younger son! He remembers he is a Christian…..belonging to God.

He remembers God’s mercy, and the many servants of God who are living peaceful and joyful lives!

Luke 15:18-19 “I will arise and go to my Father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee,

And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.”

(Now here is a great use of his will…..”I will arise and to to my Father!”)

We know he was welcomed home! All his will was concentrated to honor his Father, and his Father showed him love, peace, joy…..again, in His house.

But the elder? What has he done with his will? Well, he has done his duty….but sadly, only to gain something!

Luke 15:28-29 “And he (the elder brother) was angry, and would not go in (to celebrate the younger’s repentance):

therefore came his Father out, and intreated him.

And he answering said to his Father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:”

How much bitterness comes from just doing our duty, with no love for our Heavenly Father!

Obedience is essential…..but is it obedience when you are doing it to merit something from God? Or is it just self-righteousness?

But the Father came out to him, as well…..for he wanted him to come in and enjoy the blessing of love.

This rich/poor elder brother possessed everything from His Father……he had his will, and all the blessing of obedience…..if….

….he had really believed and known his Father’s love…what fellowship they could have had every day!

The elder brother could have had a party with his friends anytime! He could have had the fatted calf…..not just a goat!

But he kept plugging away in drudgery……unhappy with everything…..never willingly doing the Heavenly Father’s Will out of love.

If he had, he would have seen the blessing God had….for him…..ready to be used and enjoyed.

He would have gone into his Father the day the estate was divided, and said…..

“Father, I know you have given me all this…..and I willingly honor you in it.”

Then he could have gone out and had a party with his friends, with his Father as the honored guest!

Living the life the Father wanted him to have.

But rich/poor elder brother was owner of all,…..possessor of nothing.

Do we see ourselves in any of these examples?

Faith, so we may Obtain the Promises.

Hebrews 11:1-2 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

For by it the elders obtained a good report.”

The apostle was writing a record of those in the Old Testament, whose faith in God and His Word had led them into lives of productivity, and peace.

Always opposition, but lives which pleased God, because of their faith in Him.

He is writing it to encourage these failing believers to hang on, by faith, and to obtain all that the Lord had for them.

It is by faith we receive all things from God.

These believers were the very first to believe. They had been through a lot. But time had passed and they had not grown in the grace given them; on the contrary, they had remained children in the faith. (They were “Tossed about” Ephesians 4:14-15)

(Paul rebukes them for this, but encourages the faith that they have, for anywhere along the way, we may wake up, and get back into the Way….going forward in the faith.)

Hebrews 5:12 “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.”

Hebrews 10:35, 38-39 “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.

Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”

Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of Him that diligently seek Him.”

So he reminds these of the faith of their fathers; and the reward God had for them.

At the end of the faith chapter—Hebrews 11, there is a little verse which states plainly the stages of faith, for ourselves.

And all “through faith”.

Hebrews 11:33 “Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,”

“Subdued kingdoms”. There are three kingdoms here on earth we are to subdue: the kingdom of man’s soul, the kingdom of the world’s influence, and the kingdom of the devil’s influence.

Each, by Christ’s atonement, have been defeated.

But each, by our faith, needs to be overcome, in our practical living of today.

How?

The blood of Christ was shed to save us from our sin and self (old nature: which is the inclinations of our minds, emotions, and wills, apart from God)

He paid the penalty of death for us. And He opened an access into His life within us. A life of faith.

His life is given us by His Holy Spirit within us, Who gives us love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, etc.

Faith enables us to “see God”.

Many in the Old Testament had a vision of the Angel of the Lord. But we do not need such a vision.

We have much better than a vision, for we have the Blessed Spirit of God indwelling us, and His voice is heard within us.

By faith we can subdue ourselves, our sin, and much of the influence of the world when we “see” that is God with us, in authority and power.

When we see God, then plainly, we are here in this situation, by His appointment.

In other words, He wants to show me something, here.

Either He will show me how He can empower me.

Or He will show me how He can remove any hinderance.

Or He will show me how I must navigate through this trial, lighting my path, and leading me through, for His sake.

The life of faith is a life where we always look to God in the situation. Where does He want me to be, here? And when we “see”; we “walk by faith” (2 Corinthians 5:7)

Faith is unique, in that it is a gift of God to us: and it gives access into all the other graces, which God by His Spirit implant within us.

Romans 8:31-32 “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

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

Paul goes on to say we cannot be separated from the love of God, and lists the things that might try to separate us…and there are a lot.

