Stephen, the Church’s First Martyr 

Acts 6:3-5 “Wherefore brethren,  look ye out among you seven men of honest report,  full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom,  whom we may appoint over this business.

                       But we will give ourselves continually to prayer,  and to the ministry of the word. 

                       And the saying pleased the whole multitude:  and they chose Stephen,  a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Phillip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch;”

Here we meet Stephen, born again and willing to minister as he is called…for he is chosen to “serve tables”,  or as a deacon.

There had been a argument between the Grecian Christians and the Hebrew Christians about how the widows of each were being treated.  Some felt that the Grecian widows were not given the same treatment and food, as the others.

(Remember that the Christians, here, had given all to the apostles for the common good. Acts 4:34-35)

If this was to be overseen as it should be,  the apostles would have to leave preaching and teaching the gospel, to see to it.

That could not be….so they told the church there to pray and see who they could choose to deal with the business and practical part of the matters of the church…they became the deacons.

Stephen was one of these.  He was a man of faith and who was filled with the Holy Spirit.

He was not offended because he was given the task of seeing to the food distribution, or dealing with the strifes which come up between brethren.  

Faith sees God and deals with all, in the same light:  what does the Lord want done?

He looked on everything he did for the Lord as equally important.

Acts 6:8 “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.”

       He also did miracles, whether these were of the practical nature of food,  or for illness, it does not say.

       But it does bring into the picture those who wanted to prove him wrong.  Notice they “disputed” with him,  not he with them.

       But they could not, for “they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.”

Acts 6:11-12 “Then they suborned men, which said,  We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses,  and against God.

                         And they stirred up the people,  and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him,  and caught him,  and brought him to the council.”

So here is Stephen before the council, accused falsely by jealous men.

(This council had spoken to Peter and John months earlier that they were not to speak in the name of Jesus,  and had beaten them and let them go,  but now….)

       He stands before them, in peace;  calm. 

      They  “saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.”   

       Simply, they could tell that he was filled with the Spirit of God, that he was not a blasphemer.

This should have told them that these accusations were false….but, let’s face it,  they wanted to believe the accusations.

Acts 7:1-2 “Then said the high priest,  Are these things so?      And he (Stephen)said,  Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken;  the God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham,  when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,”

In the next 52 verses, Stephen, by the wisdom of God,  showed again and again God’s choice of His people by grace,  not works.

 

God’s use of men who were not reckoned in men’s esteem, but chosen of God to go out,  to lead,  to save,  to build…

There was:

Abraham, to go out to a land that was given in promise, but which he never possessed….

Then Isaac who was circumcised…

Jacob, the younger son, chosen,  and his sons being brought into the covenant;  even though they sold their own brother, Joseph, into slavery…

Yet God saved them, and their whole family by the very man they were jealous of…

Moses’ birth and his rejection when he would have helped his people.  His flight into Midian and God’s call to the very one they refused:

Acts 7:35 “This Moses whom they refused saying,  Who made thee a ruler and a judge?  The same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the Angel which appeared to him in the bush.”

Stephen told of when Israel, made a golden calf.

And even when they were brought in by Joshua, to the promised land,  they turned to idols. 

He told of David as king, fighting their battles,  desiring to build a house for God,  but God chose Solomon to do it.

Yet,  Stephen shows exactly what Solomon said after he dedicated it:

1 Kings 8:23, 27 “And he said,  Lord God of Israel,  there is no God like Thee, in heaven above,  or on the earth beneath,  who keepest covenant in mercy with Thy servants that walk before Thee with all their heart:  

                              But will God indeed dwell on the earth?  Behold,  the heaven and heaven of heavens can not contain Thee;  how much less this house that I have builded?”

Simply:  the Most High dwells not in temples made with hands, but in the love and devotion of His people’s hearts.

Stephen wanted his brethren to remember their God, not their heritage.

He had not blasphemed Moses or the Law,  but was a servant of the Lord of both,  Jesus Christ.

So the conclusion of his message? 

God’s grace had chosen them as His people.   

God’s grace had chosen and sent men to save and lead them, into all God wanted for them.

But how did the people react?

Which of the prophets had not been persecuted by their fathers, which had told them of the Messiah to come?

All this is leading toward one goal….that Jesus was the Messiah, Who had come to show the way into the Kingdom of God, by Himself, as their King.

He was the One whom all the prophets spoke.

He was the One to whom all the other of God’s choices, pointed.

What would they do with Him now,  that He was risen and manifested by the Holy Ghost among them?

      Stephen wanted his brethren to see that God was even then dealing with them.

      He wanted them to acknowledge God’s Son…..Jesus, Whom  they betrayed and murdered…and that He is now at the right hand of God, the place of power.

The Spirit of God was leading many  in Jerusalem to salvation…..God was giving them another sign of His love to them. 

Would they hear it?

(How many today, hang on to tradition;  even Christian tradition, rather than being gathered to the Lord God, Himself.)

Yet even as Stephen spoke,  he sensed in the Spirit the hardening of their hearts….

So he openly rebukes it, and faithfully deals with them for their rebellion against the “Just One”.

