Nehemiah and the wall of separation and protection 

Nehemiah was a servant of the king of Persia,  a cupbearer, an Israelite.

      He was in a place of relative safety….of wealth and comfort…

….yet his heart worried over the Israelites which had gone back to the land of Israel, to build a temple there,…..for they were in bad straits.

And Nehemiah was a true worshipper of God,…who sought the good for the returned remnant….so he prays.

     This is very wonderful….and it also should be the basis of our actions in the world….prayer for guidance and blessing for the Will of God….in us and through us.

       Nehemiah wanted permission to go to Jerusalem and help them against their enemies.

Nehemiah 1:5-11 “…I beseech Thee, O Lord God….that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love Him and observe His commandments:

       …that Thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray…day and night…for the children of Israel…and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against Thee:….

       ….Remember, I beseech Thee, the word…If ye transgress, I will scatter you…

       But if ye turn unto Me, and keep My commandments and do them;….yet will I gather them from thence and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set My name there.

        O Lord, I beseech Thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of Thy servant, and to the prayer of Thy servants,  who desire to fear Thy name: and prosper, I pray Thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man….”

If he was to get permission to go to Jerusalem….God would have to do it.

      Yet the means of prayer and obedience was to be used…that is God’s Way of bringing His Will to pass….through His servants who confess their sins, and seek His Will.

So Nehemiah bravely asked to go to Jerusalem and help the poor Israelites there.

Nehemiah’s concern was the wall.    It had been destroyed under Nebuchadnezzar,  torn down and burnt.   It was now just rubble….and there was no separation or protection without it.

(Proverbs 25:28 “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.”    

      Without the walls of God’s Will and Word to separate us from the world’s influence….we will be subjects to every attitude and emotion…rather than subjects of our King, Christ Jesus.)

He is given permission…..with a timeline to return…..

…so Nehemiah goes to Jerusalem!

      He is made the governor…..yet works to express his authority against the wicked, rather than the righteous….unless there is sin in Israel to deal with.

He waits….secretly looking things over….before he speaks (Nehemiah 2:12-15). 

But  then lays out the plan the Lord showed him:

Nehemiah 2:17-18 “Then said I unto them,  Ye see the distress we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire:,  and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.

       …And they (the Israelites)said, Let us rise up and build….”

       They had to remove the old stones….by using what they could.   Each family,  each man building by their house….or moving into a house by the wall. (Nehemiah 3:28)

The wall was a masterpiece….separating these Israelites from the people who were in the land, around them.

Nehemiah 4:6 “So built we the wall;  and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof; for the people had a mind to work.”

It gave them safety….walls are always for safety against the enemy around us….none can get in unless they are let in. 

It gave them stability….they were staying….not like a homeless people among other people….

….but with a city, Jerusalem, again…..and a temple to worship God….and a plan for moving forward with God.

And mostly it gave them purpose.   Each family was given their part to build….and they were to be careful how they built….to place it straight….to build joining together for a fortress.

(And we have a purpose to build God’s “building”….

         Ephesians 2:20-22 “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,  Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone;

         In Whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

         In Whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

…and we are to….”take heed how we build thereupon”.)

        They were also to build with their sword on their thigh….or a weapon close at hand….for there were enemies.

Nehemiah 4:9, 17 “Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them…

        They which builded on the wall, and they which bare burdens, with those that laded,  every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.”

Prayer was kept first,  for God’s help is always the best…then,

There was a trumpeter to blow if this section was being attacked….the others could come running to aid them.

(We are to be watchful in prayer….with the Word of God, ready to be used anytime. )

There were gates, built also…… they were open during the day, the time of light…..so people could come  in if they wanted to.       There was a watch,  we must watch always….but there was open gates….if any man would come in at the appointed time. Nehemiah 7:3

(Our walls of separation are not so many bricks and mortar…..but our devotion and obediences to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

        A few might admire our devotion to God…..some may send encouragements….

….but many will resent or fight against us….in thought, word or deed.

Yet the work needs to be done….we must build….right next to us.  

       In our own homes, and families….with our friends and our workplace….our neighborhoods….our town.

Remember we are building a wall….a strong fortress of God’s Will in our lives and in the lives of others…to separate us to God, and from the world’s influence.)

When the walls were done….there was celebration with the Word of God being read before all the people.   There was seven days of celebration…”the joy of the Lord is our strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)

There was still much to do….but they were established….separated to God’s Will…hearing the Word of God….and being taught in the truth.

(And the Lord will establish us…in His grace and truth…

1 Peter 5:10 “But the God of all grace, Who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered awhile,  make you perfect (complete),  stablish,  strengthen,  settle you.”)

Iniquity

Ezekiel 18:19-20 “Yet say ye,  Why? Doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father?   When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all My statutes, and hath done them, he shall live.