But in the process of this life of faith, we may obtain the reality of the promise of what God will do for us.

We begin to stop arguing about the way to do things, and deny ourselves: and do them as God directs.

There is the influence of the world and the devil: we need extra help here, so the Lord has given us the armor, and the protection of His blood.

(Revelation 5:6, When we plead the blood, He covers us in a effectual way when we are being attacked)

Ephesians 6:10-18 shows us the armor:

The truth: we need to establish the truth of the situation, by the Holy Spirit’s discernment, and that will strengthen our wills.

We need to put on the righteousness of Christ: all that we do, is accepted by His merits, not ours, and our hearts are strengthen.

We need to walk in His paths of peace, keeping our peace, and seeking it for others.

Holding on to faith [seeing God in this] when the Adversary attacks with whispers of doubt, or brings up past failures or successes to distract us. And how much our faith saves us here.

Thinking saved: I am God’s child, and servant, and I do this for Him.

Knowing and using the Word of God, as we need against the words of the devil.

When we do this, we are working righteousness; His righteousness through us to a hungry world.

Then we are obtaining those promises He has given us….actually getting them into our possession. We have faith, grace, hope, and love.

God has given them to us, but now we have them in our experience, as well. They are real to us.

And then we will stop the mouths of lions: the roaring to frighten us away from doing God’s Will. It is all under Christ’s protection, not our own strength.

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

Faith is a gift from God to us, by the indwelling Holy Spirit. It is to be used and grown. We are to overcome with it.

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

We are to live by it. And by it we will “see God” and obtain HIs promises to us.

Continue, continue.

John 8:31-32 “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed;

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

To continue….to stay, be present, abide.

Here Jesus was in the treasury of the Temple,….He had forgiven the woman taken in adultery….and said that He was the Light of the world….and spoken of His Father, as HIs witness, always with Him….and that He was doing those things that please the Father.

John 8:30 “As He spake these words, many believed on Him.”

Wonderful….but Jesus would lead them on with Him….so He said….

“If ye continue in My word….”

Belief is the putting of my self, onto Christ….but it is only the beginning.

There is so much more to following Christ. We must come under subjection to His Word…then we will know the truth of things in our lives….and be free from the world and the constraints of sin!

Example:

The potter and the clay. (The Lord and us)

First, the potter chooses the clay….there are various kinds of clay, for various uses….so a clay is chosen….and placed in a bowl with water.

For next, the clay has to be made pliable in the water…..worked, so that there are no hard lumps…..no unyielding places.

Then, the clay is placed on the wheel…..finally we are going to be made into a useable vessel for the Master!

And the potter pushes and shapes…..letting the wheel turn….some places need more water applied…..some need a rougher hand to form…..

Then….we are done, right?

No….now we need to be fired…..the soft and pliable clay needs to be hardened to stand, or continue. We could never hold water, or things without being fired just right.

Then, for some vessels….the work is done….they are used. For others there is the painting and glazing….and firing; and glazing and firing again.

All, so that we may be a useable vessel, meet for the Master’s use.

Will we continue?

Our Lord Jesus says: “Continue in My word…then you will know the truth…and the truth shall make you free.”

Truth is of primary importance…..it leads us out of darkness into God’s light, for God is Truth. He keeps us from evil and error….and shows the way we should go. It frees us from all other ways, attitudes, and the opinion of the times….for it anchors us in God.

So Jesus says in….John 15:9 “As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My love.”

This was spoken to His disciples….those who had stayed with Him for three years…they had continued in His word….now, for the trials ahead….continue in My love. Know it,…hold on to the truth of it,…shelter under it.

In Acts, Paul encourages those Jewish believers, to continue in the grace of God…..not in the traditions of the Law.(Acts 13:43)

In Colossians, Paul stresses that true reconciliation is in Christ.

(In Colossians, Christ is set before us as the object of our hearts. The Spirit of God is only mentioned once.)

It is His work in the cross, in a double sense: atonement for our sin….and the power of grace conquering the heart!

Therefore, Paul says to “Continue in the faith…grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel….”. “To present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight:”. (Colossians 1:22-23)

In the practical part of Colossians, where home life, and job life are discussed…..we are told to:

Colossians 4:2 “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;”

Continue to pray for the work…..ours, and our church and pastor….and watch….expecting His answer….both in His Word, and in the lives of others.