The name: Just One, implies Christ Jesus’s holiness and righteousness.  He did not deserve to be crucified.    He deserved to be King, both of His people and the world.

        He was and is the Just One,  and the justifier of all who come to Him….for by His worthy sacrifice He saves us.

Romans 5:8-9 “But God commendeth His love toward us,  in that,  while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

                            Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.”

The outcome?

Their history they listened to;    but the rebuke, which might lead them to repentance and true salvation……they refused,…and in great anger.

Acts 7:54 “When they heard these things,  they were cut to the heart,  and they gnashed on him with their teeth.”

“Cut to the heart”

Stephen’s rebuke (rebuke means “back striking them into the right way”.  It is never pleasant to be rebuked….but to those who “hear it”….it gives life.)

Stephen’s rebuke opened to them the state of their own hearts,  like a knife.

       And instead of letting it heal them, like a surgeon;  they let it unleash the anger within…which quickly turned to hatred of God’s servant.

He was unaffected for himself;  but totally immersed in the Will of God, for them.

God then blessed him with more of the Spirit of God, and a vision:

Acts 7:55-56 “But he,  being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven,  and saw the glory of God,  and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.

                          And said,  Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God.”

The council would not hear….stopping their ears, they dragged him out, and stoned him…as though that could stop his witness….No! (Remember Saul/Paul was witnessing all of this)

Acts 7:59-60 “And they stoned Stephen,  calling upon God,  and saying,  Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

                          And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice,   Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.  And when he had said this,  he fell asleep.”

Stephen, with the same ruling peace (Philippians 4:7) with which he began;  he ends, looking unto Jesus for himself…

“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”   Acknowledging before all, that the Lord Jesus Christ was the Son of God,  and risen, in heaven.

And then,  in the character of Jesus, he forgives those that stoned him.

“Lay not this sin” (yes, he called it what it was; but still asks…) 

“Lay not this sin to their charge.”

“He fell asleep”.   You see, when Christians die,  they are said to fall asleep.  For they close their eyes here, and in the next second,  open them in heaven.

Stephen was the first of the churches martyrs,  but not the last. 

Many have died,  looking to Jesus the same way.

Because He is the Son of God…because He lives,  we do and will live eternally, too.

My joy….your joy

John 15:11 “These things have I spoken unto you,  that My joy might remain in you,   and that your joy might be full.”

Let us talk of Christ’s joy, here….and our joy.

First I want to mention that joy in scripture is of the Holy Spirit.   It is not happiness…nor is it dependent on people, places or things. 

           It is entirely a lifting of the spirit of man, by the Holy Spirit of God…into a place apart from circumstances, or troubles….and it is a feeling of buoyancy…we cannot be drowned by what is going on, for we are upheld by God.

I also want to mention that Christ Jesus was a very joyful man.  

       It is true He was grieved by the hardness of hearts.  He was often weary….

……but the message He came to give (“Wist ye not that I must be about My Father’s business?”  Luke 2:46-49)…He gave in joy.   

         He was joyful in prayer,  He was joyful in service,  and He was joyful in the fellowship with HIs disciples.

John 15:11 “These things have I spoken unto you,  that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”

“My joy”….. Jesus’ Word is joy. 

         They had heard HIs Words and declared (John 6:68) “…Thou hast the words of eternal life.”

John 17:13 “And now come I to Thee;  and these things I speak in the world, that they (the disciples, and us) might have My joy fulfilled in themselves.”

This is how we have His joy….we have HIs Word:   “Sanctify them through Thy truth:  Thy Word is truth.” (John 17:17)

Many used to read the gospel of John first,  after conversion.   

         (And here is our first experience with HIs joy and our joy….we know the joy of redemption!

“I am saved!”  

          “I was lost to God, sold under sin, a servant of the devil….but now I am redeemed!   Bought back by a price Jesus Christ paid for me!”)

          Here, in the book of John… they meet the Lord through the eyes of John the Baptist, and in the many people He came into contact with as Christ Jesus,  the Son of God.

          Here they hear HIs Words as the Truth, the Light, the Way, the Resurrection and the Life, the Bread of Life.

         Here they hear His very intimate discourse right before He is taken and killed,  as He and His disciples walk to Gethsemane.

John 20:31 “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through HIs name.”

These Words,  read personally,  bring His joy to us, by the Holy Spirit within….for it is a fruit of the Spirit, which is worked out in us…through HIs Word.

We need His joy….HIs buoyancy in all our lives.    But it is easy to lose,  when we begin to look at the waves of our circumstances….instead of keeping our eyes upon HIm. (Matthew 14:28-31)

Our joy to be full:  

       We have joy by the Holy Spirit,  but to keep it is a great help in our  lives….and to have our joy “full”…is great riches.

John 16:24 “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name:  ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”

       Our joy is to be “full”…as we spend time in prayer with our Heavenly Father.   

Our joy may be “full”…as we fellowship with fellow believers over the things of God. (1 John 1:3-4)

         2 John 12 “…but I trust to come to you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.”

That your joy might be “full”….