          The soul that sinneth, it shall die.  The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son:  the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.”

          It had been a common thought that the children would bear some of the sins of the fathers….for it made them feel that they were suffering for someone else’s sin.  (Duet. 24:16)

But the Lord speaks plainly here….that each soul stands before Him in their own righteousness or their own iniquity.

The Lord was speaking to His own people….those that should have known His Word…should have known HIs Way.

Iniquity is anything unequal to our high calling in God.  

          Iniquity is used here for the Lord was speaking about those given high privileges indeed….yet who refused His blessing of drawing nigh to Him….

…..and instead drew back from Him and HIs laws.

Israel had become unequal….although they accused the Lord of being unequal in His Ways (Ezekiel 18:25).

         On the one side in the balance….was God’s deliverances,  HIs Word,  His Temple and sacrifices,  and His prophets awaking them to His demands.

         On the other side was to be their obedience,  concern for others (esp. Their brethren the Israelites)  and to rejoice in HIs presence.

But the balances were unequal….not because of God’s correction….but because they had let the law of forgiveness become a burden, not a joy.

         (Is confessing our daily sins becoming a burden to us?  1 John 1:9   or is it a joy to come and keep things right, up to date before our Lord?)

Giving to God HIs dues in tithes and offerings became too much….they wanted more for themselves.   Yet they demanded His blessing on what they did give!

         (Is our giving become a chore?   Or are we resentful to God about His tithes and offerings, which should be given with cheerfulness?  Malachi 3:10)

Ezekiel 18:26-28 “When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them;  for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.

        Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.

       Because he considereth,  and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.”

The Lord tells Ezekiel to tell them….it is a personal ongoing walk with God….not based on their fathers or mothers or what went on before.

              If the righteous commit iniquity….they know they are doing wrong….then they will die in their iniquity.

              If the wicked  “considereth”…which means if they will see, perceive, discern;  which is the first step to repentance (Duet. 32:29 “O that they were wise, that  they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!”).

If they would consider…and turn from their iniquity…”from all his transgressions”–he shall live.

              God is not minimizing this person’s sin….for He calls them “iniquity” and “all his transgressions”….yet this man, if he considers and turns, will be forgiven and live.

Ezekiel 18:29-30 “Yet saith  the house of Israel,  the way of the Lord is not equal….

             Therefore I will judge you,…everyone according to his ways,  saith the Lord God.   Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions;  so iniquity shall not be your ruin.”

So far from God punishing them for other’s iniquities….He will not even punish them for their own—if they will turn from sin to righteousness.

How the Lord loved them!….to patiently again and again tell them to “consider and turn”.   

            (This message of the righteous and the wicked was repeated in Ezekiel  in three chapters: 3, 18, 33 which was the last time Ezekiel prophesied to the captives….after that he prophesied to other nations, of future events, and of the last days….but never again did he call the people to “consider and turn”.     Tradition says that he was killed by one of the princes of the people that he rebuked for his sin.)

The Lord tells them that they do themselves no good by blaming their parents, their circumstances, etc…. refusing to see their responsibility,  personally to Him.

           He will judge according to our own doings.

Ezekiel 18:31-32 “Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed;  and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

            For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God:  wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.”

          “ Cast away from you”….as filthy garments (Isaiah 64:6)…and

“Make you a new heart and a new spirit”….how?

          Turn yourselves to Me….and live. (Psalm 69:32)  

Jesus Christ said plainly:

“…I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.”  (John 14:6)

Iniquity is anything unequal to our high calling in Christ Jesus.    Are we enjoying HIs blessings of fellowship with Him and others which are His? (Isaiah 64:4-5)

….or are we listening to the world’s ways, and calling them a burden?

In the Lord’s balances….are we equal, or unequal?

Psalm 130:3 “If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities,  O Lord,  who shall stand?”

Surely none of us would stand.

Psalm 130:4 “But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared.”

But we deal with a God of Purpose.   We have talked about this many times.   But God is not just Eternal….but Purposeful.    He intends….but He carries out His intentions.

      He wills….and it is done.

His Purpose is sure….and He will see His Purpose accomplished.   

      The many things we go through is determined from His Word, and Will…

Let us consider reaping and sowing.

Proverbs 11:18, 22:8  “The wicked worketh a deceitful work:  but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.

      He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.”

Galatians 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked:  for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

      For he that soweth to his flesh shall of his flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

Let us speak of Saul, the mighty persecutor….

….who became Paul the mightily persecuted.

Saul, the Pharisee knew the scriptures….was taught in them, and in the expectation of the Christ, the Messiah to come.

            He saw the fulfillment of the scriptures in John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ….