(I have come to see the value of the family altar. Having prayers at the start of the day with family members, for the things going on today….a song and prayers.)

Paul, at the end of his life, writing Timothy, who was a young man when Paul took him as a helper…..yet had grown into a Pastor and godly man….so Paul says to him…

….I am going to die, I have finished my course…..now you continue yours and follow the Word….continue to grow, and finish the work you have to do.

2 Timothy 3:14-15 “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

And that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

Continue in the Word…..you have grown from it…..continue in it.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

The Lord Jesus comforted by His Word,

…..and rebuked the “little faith” of His disciples….and the hard-hearted of the Pharisees….

…..and instructed and led His own…..even to restoring Peter after the resurrection….

…..telling them and us:

“…All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

Let us continue in His Word, His love, His faith and grace, till we too, finish our course.

Come now, let us reason together

Isaiah 1:18-19 “Come now,  and let us reason together, saith the Lord:  though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;  though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

     If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:”

Come, let us reason together.   Even when I hear this….there is such a tenderness in it….God would reason with His creatures…with me….how it expresses His great love and mercy!

     The term “reason” here means to convince.   

In other words,  God will listen as we try and convince Him we are right…..but then, as we listen… He will convince us,  He is right.   

    (As He always is.   It is as we understand His Words…and we bow in submission….that He can go to work in and for us.)

And why does He use the term reason?  

Isaiah 1:5 “….the whole head is sick (anxious),   and the whole heart faint (troubled).”

     And so the Lord says…

“Come now”….not later…but now.  

     “..though our sins be as scarlet….they shall be as white as snow;   though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

If we are willing and obedient, we shall eat the good of the land.

Notice, willing is first.  Obedience is a act of the will.  

     (My husband used to preach this so often, that one man got tired of hearing it.

      Later, when circumstances changed for him, and his spiritual life was suffering under the pressure of these worries…..he realized that to will after God,  even when we do not “feel” good….or happy;  is a sign of God’s work within.    That spirituality,  is not knowing things…..but following Christ…willing with Him,  no matter what.)

If we are willing and obedient, we shall eat the good of the land.

    The sweetest fruits are those budded and ripened within us, by the Holy Spirit.  (Galatians 5:22-23)   

Peter and John had been imprisoned for preaching Christ Jesus.   Yet the angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and told them to go and preach in the temple…”all the words of this life.” (I love this phrase, for what a life Christ gives us!)

When the counsel, who had them arrested, brings them before them….they say,  “Did not we command you that ye should not teach in this name?”

What enmity is shown the name of Jesus!…then, and now.

Yet…

     Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other:  for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Peter declares to them, that we ought to obey God rather than men.  

     And then again he preaches to these men….

Acts 5:30-31 “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

     Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”

Here is the gospel message….again being given to these men.   Repentance and forgiveness of sins, through Christ Jesus.    

They had but to “be willing and obedient”.

And then Peter says….to encourage them to reach out in faith and believe….

Acts 5:32 “And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him.”

             To those who fast and tarry for Him?

                  To those who pray through to Him?

             No, but to those that obey Him.      

(I believe in all of these things….but simple obedience, after hearing and knowing God’s Will….is what God wants.   For that is what honors Him.   

      Simple obedience gives God the honor,  and praise.   And that is what God wants)

And were these men willing and obedient,  who had heard the gospel message again?

       For the Word says,  “…they were cut to the heart,…”   

The Word was understood….and it tore open their heart to God’s call to them….

…but,….”and they took counsel to slay them.”  

God intervened to save Peter and John….though they were beaten.   

But listen to what “willing and obedient” did in the hearts and minds of these disciples…

“And they departed….rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His Name.

     And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”   (Acts 5:41-42)

Hallelujah!  What a Savior…what a life He gives! 

In these days,  there is one mark of one that is Spirit-filled,  and that is obedience. 

We must, if we are to be what we ought in these end days….be in full subjection to God’s principle of obedience.

       When we are born again,  it is not the passing of the years that matures a Christian….but the willing obedience of our hearts and minds to His Word and Way.

So the Lord calls this day as well….”Come, now, and let us reason together.”

Stand ye in the Ways

Jeremiah 6:16 “Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.”

Jeremiah was called to a time, like ours, where much religion was going on; but very little true obedience to God. They had all the outward trappings and show…….but none of the devotion to God and His commandments.

Under King Josiah, who was a godly king; Jeremiah was given the job of going about Judah and instructing the people in the laws of God. This was important….to know the Word of God….what it says and what He promises those who turn to Him and obey Him.