….Jesus Christ wants us to experience the fullness of the joy He had…. in our own lives.   He wants us to have HIs kingdom in us. (Luke 17:20-21)

Romans 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink;  but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

        This is the kingdom of Jesus Christ in our souls….are we having it?    Are we experiencing these things:   righteousness…..peace….joy.   

        They are all by the Holy Ghost….again, are we having these things?

Joy is a choice flower that grows in the garden of the soul of a believer.   His joy can only remain in us, when it is received and submitted to by us…personally…in the kingdom of Mansoul.

         “…for behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21)

Colossians 3:16-17 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

          And whatsoever ye do in word or deed,  do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.”

And this brings us back to asking in Jesus’ name.   

        Let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly….that we may know,  what we are to do in word or deed….and then ask for that joy….that our joy might be “full”.

       (When something is full….we may think there is no more room….but the next thing is “running over” [Luke 6:38]….and that running over is out to others.

       Our joy can affect others.)

But the real message of these verses is:   Jesus Christ came to save us.   To bring us into HIs Kingdom….within us, now….of righteousness,  peace,  and joy.     His joy….given to us in HIs Word, and Will…that our joy might be full.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly….again,  will we?

Amos 3:8 “The lion hath roared,  who will not fear?   The Lord God hath spoken,  who can but prophesy?”

Amos begins his prophesy with the Lord’s Voice….as a roar from Zion…to the peoples round about His Jerusalem (Amos 1:2)…and it is the roar of the Victor.

           Amos 1:2 “And he said,  The Lord will roar from Zion, and utter HIs Voice from Jerusalem;  and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither.”

           Jeremiah 25:30-31 “….The Lord shall roar from on high, and utter HIs Voice from His holy habitation;  He shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes,  against all the inhabitants of the earth.

           A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth;  for the Lord hath a controversy with the nations,  He will plead with all flesh;  He will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the Lord.”

God’s Voice is a special manifestation of Himself.   His Voice first spoke in the re-creation of the earth…”Let there be light: and there was light”.  (Genesis 1:3)

God’s Voice spoke through Christ Jesus about the re-creation of us,….”Marvel not that I said unto thee,   Ye must be born again.”  (John 3:7)  

         “…he that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life,  and shall not come into condemnation;  but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:24)

“The lion hath roared, who will not fear?”

There are two kinds of fear in the Bible.    

           The fear of the Lord:

Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom:  and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding.”

           (In Proverbs, the fear of the Lord is a prominent part of the message there:

      Prov.1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge:…

      Prov.3:7 “…fear the Lord, and depart from evil.”

      Prov.8:13 “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy…”

      Prov. 10:27 “The fear of the Lord prolongeth days:…”

      Prov. 14:26 “In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge.”

      Prov.14:27 “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.”

      Prov. 15:16 “Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.”

      Prov.15:33 “The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom:….”

      Prov. 16:6 “…by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.”

      Prov.19:23 “The fear of the Lord tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied;….”

      Prov.22:4 “By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honor and life.”

      Prov.23:17 “Let not thine heart envy sinners:  but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.”)

           This fear is reverential awe….it places us  on our faces before our God  in love, trust, and surrender to His Will.   

           The fear of the Lord will keep us grounded in the Truth,  to see things in their right order.   “Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”  (Ecc.12:13)

(We must remember that the judgment against all mankind is:  “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Romans 3:18)

           The second is the fear of man:

Proverbs 29:25 “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.”

           This fear will cause people to do what they wouldn’t normally do, looking around to see the reaction of men…. or it will cause people to seek revenge,  or lead them to  tremble and give up. (“….fear hath torment” 1 John 4:18)…and how much this fear is used by the world, the flesh, and the devil.

The fear of the Lord will come to all who seek to know Him….aright.

           If we can shake our fist in the face of God, and say,  even by our actions:  “I will not”…

…then it is certain that we have not the beginning of wisdom,…

…nor do we have the reality, which is the fear of the Lord.

He is Sovereign!   And all things work….and will work,   to His Sovereign determination (Rev. 

4:11…”pleasure” is determination, there

And all things means all things!

This is fact….but it is what we do with this fact,  that makes the difference in our lives.

          We would change this….or we would change that.    He would change us into His likeness….and this begins with the fear of the Lord.    

          Us, coming to the place where we cry out,…”Oh, woe is me!  I am undone!   And then raise our heads, and look up to Christ…and praise His name for letting us be near Him in any way!”

Reverence for Who He is …and surrender to what He has and will do!

Amos 3:6 “Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid?   Shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it?”

      “Shall a trumpet be blown in the city and the people not be afraid?”    

The trumpets were to awaken the people….to gather them,  especially in times of war or trouble…or for repentance.

We are to make sure our “trumpet sounds” are clear.    That we speak plainly and clearly to people about Christ Jesus our Lord.

        1 Corinthians 14:8 “For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?”

We need to be clear in our words and actions that we stand with the Lord.

      “Shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it?”

Nothing just happens.   

       All is under the Sovereign eye of God.    What He wills,  will certainly be….both in blessing and in judgment…

….what He allows, He will control…even the evil of the times, He is making to work for His glory,  for He calls us to separate ourselves from it,  and show that we are His…

       Romans 6:17-18 “But God be thanked,  that ye were the servants of sin,  but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 

       Being then made free from sin,  ye became the servants of righteousness.”

