The Power of God unto Salvation

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

The Thessalonians were shining examples of the power of Christ unto salvation.

From gross immorality and idol worshippers….they turned to Christ.

They were deeply loved by Paul.

For when Paul came and preached the gospel to them…..many believed, and were saved.

The persecution that began immediately….against Paul and all who believed in Christ in that city…..did not sway them….

…..but they took a firm hold on Christ….and…

….instead of growing angry or hateful….they loved each other and even their enemies, fervently….

….this was a testimony given them throughout Macedonia. (1 Thessalonians 1:2-8)

Yet no one is ever out of the need of awakening and growing in grace….so….

…..Paul writes them in small exhortations….

….certain they will listen and obey.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-22:

“…know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;….and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake…”:

(Admonish means to “put you in mind” of God’s Will)

Paul begins with those “laboring among you”….

…..these are those God has given a responsibility to pray, or speak to us…”in the Lord”.

They were to see their work, and love them for it.

“Be at peace among yourselves”…..”warn them that are unruly”…or disorderly:

The first line of attack against any church is to cause arguments, or cliches….divisions between members.

This will surely make a blessed church…lukewarm, and then the blessings will depart…..

…and Paul warns against this.

“…comfort the feeble minded (faint-hearted)”. This has nothing to do with intelligence,….but courage or weakness. “Sustain the weak”

Some are faint-hearted because of unbelief. They are to be taught and encouraged in God’s faithfulness.

Some are faint-hearted because of fear…..they will not take the next step….wanting to stay in a place they know.

They are to be awakened to the Holy Spirit’s enabling…..His support in their weakness.

(There may be no inclination to give way to evil….but no courage to step out in faith…..they are to be helped in prayer and comfort)

“Be patient toward all”.

We may think we know what the problem or solution is for others…..but misjudging is easy….and patience gives us time to find out what our place is in each situation (Do a say something? Or stay quiet and pray?)

This reminds us that we are all different….yet put together in the body of Christ, as He wants.

“See that none render evil for evil…..but ever follow that which is good….”

Only good overcomes evil. And this is both to the church and outward to “all people”.

We should not show one face in church….and another, in other places. We are to be lights, and representatives of God’s mercy to the world.

“Rejoice always”

The joy of the Lord is our strength. This is in trials, as well as good times.

When we lose it, our peace wavers….and we are tempted to look toward other things for “happiness”.

Re-joy….in other words….the Lord’s joy by the Holy Spirit comes to us…and we receive it….

…then it has a chain reaction…..it warms our hearts and affections…..it calms our minds….it brings stability to our wills. The Lord’s joy is our strength.

“Pray without ceasing”

This is an acknowledged dependence upon the Lord as….Creator, Savior, Keeper, Almighty, Friend.

It is the attitude that we are in His presence all the time, ready to get direction,…. or give a prayer for someone else.

“In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you”.

We might have thought that this would have been next to “rejoice always”…..but actually it is a prelude to:

“Quench not the Spirit”.

If we are giving the thanksgiving that we should…..we will not put out the fire of God’s Spirit within us by being miserable about things….

…..for we will see (and this is important for all Christians to see), that whatever comes to us….comes through the Will and Hand of God.

The Spirit is likened to fire within us…..warm, light,….blazing a way within ourselves, to purify us……for His power and mercy to be shown through us.

But we are charged not to “quench” Him…..not to shut Him off….not to murmur against His Way….not to be unthankful for Him.

“Despise not prophesying”

When the Bible speaks of prophesy…..it is not just speaking of future events…….it is telling God’s people what is on His mind for them for now.

Speaking out of the fullness of the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 14:24-25)

“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”

Prove means to examine, weigh, try what you hear by the Word of God.

And we are responsible to read and know God’s Word.

When we know the truth…..we are to hold it fast, maintain our walk in His light.

“Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

This is to stay in the light;……keep away…..run away if necessary, from the darkness.