…and of the blessed  ministry of Jesus of Nazareth….and the  amazing ministry of the disciples of Jesus….who were filled with the Holy Ghost.

He heard the courageous and pointed preaching of Stephen…

         Acts 7:51,53,55, 59-60 “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

         Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.

         But he (Stephen), being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

         And they stoned Stephen,…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.”

Saul saw how he died….forgiving those that stoned him….forgiving him…

And what was his reaction?   Did he fall down and acknowledge the Truth?  

        No,  he became exceeding mad against “them” of this Way!  Against the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

        Acts 26:9,11 “I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

       And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them,  I persecuted them even unto strange cities.”

Every time Saul heard more of this Jesus….he became madder and madder.   He wanted to destroy all of this Way.

(If we would have known this Saul of Tarsus…we certainly would have thought him unsaveable….maybe not worth saving,….after the terrible things he had done.

        But God sees things so differently from us…praise God that He does….for I too, was certainly not worth saving….but He pulled me from my circumstances…and saved me.)

But on the road to more “threatenings and slaughter” (Acts 9:1)….on the road to Damascus,  Saul the persecutor came to an end….for there he met Christ Jesus the Lord….personally.

        “Saul, Saul, why persecutest Me?”   Jesus asks him from the Light (Acts 9:4)

“Who art Thou, Lord?”  Saul not only was struck down to the ground bodily….but in spirit and soul…Saul was knocked for a loop.   Who had he been persecuting?  Jesus!   And in that moment….Saul made Him Lord!

“I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.”  (Acts 9:5)    

        Saul I have been “pricking” you with the knowledge of Whom I am, pushing you to the surrender of your life…

….and you have been as a wilful calf, kicking back at Me.”

“Lord, what will you have me to do?”  (Acts 9:6)

Here is complete surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ.

(Repentance is an important part of salvation….Not that we can see anything of our rebellion, or sin until the Lord shows us…with His light.

       But Saul bowed and surrendered to Jesus on the road to Damascus….and for three days…in fasting and prayer…Saul reviewed his way,  repenting of it….and became completely devoted to the Lord’s Way….and to HIs people,  now Saul’s brethren.

Acts 9:19-20 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples…

       And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.”)

The Lord made it clear to Saul/Paul   “For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”  (Acts 9:16)

Paul suffered…was persecuted for Jesus sake….as he had persecuted others for Jesus sake.   

        Not suffering for his sin….but reaping what he had sowed…to a degree….altho upheld and sustained, now, by grace. (2 Cor. 4:8-11)

               But Paul also sowed mercy and grace….and reaped abundantly in those he led to the Lord….and discipled in the ways of the Lord:  by their growing in grace, and in their love and devotion to him.

Ephesians 3:7-8 “Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me  by the effectual working of His power.

        Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ:” 

1 Timothy 1:12-13, 16 “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me,  for that He counted me faithful,  putting me into the ministry:

        Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious:   but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

        Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy,  that in me first   Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering,   for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting.”

Paul believed that he was saved….he who had blasphemed Christ, persecuted His people, and injured many….yet he had been saved:

        …to show God’s longsuffering to sinners.   

       After all,  Paul, himself, had been saved…who could not be saved?

         And in this line of preaching….Paul led many to the Lord….combating the moral laxity and violence of the Roman times….he went where the Lord sent him….

…..among rich and poor….among the worst (Corinthians was a city so debase…that it was a common name people called others who were wicked…”he must be a Corinthian”.)….

…..and in jail….and in death.

Paul reaped what he had sowed….both in persecutions,….and in joys and salvation.   

It is God’s Word and Way….but always, with His mercy and grace.    Abundant grace, to yield, and bring forth fruit through every situation.

And so can we….no matter what we were saved from….we can go on and sow the seeds of mercy and truth….and reap abundant life in us and through us.

Praying for inner strength

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;”

There is often a great difference between Paul’s prayers and ours….mainly because he saw the “unsearchable riches of Christ” (Eph. 3:8)…for himself….

…and we do not.

I have spoken before about what we have  “in Christ”….because I believe that how we pray is in direct response to…what we know about Christ Jesus.

When we are babes in Christ….knowing little of His Word,….our petitions are mostly about us, and “our” things.

But as we grow in grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ….we are shown and given “the exceeding great and precious promises” (2 Peter 1:3-4)….things we are to get into our lives and experience…to make us “strong in the Lord”….to be able to stand in this world…

….and to share with others. 

        These are the “riches of HIs glory”,   “the unsearchable riches of Christ”.    And they are for us.

We are to be strengthened by them.   

        We travel through a world full of troubles, temptations, and evil….

….yet we travel on the Narrow Way, which leads to life and heaven.  

       We must be “strengthened”….we must know the provisions which are placed in us, by the Holy Spirit…and around us through His Word and fellowship with believers.