Amos 3:3,8 “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”

        The lion hath roared,  who will not fear?   The Lord God hath spoken,  who can but prophesy?”

In the Bible, to prophesy is to tell God’s people what is on HIs mind for now.    Did the prophets also tell of future events?  Yes,  but the main theme of every prophet…

…..was to be God’s mouthpiece to remind and tell His people,   what they were refusing to hear….through HIs Word.

Let us hear HIs Voice to us…in these last days of the church age:

          Revelation 3:19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten:  be zealous therefore , and repent.”

Does He say this in other scriptures?   Yes,  many.   But here, in these last days of the church….His called out ones….

….He speaks to us as the Amen….the only One who can say…”Let it be!”   And it will be!

He speaks to us as the Faithful and True Witness….who tells us how we are,  so that we can repent….and have a blessing at HIs coming…instead of suffer loss. 

      2 John 8 “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought,  but that we receive a full reward.”

      We have come so far….will we turn back….or stop?   Let us seek to Him and get His Witness against us…and repent…and be fully blessed.

He speaks to us as the beginning of the creation of God….for God’s thoughts of salvation for us were before He created anything else.

      And so He created a body for Christ, before anything else was (Hebrews 10:5)

      His body was prepared for His coming as the Man Christ Jesus…. that He might come and save us at the fulness of the time.

His Voice is not yet the trumpet call of “Come up hither” in the Rapture….but the Voice of the lion who is roaring….that HIs church might be awakened,….to come to Him….and fear Him.

All Authority…All Power

Matthew 28:18-20 ASV “And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying,  All authority hath been given unto Me in heaven and on earth.

               Go ye, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

               Teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I commanded you,  and lo,  I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”

Matthew 28:18 KJV “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying,   All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.”

Authority has the meaning of competency, mastery, freedom to do….and so does power here.

When was Jesus given all authority, all power?

               Well, He had it in Eternity past….for He is the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity.   (John 1:1-2, Philippians 2:6)

               He had all authority as the Son of Man,  to do and be the perfect man….to become the perfect sacrifice. (Luke 5:24, John 10:17-18)

              He had all authority as the Lamb of God, to call for angels to save Him (Matt. 26:52-54),  or to come down from the cross….if He willed.    But He subjected His authority to His Father’s Will.

              He has all authority as our Savior and Mediator,…for this is the authority and power spoken of in these last verses of Matthew…which He had won by His Victory on the cross. (Colossians 1:15-19)

              It is the authority and power He has for us, as His servants which He is speaking about.  

Colossians 1:10-11 “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

             Strengthened with all might,   according to His glorious power,   unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness;

He is saying, “ I am risen….and ascending to heaven;  where I will be at the right hand of God, interceding for you and the work I am calling you to do.

              Do not be afraid,  I have all authority over all and anything you come up against. 

              I have all power to make your words heard in the heart of those you preach and teach to.   So lead them to Me to be born again….then baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

              Make disciples… by teaching them  to observe what I have said to you.”

(Observe here has a wide meaning….it means to keep, guard from loss…to fulfill.

             The disciples (and us) are to teach those that are born again, to read and guard the Word of God to them….and then put it in practice in their lives.)

Then Jesus, with all authority and power…. gives a Word so wonderful.   A Word which has been fulfilled in each believer’s life:

            “…and, lo,  I AM with you alway, even unto the end of the world.  Amen.”

When Moses was before the burning bush….which burned, yet was not consumed….God said His name was I AM that I AM.    Moses was to tell Israel, that the great I AM was come to deliver them.    And He did.

            Here in Matthew, Jesus says I AM with you alway.    Jesus is the great I AM.   Burning within our hearts….yet not consuming us….but using us to manifest His light, and grace.   

           He came down to deliver us….and He did, giving all who come to Him full salvation and eternal life.      

But He also dwells with us….alway, even unto the end of the world….for us when we die and go to heaven.   And when He makes a new earth and a new heaven, wherein dwelleth righteousness.(2 Peter 3:13)

All authority and all power is in HIs hands…

          One day all will hear and know this authority for themselves…

1 Corinthians 15:24-25 “Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father;  when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

          For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet.”

Today, we are given the privilege to speak to all….of  His Kingdom, which can come within  their hearts….

         It is a Kingdom of love and light….with Jesus Christ reigning in the life of all who come to Him.

They made me the keeper of the Vineyards, but mine own Vineyard have I not kept

Song of Solomon 1:6 “….they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.”

In Scripture, there are three gardens of note: 

The first, is the garden of Eden…..

…a paradise that God had made for man to live in,  and have fellowship with Him.

There man (Adam and Eve) were rulers under God…..over the garden itself, and the animals, and their circumstances.  

They were cared for, and caring for the garden for Him….and in the evening, were having fellowship with God.

They only had one…..just one….law that they were to obey,….

…..but in everything else they had abundance.

But here, in this garden, the upright man threw off the law of God, and rebelled…..he sinned,…and through Adam’s sin, we all became sinners, separated from God…

….”dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1)….from which we would never have the Purpose God created us for.