Would you walk through a dark alley if there was a brightly lit way to home?

Then stay away from what God warns about…..walk in the sunlight of His love. (Jude 21)

There are one hundred and thirty words in these ten verses…..yet they incapsulate how we, as Christians, are to follow our Lord through this wicked world….which is full of temptations and traps.

Paul was writing a faithful and loving church…..which was under persecution.

He did not pamper them…..but with great love for their continued growth in Christ,….he exhorted (awakened) them to further godliness and joy.

What of us?

Are we content with our position in Christ….or are we…

……”reaching forth unto those things which are before,….

…pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus” as Paul, himself, did? (Philippians 3:13-14)

Now Unto Him

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

“That is able”….this is the first thing to consider….for without His might to do….

…..our prayers are just wishes,….

…..and His promises are just words.

But He is Almighty, Omnipotent,……Able.

When we pray, we often come before His throne with the attitude that:

He probably could, if He really wanted to…..but….

…..And there always seems to be a “but”,…..in our thoughts, if not in our words.

Able to give us just enough to squeak by?

To somehow make it?

No, that is not what this verse says….able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.

And His Word endureth forever.

1 Peter 1:23-25 “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away;

But the Word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the Word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”

Endureth…..His Word endures forever.

He meant what He said,…….whether He was speaking Himself, or speaking through another….and He said what He would and could do.

He is Able.

The scriptures prove that……the fact that He saved me, proves that….

…..the fact that each day…..yes, even the terrible days (and we have all had them)….He is with me, by His Holy Spirit…guiding, correcting, encouraging me….proves that.

“exceeding abundantly above”. No where else in the scriptures, is all three of these adjectives found together….except here….

Here, where Paul is talking to us, of coming to know Christ in a more complete and powerful way….”in our hearts”.

This is not salvation, but service he is talking about.

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;”

Paul is talking of a “grant”….”That He would grant you,…”

This is not a gift…..but a grant.

A grant is a favor (money or materials) given for a particular purpose.

It is given to be used,…….just for that purpose.

(If a professor is given a grant to find the many uses of the bark of a certain tree…..he can not use the money for other research…..just the research he got the grant for.)

We are “granted” strength by the Holy Spirit so:

That Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith (and remember, faith is essential in overcoming 1 John 5:4)

…..we may be rooted and grounded in love…..

……we may comprehend with all saints the breadth, length, and depth, and height of the love of Christ….

…….we might be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:17-19)

There is a lot of love spoken of here…..because there can be no real power or strength for service, with out Christ’s love filling us……

……so that our love for Him is spilling over into everything we do for Him….for others….

We are to love Him with all our heart, soul, and mind. (Matthew 22:37)

When Christ is abiding in our hearts in love…..that is, when His presence is not just for guidance, or correction…..but in a love relationship…..then His Will is our foundation,…

…..and it is a arm in arm walk with the Lord….heart to heart.

“Exceeding abundantly above”,……what a declaration!……”all that we ask or think”…..

God knows our needs, even before we ask….while we are thinking of how to ask,……He knows,…..and is Able.

And what is the amount of the grant, in the Spirit, God will give us, personally….

The amount that He gives us, is: “According to the power that worketh in us,”

According as we let His power work in us…..to bring us to yield to the Holy Spirit within….that much power He will grant us in our asking…..

….”the riches of His glory” is the limit…..for it is “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think”…..

We can become as rich as we want in His grace and love:

We can know more of the wideness of His purpose for us,

We can know more length of peace,

We can know more depth of the scriptures,

We can know more of the heights of glory in His fellowship, here….

Now unto Him that is Able….He is able.

Will we receive the “grant” for His purpose in us? And acquire the riches of His glorious life within us, more and more….

Then let His power, by the Holy Spirit “work” within us…..molding us by His grace….into His character……giving us wideness of life….His life, in us.

Let us make room for Christ.