Many did not want to hear, for they had been influenced by the idolatrous nations round about them; and refused subjection to the Lord, although they went along with the outward ceremony….along with worshipping idols.

Jeremiah 2:13 “For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living water, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.”

Then he was told to go to Jerusalem and preach there…telling the people what God would do, if they would repent and turn back in obedience to Him.

He would forgive and help them:

Jeremiah 7:5-7″For if ye thoroughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor;

If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt:

Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever.”

For what God wanted of His people was that they obey Him, from the heart.

“Stand ye in the ways”.

In the Hebrew, means “Get up and do it”

Start actively seeking My ways.

If you just do this seeking, you are returning to your God and honoring Him.

This I will count,….and will honor you, in return.

Jeremiah 29:11-14 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I will hearken unto you.

And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.

And I will be found of you, saith the Lord:….”

And ask for the old paths: The path of obedience to His Word,….which leads us to straighten out our lives before Him.

God has made a way to return to Him…..take it.

(How was it with those who came before us?

Those that martyred their lives for God and his gospel? From the apostles to our forefathers?

How did they attain to what they had?

Through the Holy Spirit’s enabling, and the Word of God to them.

We must seek out the truth of the Scriptures for ourselves: What does it say to me?

For now? For my calling and ministry? And yield to the Holy Spirit within!)

As Jeremiah said to Judah:

Jeremiah 7:23 “But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be My people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.”

Obey My voice….and I will be your God….and ye shall be My people.

(This is an amazing promise…..the Almighty, Eternal, Personal God will be my God…..me, who am one of how many millions?….

….me, who have fought against Him?…

….me, who can do nothing for God…

Yet, me, whom He loved enough to save me,….I shall be His….

….and that means He will “see to” me….spiritually, physically, and emotionally….

….amazing promise!)

Jesus said the same thing when He was talking to His disciples, before He went to the cross.

John 15:10″ If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.”

Though there were failures,…….His disciples did keep His commandments….and they stirred the whole world, for Christ Jesus.

If we get our life in order before Him, and honor Him in this,……He will honor our obedience, in our everyday life.

God speaks through His Word: whether read, preached, or spoken by His inner Voice, by the Holy Spirit.

Hear Him, and return to the ways of peace,…..knowing His presence with you,……and for you,……everyday.

A certain man and his fig tree

Now the first thing I want to mention here, is that the purpose of every fruit tree is to bear fruit. If it does not,….it is only wood…to be cut down and used that way.

Luke 13:6-7 “He (Jesus) spake also this parable;

A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?”

Here is a man who loves figs! But the tree that he had planted was not bearing any.

It was not just one year, or two…..but three years he had come….hoping that this tree would give him the fruit he loves.

After three years, he feels that this is a useless effort…..”why waste space and time on a tree that will not give fruit?”

So he tells his dresser…..the one who prunes and keeps the trees….to “cut it down”….at least I can get something from the wood.

(But that was not the purpose of this fig tree!)

Luke 12:8-9 “And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.”

The dresser….knowing the longing of his Lord’s heart….asks that he might give it some extra attention….

….some “digging about it”….let us really see where the root of the problem is….has it come up against a rock….or rot?

Then I will dung it…..give it extra instruction and feed it with grace….

…then let’s see what will happen.

How long has the Lord been looking for fruit from us?

In this Laodicean Age, He looks with a longing that is far beyond our comprehension….that the “travail of HIs soul” (Isaiah 53:11) might be satisfied….that His Purpose, for us, might bear fruit.

He can not be satisfied until every last one that He paid the price for is redeemed,…..and bringing forth fruit unto eternal life (that condition of life, for now through eternity).

God is Sovereign…..He has set each of us in our place….for this time….

…to bring forth the fruit He loves:

The fruit of the Holy Spirit within us…”love, joy, longsuffering, gentleness,…” (Galatians 5:22-23)

…And the fruit of another Christian from our witness.

The Lord has come to see if we are bearing fruit….one year, two years, three years….how long has He come to HIs church….and each individual in it?

But now…..

The Holy Spirit (the dresser…through the preaching and teaching of His Word)…will dig around us.

Will we let Him see our hinderance and deal with it?

And the Holy Spirit will….dung us.

Are you really hearing the lessons He is speaking…..and getting the grace He wants to give?

There is still time to bear the fruit of eternity…..for the pleasure of our Lord.