They were thrown out of this paradise garden,  into a world of “the sweat of thy brow”…..never to return.

The last garden is the garden of Gethsemane…..

….a garden which Jesus Christ often went to, when He was by Jerusalem….to pray.

He went the night He was betrayed,….falling down on the ground to seek HIs Father’s company…..and final Will….before the great work of expiation (taking away the sin of His people)…….and propitiation (the appeasing of God’s Holy wrath and anger )…….by His sacrifice,  would be done.

Jesus came as man,  bowing before His Heavenly Father,…..seeking HIs Will.

This was the opposite of Adam…..who rejected God’s Will.

Here in this last garden, Jesus Christ, replaced……in man (Himself…and from Him to everyone who comes to Him, and becomes “in Christ”)the Way to Paradise….by fellowship and submission to God.

He opened up the way to God the Father in HIs prayer of….”not my will, but thine be done”.

He made the garden bring forth the choicest fruits of purity, holiness, and sacrificial love…..by His prayer there.

And He did it for us.

The second garden is the garden of our souls….for we all grow something in our soul’s garden.

         It may be the  place of thistles and thorns (Hebrews 6:7-8)….

…and for the lost, that is all they can bring forth.

          Or it is a place of flowers, fruit trees, and the place God will walk with us again.

Song of Solomon 4:12, 16, 5:1 “A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse;….

Let my Beloved come into HIs garden, and eat HIs pleasant fruits.

         I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse:….”

This garden of our soul is tilled and planted and seen to by the Great Husbandman,  God our Heavenly Father…..for His Son’s sake.

But we are called to tend to it, as well.    It is a garden “inclosed”…..for the Lord Himself to enjoy….not to be trampled on by another.

We are not to be so busy with the affairs of this life,  or the work of others, that we will forget to tend our own garden for Him…

…for it is there that we are to learn of Him, have fellowship and the company of God, and rule there.

         (You say,  “no one can rule their own circumstances”…..and it is true.   But we can rule our response and actions to circumstances.   We can rule for Him in all that comes to us.)

How do we look to Him in the garden of our soul?

        Through prayer, and our devotions.

        Through asking, seeking, and knocking.

        Through Obedience to His commands.

Song of Solomon 4:13-14 “Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard,

        Spikenard and saffron;  calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:”

Here is abundance….pomegranates with the juice and sweet seeds.

….camphire, a henna plant used for dyeing….spikenard, made into the ointment Mary poured on Jesus,….saffron….calamus and cinnamon, both rod spices….

(showing that God sees to every need,  every hunger and thirst,  every grace and help, in every way.)

Sometimes we cry out:

       “They made me the keeper of the vineyards”……”but mine own vineyard, I have not kept.”         

“I am so busy seeing to everything in my life….how can I have this personal relationship with God?”

       Set aside time…..five minutes, even.  “Let my Beloved come into His garden” should be our prayer.

       Bow our heads, as Christ did,….and seek Him and surrender to His Will.

Have you given Him time today? If you do, you will certainly…

…and bring forth fruit to God…for His pleasure.

2 Corinthians 5:7 “(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

True sight requires two things.   Eyes that see,  and light to be able to see.

As our eyes see things in front of us,  and transpose them into our minds in pictures….so faith, which looks to God,  sees HIm….and transposes Him and His character into our hearts, minds and wills….as we yield to the Light shone.

2 Corinthians 3:18 “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

Honesty is essential to spiritual growth.   We must come to the Light,  and stay in the Light,  and obey the Light.

         Remember the woman taken in adultery….she was the only one to stay before the Lord, and hear His judgment….the others left.  (John 8:1-12)  She also was the only one to be forgiven.

We need to get honest with God, and with ourselves.

        And the Word of God,  His scriptures, are our mirror to look into,  and the Holy Spirit is the Light to shine on us,  to show us how we are, and what we are doing.

James 1:22-25 “But be ye doers of the Word,  and not hearers only,  deceiving your own selves.

         For if any be a hearer of the Word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

         For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

         But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty,  and continueth therein,  he being not a forgetful hearer,  but a doer of the word, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

What is it that this man looks into….and continues therein?    The perfect law of liberty….or the Word of God.

Notice it calls the Word,  the perfect law of liberty.    

         Many people who have not much experience with the greatness and goodness in the scriptures,  might disagree.         They might say that there are too many rules,  too many requirements to be a source of liberty.

But true spiritual freedom comes with our moving further and further away from sin, and its power…..and closer and closer to Christ Jesus our Lord.

        And the greatest means of doing this,  is the Word of God.   Reading it and praying over it,  to get the sweetness from it.

Psalm 119:18 “Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law.

        I am a stranger in the earth:  hide not Thy commandments from me.”

How many times we feel a “stranger in the earth”…..not sure of where we are heading,  or what we are to be doing about it.

We need the doctrine that drops like rain.

Deuteronomy 32:2 “My doctrine shall drop as the rain,  My speech shall distil as the dew,  as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:”

Rain in scripture is from the Lord.   The Lord promised the early rain and the latter rain for crops and refreshing in Israel. (Hosea 6:3)

And so He promises His Word for accomplishing what He pleases.