(“Exceeding” is a favorite term of Paul…..for he gives His testimony of God’s exceeding abundant grace in:

1 Timothy 1:12-14 “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, Who hath blessed 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,….

And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”

Paul talks of “…the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward…” (Ephesians 1:19);

“…the exceeding riches of His grace, in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:7)

Peter says “…..ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” (1 Peter 4:13)

“….given unto us exceeding great and precious promises:….” (2 Peter 1:4)

Jude 24 says: “Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,”

Exceeding means “Over, superior to, to surpass”

For Paul, and for many Christians down through the ages…..what Christ has been,…and given,….and granted them….can only be described as “exceeding”.)

Indifference.

Indifference, where God is concerned, is the worst attitude to have….for it means that you absolutely do not care one way or the other.

Revelation 3:16 “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold or hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth.”

And why are they lukewarm?

Revelation 3:17 “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;…

….and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:”

Have you ever tried to talk to someone who does not care? They do not even listen,….they are thinking and looking to something else.

Matthew Henry said, “If your religion is worth anything, it is worth everything.”

God calls us to:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart…”(Matthew 22:37)

“Give Me thine heart,”….(Proverbs 23:26)

“…keep thy heart with all diligence…”. (Proverbs 4:23)

“…draw near with a true heart…” (Hebrews 10:22)

The heart in scripture, signifies our souls….our thoughts and reasons, our affections and emotions, and our wills.

These make up our personality.

And our personalities (souls) are able to have a personal relationship with God Almighty….through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Some people talk about having just enough religion to stay on God’s good side!

Really?

Who thinks that God will settle for hypocrisy?

Who thinks that God will be content with double mindedness or carelessness?

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

And this is to our hearts,……..we are to “be zealous”.

Zealous means to get boiling hot! To have an ardor for….a love that boils over for Christ Jesus….into all that we do!

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.”

Most of the time when we find our hearts becoming lukewarm or indifferent to the Lord…..it is because of some sin or iniquity in our hearts.

Iniquity is anything unequal to our high calling in Christ Jesus.

But Jesus came to “purify” us….for when we are cleansed from our iniquity, our hearts can rush forth in zeal toward our Lord, again.

And He purifies us with rebukes…..to correct our hearts with His Words….

….and then chastening…..to correct our ways with afflictions.

Psalms 94:12 “Blessed is the man whom Thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of Thy law:”

God always speaks first….and then…..and only then….if we refuse to “hear”…..will He chasten.

Micah 6:8 “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”

As Christians, we should know and do these things….

Micah 6:9 “The Lord’s Voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see Thy Name:…”

He always speaks first.

Has He not been speaking to us through His Word, His preachers, even through His circumstances?

Let us hasten to His throne….confess our indifference….our lukewarmness….

…and repent and get zealous for the Lord.

Amos; and our calling

Amos 7:14-15 “Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son but I was a herdsman, and a gatherer of sycamore fruit: (wild figs)

And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go prophesy unto My people Israel.”

He was not a prophet or a prophet’s son, but called from being a shepherd and gathering wild figs, he was called to preach repentance to Israel, that they might remember their Shepherd, and bring forth fruit to God.

Israel and Judah had separated. In Jerusalem was the temple. And the king of Israel was afraid that Israel would go back to Judah to worship at the Temple.

So he set up two idols to worship. He told them that these were just a representation of God; but he lied to them.

Israel apostatized. They had begun to worship the idols which were calves.

This was great sin. God is a jealous God, and so He sent them prophets to rebuke the king, the people, and this sin.

But the practice stuck. They refused to be healed of it. And so finally, after many years; God was going to send Israel into captivity.

And to a terrible people: cruel and vicious; the Assyrians.

But before He did, He sent Amos to call them to repentance, and to tell them what was going to happen if they refused to hear,…..this last time.

Amos 3:1-2 “Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,

You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”

It was because Israel knew the Lord, He was God, that He was going to punish them for turning away from Him. They had seen His works, they had been given His Word, and they knew He was the real God.