Will we use the means He has ordained….and satisfy His heart?

Or will we be just cut down for wood?

There is purpose in both…..but only one satisfies the Lord heart best.

Just before Christ Jesus was manifested to Israel…..John the Baptist was sent to preach repentance….to “dig about” Israel….and “dung” them….

….giving them a way to prepare their hearts to receive the Messiah.

When the religious rulers came, just to check out his baptism,….John the Baptist said:

Matthew 3:8, 10 “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

And now the axe is laid to the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down,….”

How many times have we heard of late (especially this past year):

2 Chronicles 7:14 “If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways;

then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Have we? For there is the Way of fruit bearing…..taking our place before His throne in humble repentance….and seek His help to make things right in our lives.

Will we?

The Wilderness of this World

Song of Solomon 3:6 “Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke,…?”

This world is often pictured as a “wilderness” in scripture….because there is nothing here for us, that satisfies.

There are many examples of being sent into the wilderness for testing; for this is what the wilderness is for believers….a place of testing:

The Israelites coming out of Egypt (Psalm 78:52, Psalm 95:8-9)

David, anointed king, but hiding from Saul (I Samuel 23:14), before he came to the throne;

John the Baptist before his ministry of repentance (Matthew 3:1, Mark 1:3)

The Lord Jesus, taken into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. (Matthew 4:1)

Though it is a place of temptation, yet it is also a place where He shows Himself as our Provider, and Protector,……..and brings us through.

How? By the guidance and power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Song of Solomon 3:6 “Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?”

This is a verse describing the believer and spouse, of the King, coming out of the wilderness…..like pillars of smoke.

Smoke is easily dispersed…..a small breath will blow it here and there.

But here it is a Pillar…..a thing of strength and stability!

Joel 2:28-30 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out My Spirit.

And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.”

This is an amazing prophesy……think of it….the Holy Spirit, a Person of the Godhead….given to all who believe (“My people” verse 27)….indiscriminate of rank or age. Men and women…all who believe….

….to give the needed help to truly follow the Lord….no matter what job, or place you were in!

(These verses were quoted by Peter on the day of Pentecost, at the giving of the Holy Spirit to the Church,……and is to be fulfilled through out the Church Age….by His servants. Acts 2:16-19. I also personally believe, that there will be a further fulfillment of these verses by the servants of the Lord, who stand with Him. Amazing Love, and grace of our Lord Jesus!)

This strength and stability, is all because of the Holy Spirit within us.

As we go along in our daily walk, and begin to hear His Voice….through the Word, and within us…..we learn to yield to His guidance.

We learn, that when He calls us to do something….it is not just for this time….but a lesson for our lives.

We learn to witness…..to pray….to trust when there is nothing that looks like it will turn out the way He said….to follow…..to battle….to keep our eyes on Him…..

…..but mostly, to believe Him. (Sometimes, because we are saved, we think….of course I believe the Lord….

…..but then, we doubt His Word, or hesitate at His Way of doing this or that.)

Our strength, knowledge, and power, comes from Him….but what binds our hearts and minds to Him is faith……the faith given by the Holy Spirit….

….and increased, as we obey Him.

We are smoke…..but empowered by Him….to stand.

And He brings us out of the wilderness wanderings…..into the promises He has for us.

Song of Solomon 3:6 “Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?”

This believer is perfumed with myrrh and frankincense.

(These are two of the gifts the wise men gave the Lord Jesus. Matthew 2:11)

Being in Christ, and following on with Him, the believer is perfumed with these scents as well….for the work He calls them to.

Myrrh speaks of death. Our attaining to life by the Lord’s death on the cross….and our uniting with Him, here in this world’s wilderness, by denying our self-life, that His life might be shown.

Colossians 1:27-28 “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”

Frankincense was the scent of kings. And we are scented also with this, for we are to be His Ambassadors…..speaking for King and country….to a lost world.

Corinthians 5:19-20 “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

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

“With all powders of the Merchant.”

Our Lord is that Merchant

(Isaiah 55:1-2, Matthew 13:45-46 He is the Merchant, who sells—gives up all that He has….His life included….to buy, “redeem” us, the Church—the pearl of great price.)

All is from Him,……..yes, we must come to get what we need, but He has “all powders”…..everything we stand in need of.

And how do we travel….coming out of the wilderness of this world?

Song of Solomon 3:7-8 “Behold His bed, which is Solomon’s, three score valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel.