Isaiah 55:10-11 “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither,  but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud,  that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

        So shall My Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth:  it shall not return unto Me void,  but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

When we see by faith the Lord….then His likeness is impressed upon our consciousness….and we are “changed into the same image”.   

        His character is implanted within us by the Holy Spirit at new birth….but this “changing”  is by seeing the light of His character, and yielding to it…at the moment we see it,  so that we are made (molded) into HIs example, then.

Faith is our spiritual eyes to see what God’s Will is. 

       Faith reflects what it sees in the Lord, back into our minds and hearts…

……and the  Word of God enlightens our Way, giving a cleansing and refreshing effect by “the washing of the water by the Word.” (Ephesians 5:25-27)

For we walk by faith, not by sight…means that we keep ourselves in the Light of His Word,

…..and keep ourselves  ever looking to Christ Jesus,   yielding  to the change the Lord will make by His cleansing from sin, and self…

….and by the refreshing rain of doctrine,  by the understanding given by His Holy Spirit.

Rain 

Hosea 6:3 “Then shall we know,  if we follow on to know the Lord:  His going forth is prepared as the morning;  and He shall come unto us as the rain,  as the latter and former rain unto the earth.”

Christ Jesus, when He comes to us by the influence of the Holy Spirit, is like a shower of rain, to a dry and thirsty ground.

When we are without Jesus in our lives, our hearts are hard, and nothing seems to soften them or make an impression on them.

(We may feel many emotions….which come and go….bring thoughts to lift or depress…..but our hearts are not softened by them….only used like a sponge….fluid in and out….never becoming the fruitful garden full of beauty and usefulness to the Lord.)

When we are born again….the Holy Spirit comes within us…..like a gentle rain, He softens us…..to feel the impressions of the Word of God for our lives.

But when we fall into sin after becoming Christians,(and sadly this can happen)…..we can again become “hardened”.     

So we need to turn to Him again, and pray for showers of His mercy and grace to come to us, and soften our hearts in repentance,  and cleansing in His blood.

Wherever Christ comes,  the rain of the Holy Spirit and of grace, comes to our souls;…..and we are turned into a well watered land.  

Fruitful and beautiful, for we drink Him in;…..and by His Spirit’s influence, we are changed little by little,  into His character.

As rain is a free gift of God to the earth……to poor and rich alike, the rain falls.

So Christ is offered to all who will receive Him.

The rain is most necessary to all the parts of the plants:  roots, trunk, branches,  leaves, and blossom.

So Christ is necessary to every part of us:  our understanding,  our will, our emotions, and our memories.

        He strengthens us in good things, and enlivens us as we grow.  

        He increases our peace, and love for Him and others.  

        He preserves us within, by His Spirit; and without, by HIs Word.

As rain sometimes comes amid thunderstorms, as well as the gentle warm rain;  so  Christ comes to us to warn us, as well as to encourage us.

As rain satisfies the dry earth,  so Christ comes and satisfies us.

He gives us the fruit of His Spirit within us.

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

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

Psalm 16:11 “Thou wilt show me the path of life:  in Thy presence is fullness of joy;  at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.”

If we follow on to know the Lord,…..He will come unto us as the rain,  the former and latter rain,  upon the dryness of our souls.

To obey is better than sacrifice

1 Samuel 15:22 “And Samuel said,  Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord?  Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”

              Any and all sacrifices….which are not followed with obedience,  are worthless.    Obedience is the measuring rod that shows how fervent we are and how much we love our Lord.

John 14:15 “If ye love Me, keep My commandments.”

            (I was once going to have a message about the “fat of the sacrifices”.    God always required it to be burnt up to Him….as a sweet savor.   

            Leviticus 3:15-16 “And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them….shall he take away.   And the priests shall burn them upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire for a sweet savor:  all the fat is the Lord’s”

            Fat is one of the  means of showing how well the animal was cared for….and the inward fat was prized….for it was the purest and sweetest)

            Samuel said that whole burnt offerings and sacrifices are not as loved by the Lord as simply obeying the Lord’s Word.

            Samuel said that the sweet savor of fat,  burnt up to the Lord,  is not as pleasing to Him,  as hearkening….or inclining our ears to hear HIs Word, and do it.

Obedience, then,  is required of the servants of God.

God has revealed no purpose to save any….except those,  when they hear the gospel,  obey it.

Acts 5:30-32 “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, a forgiveness of sins.

           And we (Peter and John before the counsel) are His witnesses of these things;  and so is also the Holy Ghost,    Whom God hath given  to  them  that  obey  HIm.”

If we want to please the Lord….we need to obey Him and His Word to us.

          We often think a “general” obedience is good enough…but it is not.    To be well-pleasing to Christ Jesus and HIs Purpose for us,  we need to do what we are told,…personally, daily.

If we would get obedient….really diligently seek HIs Will and obey Him….we would begin to feel some of that religious fervor we are in need of.

Back to Samuel….and what he said to Saul, the king of Israel, when he refused to do completely what God had said.

           What had God said?    