Light brings responsibility. When we know to do good and do it not, that is sin. (James 4:17)

(When sinners stand before God, in their judgement day….it will be what they did with the knowledge of Christ and His Word to them.

They may say we never heard…..but the knowledge of God has gone throughout the earth….in creation, in preaching, in Bibles.)

When sin is added to sin,…..it is spitting in the face of God.

He is long-suffering, and merciful; but He knows when enough is enough.

He decides when drastic measures are called for. It is to bring all who will hear His Words, to return to Him.

They knew that what they were doing was against God’s Commandments and laws; yet they continued in them, because they thought they could get by with it.

So Amos came up to Israel, and preached repentance to the people,…..and at Bethel. (This was one of the places where the idols were, and one of the palaces of the king.)

Amos 7:1-3 “Thus hath the Lord God showed unto me; and, behold, He formed grasshoppers in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth;…

And it came to pass, that when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, O Lord God, forgive, I beseech Thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? For he is small.

The Lord repented for this: It shall not be, saith the Lord.”

First, it was grasshoppers to eat the grass to feed the flocks. But at Amos prayer, God “repented” or stopped His judgement, so that all would not be destroyed.

(This show us how important our prayers are. The Lord hears the prayers of the righteous, and many times it is our prayers that change a situation for good.)

Second, God sent scorching heat to lay waste the waters that they counted on.

But again Amos prayed for them, and God halted the judgement that way.

But the third time, The Lord showed Amos a plumb line. (A plumb line is a line with a weight on the bottom to hold it down straight.)

Amos 7:7-8 “Thus He showed me, and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumb line, with a plumb line in His hand.

And the Lord said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumb line, Then said the Lord, Behold, I have a set a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more:”

God would put a plumb line in the midst of His people. If they would “straighten out” their lives by turning back to Him, they would be spared.

But those who refused, and remained “crooked”, would fall as a wall which leans.

And how did God want them to repent?

First to return unto Him.

Amos 5:4 “For thus saith the Lord unto the house of Israel, Seek ye Me, and ye shall live:”

Second, The Lord wanted them to treat the poor with dignity, and fairness.

Amos 8:4-6 “Hear this, O ye that swallow the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail,

Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? And the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah (like a bushel) small, and the shekel (their money) great, and falsifying the balances by deceit?

That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat?”

(And do we not see this in our time, as well?)

The title of this is Amos; and our calling.

As Christians, we too, are called to our family, our friends, our church, and our nation: to pray for and to seek their good.

And the greatest good we can pray for,……is for them to know and love The Lord, and to treat others as they want to be treated, with dignity and respect.

Under the idolatry of Israel, many were destroyed spiritually, long before God sent them out of their land, in judgement.

He sent prophets to preach His Words,…. and chastening circumstances so they would see His hand.

Finally, He sent them out of the good land, to sift them as wheat:

Amos 9:9-10 “For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.

All the sinners of My people shall die by the sword, which say, The evil shall not over take or prevent us.”

But even as Amos left Israel to return to being a shepherd, he heard a promise:

God would not utterly forsake His people.

They would have to go through terrible trouble to finally learn the lesson He would have easily taught them, had they listened and turned to Him.

But…

“In that day will I raise up….and I will build…saith the Lord that does this. I will bring again…and I will plant. (Amos 9:11-15)

The Lord sent Amos to preach repentance to “all who will” hear.

And we are all called to witness to our Lord Jesus Christ. To let our lights so shine that all may see our good works and glorify our Father which is in heaven…..

…..and repent…..and turn to the Lord.

Manna,…or the old corn of the Land.

Joshua 5:11-12 “And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the marrow after the Passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the self same day.

And the manna ceased on the marrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.”

On this day the manna stopped. They did not need it any more. It had been God’s miraculous food for His people, in the wilderness. (Exodus16:14-16)

But now there was the old corn of the land, stored up from the harvest of the inhabitants.