Paul prayed here, “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,”… ….that the Ephesians might come to know these riches for themselves (and us)….and come to realize the Father’s surpassing love for us!

        As Christians,  we are fitted for our personal inheritance in Christ.

        In other words,  our  new nature has the capacity to grow and grow and grow:  in grace,  in knowledge, in peace, in love to Christ….this is our strength…and power.

But how many of us are aware of how much Christ Jesus has laid aside for us…personally?   How many of us are being strengthened with might in the inner man?

         (Strengthened here means to increase in vigor….to not grow weary in well doing…but to become zealous.

         Might here means ability…to be strengthened with the ability in the situation…in the inner man.)

Paul is praying for a very large petition:

        (I love this,  the Psalmist says…”open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.”  Paul is not afraid to ask this large petition, for he knows his God.   He knows that this is exactly what God the Father wants.   God wants His children to know Him, and get what He is offering!   And we should not be afraid to ask for large petitions!)

….”that God the Father would grant  you….(personal),…according to the riches of His glory (what vast resources there are in His glory!)….

…to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man;”

Grant means give or minister to.

None of us earn or merit anything….all is in Christ, by His Spirit.

        But the riches of His glory includes more than His grace….this includes everything in God…what a fullness there is!….and makes Him glorious to each of us!

        (Glory here is God’s excellence made manifest, and brought into honor in our lives.

It is HIs divine character displayed and made real to our hearts and lives.

        God has joined His glory to the good of His people, in Christ.)

Paul was also asking that the Father help our understanding.   Our understanding is limited…it only goes so far…as far as our experience and teaching.

        (We know babes think mostly of themselves…their food and care.   As they grow, they become concerned with their family and friends, as well.    And then they get jobs, and interests in the world around them.   The experience widens….and the understanding does to.

        Paul is asking that our understanding will grow, as our experience in God’s riches grow…so that we may deal with all that comes to us….and continue being filled with “all the fullness of God”)

        In God’s abundant fullness….for He possesses unlimited and inexhaustible resources….we can have the supply of our every need.

        Paul is praying that the Ephesians, who were weak and in a lowly condition….(and we)….would ask Him to minister these riches unto us.

       A knowledge that our sins are forgiven is a great and blessed knowledge….but Paul is praying that they see that greater and grandeur blessings await them, and us.

      That the Father will minister them to us….as we seek to get this strengthening in the inner man.

The inner man is the new nature…and it is constantly in need of strengthening by the Spirit of God….for we have many things to face on our way to heaven….

….but we can face them,….and we can abound in strength, as we receive the riches of God’s glory (God’s character manifested and honored in us)

        Isaiah 39:29-31 “He giveth power to the faint; and them that have no might He increaseth strength.

        Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: (in their own understanding and might)

       But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;  they shall mount up with wings as eagles;  they shall run, and not be weary;  and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Let us add our prayers to Pauls…. to our Heavenly Father, that we might be strengthened with His might by His Spirit in our inner man.   

       And then let us receive what He gives and be renewed for our everyday lives….to be lived to His glory and joy.

Destroy your Wall 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So what hinders?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Impossible!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Some of us do not like changes.   

We like things steady, and quite.

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

Or Jesus Christ.      

Do you hear Him calling you on, today?

Propitiation 

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

Each with a fullness of meaning for us.

Propitiation is one of them.

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

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

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

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

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

That God might be just:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1 John 4:10 “Herein is love…..”

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

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

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

This is love.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

John 12:24-25  “Verily, verily,  I say unto you,  Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die,  it abideth alone:  but if it die,  it bringeth forth much fruit.

                      He that loveth his life shall lose it,  and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Worketh Patience

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

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

       And patience, experience; and experience, hope:”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Patience is cheerful endurance…or hopefully keeping oneself under!   

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

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

We all know the verses:

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

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

But the context is amazing.  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Giving glory to God. 

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

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

…which is impossible if we have not learned patience.

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

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

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

The Pharisee’s meal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

      What would the Pharisee,  Simon,   do about that?

Enter,…the sinful woman:

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

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

When do we see our sin?   

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

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

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

…and repent and adore Him for His forgiveness.

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

….but her heart and actions speak volumes!

                   She stood behind His feet, weeping.  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

      (Are we not the same way at times?)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You think you honor Me with a meal….

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

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

….and now He finally speaks to her:

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

               Imagine:

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

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

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

Faith in Jesus, saves.  

Faith in Jesus, leads to peace.

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

What are we stumbling over?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

        Do we?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

….and stumbling leads to dishonoring of the Lord.

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

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

     “Believingly doing His Word to us.”    

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

      This is how much our encouragement to others is blessed.    

Because believing Jesus is part of obedience.

What do you have trouble believing Him for?

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

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

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