They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night.”

We “travel” in His palanquin. With the guards of peace, joy, hope, and love around us…..protecting us from…..”fear in the night”.

(I love this: God never says there are not things to fear…..but, will always send us strength to face them, or deliverance from their malice….within and without.)

By the Holy Spirit within, we are also protected without us.

There is no circumstance that comes to us…..He does not know about, or will not warn us of.

John 16:13 “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come.”

Are we coming out of the wilderness of this world’s system….with our Lord?

Yielding to the Holy Spirit within, are we growing in grace…..getting strength and stability from Him?

Are we seeing His Will done in our everyday things?

Colossians 1:13 “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.”

Spiritually we are translated by our Lord, when we are born again.

Practically, we are translated…..or brought through our wilderness, as we have His kingdom come within us…..showing His kingdom by us and through us.

And How Shall His Kingdom Come to You?

Matthew 6:10 “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

Psalm 103:20 “Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word.”

(I know I have preached on this lots of times, but it is a subject which is so important;…….I am going to set forth this, again.)

Obedience is required in God’s servants. We are, as the angels, to hearken or listen to the “Voice of His Word”.

That means we are to hear what He is speaking to us through His Word, in scripture, and inwardly by His Holy Spirit.

“Hearken” is, to listen intently, with the thought to obey what is heard.

To have “hearing ears”.

This is not sinless perfection, as it is with the angels, but it is Obedience.

An obedience which continues.

Some are obedient, when they have to be. (No love there)

Some are obedient in spurts.

With diligence and joy they do a job……Next they are down in the dumps and their obedience is partial, if at all. (They love, but are too wrapped up in their emotions, for stability.)

Some have left their old life, and begun to have the fellowship with Christ that is necessary for real obedience,…..but they keep getting “sidetracked” with their own “good ideas” of God’s Will. (They love, but their reasons influence their wills.)

But there is freedom from our stubborn wills, emotions and reasons…

This is why His Kingdom must come within us.

Luke 17:20-21 “And when He was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, He answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

Neither shall they say, Lo here! or lo there! For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”

These Pharisees (and they were the most religious and most right of the sects which were in Christ’s time) demanded of Christ:

“Show us some manifestation of the kingdom, something we can observe.”

His answer? “The kingdom of God is not going to come with fanfare and parades. People will not shout and say, Come and see!

No, the real kingdom of God is within your midst right now, in the person of Me, the King, the Son of God.

And as King, I will set up My kingdom first, in the hearts of My people, then I will set it up on earth; and will rule and reign from Jerusalem.”

The place and power of His Manifest Presence, is within those who will be subjects of His kingdom. Who will to let Him rule in their lives.

Ephesians 3:20 “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”

Here is an unlimited measure. No one has ever reached the fullness of that “exceeding abundantly”.

No,……we often have little,…..and blame God for our lack.

But His power for our lives, is given to us with the condition of: “According to the power that works within us.”

In other words, how ever much of the power of God we let work on us, to bring us to where we should be;……that much power He is going to give us, to work through us,….to witness,…..to rise above our circumstances,….to be joyful.

Our prayers will be answered, our lives will be really useful.

God will never empower me to see my will done; but He will empower me to see His Will done.

And that “empowerment” is personal.

Remember The Lord Jesus’ kingdom is set up in our hearts and lives, personally, here and now;….as well as in the Millennial Reign.

Because there has been some confusion about the kingdoms of God, I will explain:

1. The Father’s Kingdom is His absolute dominion over all things, creatures, worlds, the universe, the heaven of heavens.

1 Chronicles 29:11 “Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in heaven and in the earth is thine; Thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and Thou art exalted as head above all.”

He rules. Whether we understand His way or not, He will see His will done; for all power exists in Him, and none have power, except He allows it.

2. There is the Kingdom of His grace on earth. This is where He is acknowledged as God, and Jesus Christ as His Son. The true Church is the bounds of this Kingdom.

Matthew 13:11 “He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.”

3. There is the Personal Kingdom of Christ, which is entered into when we are born again,…again, which is personal.

John 3:5 “Jesus answered, Verily, Verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

When we are born again, we enter His kingdom, and begin to receive grace as His subjects.

But our power is feeble at first, because we are often at odds with our King, in this thing or that….but…

When we have fully yielded ourselves up to His reign within us; we begin to experience that “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think”.

And it continues, as we continue on with Him.

It is always His power;….but it is at work within us, and through us.