When they entered Canaan, the people had fled into Jericho, and had left this supply of food behind.

Now Israel had a supply, not from heaven each morning…….but from their enemies.

Certainly, both supplies came from God:

One was directly from Him, each morning.

The other was a supply He gave from the land which they were entering.

I want to talk for a moment about the different ways God supplies our need…..both spiritual lessons and graces….and physical needs…..

….there is the “ordinary way”…from our jobs, or inheritances….these, though of course, supplied by God is not in a miraculous way.

….then there is the “surprise way”….where some gift or extra money or supplies are given for a specific time.

….then there is (and I think this is amazing!) the way God supplies our needs…through our very enemies.

How many times have we learned a lesson in courage, or peace, or strength…by our enemies?

Our God is an Almighty, and Wise God…..He knows when and where and what to “feed” us….and from what source!

These supplies were also different in the way they were presented to feed Israel.

The manna was on the ground, right outside the tents of each Israelite. So he could walk on it if he so chose.

This is a picture of Christ when He came in His humiliation as the Man Christ Jesus….He was from Heaven,…yet was presented in an earthly manner…..and many people “trod Him underfoot”.

John 6:33-35 “For the bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

Then said they unto Him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life; he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.”

He came, presented Himself as the Son of God,….and was despised and trampled on, as often the manna was to Israel.

John 6:41-42 “The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am bread which came down from heaven.

And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?”

As the manna was given directly from heaven, but placed upon the ground round their tents for them to honor and receive,…..

…or to walk on…..

…..so Jesus Christ came to this earth to be received or rejected, as Savior to sinners.

The old corn of the land was discovered, as they came to possess their possessions in the Promised Land.

It was part of their inheritance,……and so they received it with thanksgiving.

This is like Christ being presented as Lord and Savior to a lost and dying world….

……after He had ascended into heaven again, receiving all power, and set down at the right hand of God, with all authority.

Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

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

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

(You must remember that the apostles began the work of the gospel to the world in Jerusalem, among the very ones who had crucified Jesus.

They preached Christ there, and on the first day of Pentecost three thousand were saved.

From Jerusalem, it was Judea, Samaria [the places Jesus had preached] and to the uttermost part of the world from there. [Acts 1:8])

Christ Jesus was presented to the lost world, and where He was received, there was thanksgiving.

Was their battles? Yes, in both cases:

Israel in Canaan….

…..the Gospel of Christ to the world.

(I do not believe there has never been a time when Christians have not been persecuted somewhere in the world…..for Christ’s sake….we should expect it….and not be caught off guard.)

Yet Christ is set before us as our inheritance;

He nourishes us; builds us up; and sustains us.

Let us give thanks for His Salvation, and all He has done for us….each day.

Christ is still the Bread of Life. He is still being presented to the world.

Both supplies of food represent Christ…..one sent from heaven to be presented to Israel, on the ground.

One sent by heaven through the very enemies they were to overcome, as they entered into their possessions in the Promised Land.

Let us praise God for all the ways He sees to us, to His Gospel, and to the honor of His Son.

“Praise Him, praise Him….sing of His excellent greatness:

Praise Him, praise Him! Ever in joyful song!”

Are we enjoying our portion?

Isaiah 44:6 “Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and His redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside Me there is no God.”

He is God from everlasting, and will be to everlasting.

If He had not created…..nothing would every have been;

And if He did not uphold….all would soon be nothing again.

He is all-sufficient and therefore….

…..His people need not to hope in any other.

Hebrews 6:18-19 “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast,…”

Our anchor is in the Word of our Lord to us…..whether through the Bible, a message, a teaching……for that is what hope is:

It is the confident expectation that God will do what He says.

Psalm 71:5 “For Thou art my hope, O Lord God: Thou art my trust from my youth.”

Psalm 130 “Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord.