1 Samuel 15:3 “Now go and smite Amalek and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.”

        (  The Amalek’s were the people that had “laid in wait for Israel” when they had come from Egypt….and had come up behind them and sneekily killed the slowest and weakest among Israel.   

          Now God would judge them,  and destroy them, using Saul and Israel’s army.)

But what did Saul do?

1 Samuel 15:19 “Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the Lord,  but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the Lord?”

Spoil…something taken to enrich the victors. 

         There was to be no spoil….only a judgment of God…which said…..”I remember what you did to My people.   Vengeance is mine,  I will repay.”

Saul had taken the king of the Amaleks for a trophy…..as other kings did.    Saul and the people had taken the best of the flocks and herds to enrich themselves.   And a few for sacrifice to God.

God had wanted a clear judgment….nothing was to be saved or left.   

          They were to clearly show that this was a judgment from God….not a taking of land or goods in battle.

God does not need the flocks or herds of enemies…..the sacrifices to God were to be from the Israelites flocks and herds….their own herds,  not what was taken in battle.    

Psalm 50:13-14 “Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?

          Offer unto God thanksgiving;  and pay thy vows unto the most High:”

Proverbs 21:3 “To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”

The sacrifices were to point to Jesus Christ….sacrifices which were to be from the heart, counting the cost….but gladly paying it,  for His sake.,…from their own flocks and herds.

Isaiah was another prophet which spoke of sacrifices…and obedience:

Isaiah 1:11, 16-17, 19 “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto Me? Saith the Lord:…

         Wash you, make you clean;  put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes;  cease to do evil;

         Learn to do well;  seek judgment, relieve the oppressed,  judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

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

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.”

Jeremiah said:

Jeremiah 7:22-23 “For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices:

          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.”

“Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”

When John the Baptist came to Israel, to prepare the way for the Messiah….his message was simple:

Luke 3:3 “And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;”

Repent….change the way you are doing things…and be baptized as a sign that you have repented.

Luke 3:10 “And the people asked him saying,   What shall we do then?”    

This is exactly what we should be asking the Lord….what shall we do then?   

        Maybe we have done what we thought was right….

…..and maybe we know we have not been “completely” obedient….

…..then seek ye the Lord,  and find out what needs to be repented of….and prepare ourselves for the Lord’s blessing.

You will notice…the things John the Baptist said were very practical.

He did not speak of more sacrifices,  or better ones….

…….but of giving to the poor,    don’t cheat,     do no violence,  do not speak lies about others (Luke 3:11, 13-14).

He spoke….of doing the what the commandments really spoke of….Obeying and loving God….and thy neighbor.

To obey is better than sacrifice….because obeying is the bowing of our hearts, reasons, and actions to our God.

Christ Jesus deserves our best.  

           Will there be sacrifices we must make?   Yes,  for we are called to place ourselves on the altar to Him.

           But He looks to the heart in all we do….

…for obedience in the Greek means:  believingly doing what we are told.

In other words,  to obey HIs Voice to us, through the Holy Spirit and HIs Word.  Let us repent of anything that needs to be seen to,  and get up and follow HIm,  wholly.

The Name of the Lord 

Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the Lord is a strong tower:  the righteous runneth into it,  and is safe.”

We tried to think of all the names of God, the other night;  and there are just too many….

Jesus, Jehovah, Christ,  Adoni,  Almighty , Shield,  Banner,  the God of all grace, the God of peace,  the Branch,  the Rock,  my Shepherd, Jehovah-Jireh (the Lord will provide), the Lord of Hosts, the Way, the Light, the Truth, Counselor, Mediator, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, etc.

But the Name of God, given in scripture at a particular time,  or for a particular situation…….is a promise, of what He will do in this situation.

Jehovah means the Eternal,  Ever existing, Becoming One….the Eternal God becomes our need.

(In the Old Testament:

Jehovah is linked to many adjectives:  Jehovah-Nissi (the Lord our banner), Jehovah-Rapha (the Lord that heals),  Jehovah-Shammah (the Lord is there), etc.

And in the New Testament:

Jesus Christ says:  I am the Way, the Truth and the Life,   I am the Light of the world,  I am the bread of life, I am the door,  I am the good Shepherd, etc.

Jehovah is Christ.)

An example of God, sharing His Name…..and Abraham running into it for safety:

Genesis 15:1 “After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying,  Fear not, Abram:  I am thy Shield, and thy exceeding great reward.”

This was said to Abram (Abraham) after a great battle with four kings, to rescue Lot, his nephew. (Genesis 14:9-15)

Lot had been taken captive from Sodom, when four powerful kings attacked a confederacy of kings,  which included Sodom’s king.

The confederacy which included Sodom’s king, was beaten back,….the city had been sacked,…..and Lot had been taken.

When news came to Abraham,  he gathered three hundred and eighteen of his trained men,……and went after them.

Abraham’s troop came upon them at night, where he divided his men into two groups….each coming on the opposite side.    

They rescued Lot and the other captives, and the goods stolen….quite a large amount of it,  and brought them back to a valley outside of Sodom.