Lord, hear my voice:….

If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared.

I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in His Word do I hope.

My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning:….

Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy and with Him is plenteous redemption…..”

Hope is produced by the Holy Spirit within us, as we hear God’s Word to us.

Hope then anchor’s us….though we have to wait for the fulfillment of that Word….or there are storms surrounding us….or there is opposition (when God says something….then the devil tries to prove that Word wrong.)

Hope is from the Holy Spirit….but it comes and is strengthened through experience with God.

Romans 5:4-5 “And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

Hope says, like the children’s song…..

“If He said it, I believe it….for His Word it can not lie.

If it’s written in the Bible,….I’ll believe it till I die.

Though the mountains be removed…and cast into the sea…

God’s Word shall live forever…throughout eternity.”

We began this, with…..”Thus saith the Lord…”

And to each of us there is His Word for instruction…..His promises to reach out for….His commands for obedience to exercise and strengthen us in faith…….His word of exhortation to awaken us….His words of comfort to enfold us in His love and care…

….but to each of us there is His Word to us…..personally…that we need to hold on to…in hope….and obtain.

We should all say:

Psalm 146:5 “Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God.”

God’s hope anchors us in the ocean of God’s Will and love….amid the storms of our lives.

The sin of sitting under an oak

1 Kings 13:1-3 “And, Behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the Lord unto Beth-el: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.

And he cried against the altar in the word of the Lord, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the Lord; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee….

And he gave a sign….saying, This is the sign….Behold the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.”

The kingdom has been torn in two after Solomon’s death. His son reigns in Judah….and Jeroboam reigns in Israel.

This split would cause many problems….deaths….and finally the downfall of both Judah and Israel…

…..though through God’s mercy (sending prophets to awaken them to return to Him)…..it would be several hundred years before it happened.

Israel was the worst of the two….for Jeroboam began setting up a rival religion immediately….afraid if Israel went to worship at Jerusalem, he would lose his power.

(Sadly,….for you would think that Israel would know better….he set up two golden calf’s, saying…..and doesn’t it sound familiar? Exodus 32:4….that these are the gods that brought them out of Egypt. 1 Kings 12:27-28, 30)

A man of God was sent to prophesy against the wicked altar that Jeroboam in Israel, had set up.

This man was not named…..nor his tribe….nor anything…..except that he was sent by the Word of the Lord.

The man of God did that,…..and as he spoke the king pointed to him and cried, “Lay hold on him” (1 Kings 13:4)

….suddenly the kings hand and arm, was dried up, so he could not move it!

The king, so eager to imprison him a moment ago…..begged for healing….

….and the man of God prayed…and the kings hand and arm were healed!

At the same time, the altar was rent in two, and the ashes of their sacrifices poured out!

Just as the Word of God had said,……which was spoken by the man of God.

Very amazing!…proving that what this man of God said, would truly come to pass,….later. And it did. (2 Kings 23:15-16)

Now, if this was all the story…..it would be grand and glorious….but it was not the end.

When we are given God’s Word to share….

….we are not only to speak God’s Word…..but we are to obey everything we have been told about it…..

….it is God’s Word, and there should be reverence about it.

(How many times the Lord has said to me, to preach His Word….

…..and I want to add an explanation….”it will make it more understandable, Lord”…..as though the Holy Spirit needed my help in explaining things! Crazy, I know. Praise God for His correction and help to me, always.)

….but the problem was….this man was to give his message….and leave.

Get back into Judah….about eleven miles away.

Don’t eat or even drink water in this place!

(God was manifesting the evil of that place….whether people believed His Word, or not.)

1 Kings 13:9 “For so was it charged me by the Word of the Lord, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor return again by the same way that thou camest.”

This man left…..and got about half way there, when….

….. this man sat down under an oak…..not yet to Judah….not yet fully obedient.

1 Kings 13:14 “And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak:…”

What was he doing?