There the king of Sodom went out to meet them, and told Abraham to take the goods (gold, silver, etc);  and he, the king of Sodom, would take the people back.

But Abraham spoke out boldly here:

Genesis 14:22-24 “And Abram said unto the king of Sodom,  I have lifted up my hand unto the Lord,  the Most High God,  the possessor of heaven and earth,

                     That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet,  and that I will not take anything that is thine,  lest thou shouldest say,  I have made Abram rich:

                      Save only that which the young men have eaten,  and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre;  let them take their portion.”

“I will not take a thread or even a shoelace from you.   The young men that went with me….they may take a portion….I will not speak for them;  but as for me, I have sworn to the Lord, my God….the Most High God,  that I will not take anything from you.”

The king of Sodom was a powerful man in those parts…..but God was Abraham’s portion…..His Word was Abraham’s guide.

Psalm 16:5 “The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup:  Thou maintainest  my lot.”

Then….”after these things”:

God speaks to Abraham, telling him of a new way in which he could think about His Might, for himself….

God said, “I am thy Shield” 

Abraham might be concerned about reprisals from the kings he had fought….but God would shield him.

(fourteen times the name Shield is used in Psalms)

Psalm 3:3 “But Thou,  O Lord,  art a shield for me;  my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.”

Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield;  my heart trusteth in Him, and I am helped:  therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth;  and with my song will I praise Him.”

God said, “I am thy exceeding great reward”

Abraham did not need gold or silver from the wicked king of Sodom….for God was His portion.  

Paul writes about the riches of God for us:

Romans 11:33 “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgements,  and His Ways past finding out!

Ephesians 1:7 “In Whom we have redemption through His blood, and forgiveness of sins,  according to the riches of His grace,”

Ephesians 3:8 “Unto me whom am less than the least of all saints,  is this grace given,  that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;”

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

He is all we need, and He promises to be what we need:

Proverbs 18:10 “The Name of the Lord is a strong tower:  the righteous runneth into it,  and is safe.”

His Name not only protects….but lifts us up from the situation we are in,  by faith,…..to see, what He sees…..He is a “strong tower”…..for His name show us what He is to us.

And the best thing we can do is….run into Him….and be safe.

After godliness

Titus 1:1-4  “Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; 

         In hope of eternal life,  which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

         But hath in due times manifested HIs Word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Savior.

         To Titus, mine own son after the common faith:  Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.”

Timothy and Titus are the pastoral epistles.   They were sent to churches which were already established….to exhort and edify them in the practical doctrine of godliness.

Godliness in both epistles means piety….the practical living as if you belonged to Christ Jesus the Lord.

Titus is an interesting person….he is first seen in the letter to the Galatians, where he is mentioned as an helper to Paul.  (Galatians 2:1, 3)

        Titus is a Gentile,  a Greek,  led to the Lord through Paul.   After his conversion, he was called to preach and followed Paul to Jerusalem when the discussion about Gentiles….and what they needed to do to be part of the church was addressed.

        There at Jerusalem, was the prayer and discussion about the Gentile converts….Titus being one of them.

         Should they follow the Mosaic Law?   What exactly should these Gentile Christians do?

         It was decided that nothing needed to be added to them….but that they should be set aside from pollution.

        In other words….they should be godly.

And this is the stress of Paul’s letters to both Titus and Timothy…both pastoral epistles.

        Timothy was sent to Ephesus to set up the order of the church…and follow up with the exhortations Paul had given them.

        He was a shy and retired person, and Paul exhorts Timothy to be diligent and bold in dealing with this church….and setting things in the order so they can carry on the work, themselves. 

       2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;  but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

       1 Timothy 4:1-3 “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ,…

Preach the Word;  be instant in season, out of season;  reprove,  rebuke,  exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

       For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;…”

Titus….who was sent to Crete, for a short while,  to see to the Christians there…for they had become lazy in following the doctrine of sanctification….and had let in some who believed that the spirit was the only thing that needed to be godly….the body could sin.

Titus 1:10-12 “For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers,…

        ….whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not,…

         One of themselves,…said,  The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts (following their own desires), slow bellies (slow to understand and assimilate truth).”

Paul had visited Crete after his release from prison the first time….taking Titus with him.   Paul left him there to finish what he could not,  being called on to other places.

Both deal with godliness….”acknowledging the truth after godliness”.    

         Which means that when we receive the truth….we are to put it into practice.

Both deal with the older men and women:

“That the aged men be sober…sound in faith, in charity…

“That the aged women…be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers,.. 

and younger men and women….to be discreet, love their husbands and wives,  to love their children…

…in all things showing a pattern of good works….

….in doctrine showing sincerity.    (Titus 2:2-8)

And the importance in seeking after godliness is:

            Titus 2:13-14 “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;

            Who gave Himself for us,  that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

            (peculiar here means superlative…or beyond normal.    Our good works should be beyond the normal kindnesses of people….for they should have the love of God in them.   We are a superlative people…those whose privilege it is to do good…for Christ’s sake.)

            In a world that still says,  “…that gain is godliness”…let us show that:

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

Let us acknowledge the truth which is after godliness….living, practically,  that truth….and looking for Christ’s soon return.