Thinking about what he had just seen….

……about the grand things the Lord had just done!

Thinking about the wonderful things God had done through him…..

(which is always amazing….that God can use us to speak to someone to show them God’s Word)

And in doing so, this man got tricked by someone who lied to him.

An old prophet in Israel heard of what happened….and went after this man of God….whether for news of Judah, or companionship, or curiosity….it does not say.

Now the prophet would never have caught him if the man of God had kept going….back to Judah….which the Lord had told him….specifically.

But this prophet found him sitting under an oak….

….and lied to him.

“Come home with me….have some food and drink…..an angel told me to come after you,”(1Kings 13:18)

Sadly, the man of God….who was glad to have someone to talk to…

…..decided to be obedient to the prophet, rather than God’s guidance to himself.

When he became disobedient (“so he went back…and did eat…and drank water.” 1 Kings 13:19)….

….”Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the Lord, and hast not kept the commandment which the Lord thy God commanded thee,….thy carcass shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers.” I Kings 13:21-22.

The man of God left….but on his way back to Judah….

…….”a lion met him…and slew him…” 1 Kings 13:24

…..he was never to return to Judah!

And all these things are written for our learning:

How easy it is for us, to get caught up in our own thoughts of things:

Of how they “should” be.

Of what happened…

Of what they could have been….

Of our part in it all.

We can go over and over and over it…..but that will not change it…..or enlarge it….or diminish it, in reality.

Only in our perspective will it change.

What we can do, is strive to set everything we do aside to the Lord….

…..before…

…..during…

…..and after….it it in His hands.

For if it is in His hands,….it and we, are safe.

As Paul said,……and I am sure it was through much experience,….

Philippians 4:11-13 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

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

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

And this is what each Christian is to do:

All the things we have to do in our life……through Christ Jesus’ strength.

My Peace

On the way to Gethsemane,  when Jesus knew that out of fear, HIs disciples would desert Him….Jesus gave this Word of comfort:

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you:  not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

This should be the ruling factor of our lives….His peace…

…for He has given it to us, to use.   (I leave with you…..I give unto you.  Both of these are personal….”you”)

             Sometimes I believe that we think of Christ’s blessings,  as presents we only receive once in a while….but He has deposited HIs peace within us, by the Holy Spirit….we must yield to it.

             His Peace should flow like a river through us….bringing our ragged thoughts into order….stilling our wounded hearts….and making our wills become strong for His Will.

HIs peace will maintain ourselves…and help with others, as it flows through us.

            This is what He promised through His Spirit on the Temple steps during the Feast of Tabernacles: 

            John 7:38-39  “…..He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.       (But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive:…”

But what hinders the Spirit from flowing?   

           1 Thessalonians 5:19 “Quench not the Spirit”

We need to stop choking HIm off, in our reasons and emotions.

“Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”.    Let not….means that we have the grace to stop our hearts from being “troubled” (which means to stir up or agitate.)

             In other words,  don’t let people or circumstances stir us up and get our eyes off of the Lord.

How can we not?   For there are many things which touch us…that “bring us to our knees”!   

            But that is it….if they bring us to our knees….we pray….then we “let”  His peace place us on our feet again….and we trust Him and His Word.

Jesus said…”Let not your heart be troubled” before in this chapter….for He gave the answer to this “agitation” that comes to us….

….”ye believe in God,  believe also in Me.”

            Place your whole being on God and I…..for My Father and I are not “troubled”.   

            (And wasn’t this clearly seen, when Judas and the soldiers came to arrest HIm….He spoke up, not for Himself, but for His disciples.  John 18:4-8 “Let these go their way”)

“Let not your heart….be afraid”   

           Fear is torment.    Love casts out fear.   If our eyes of love to the Lord are on Him….and HIs glory….fear is abated….and finally cast out.

          1 John 4:17-18 “Herein is our love made perfect,  that we may have boldness in the day of judgment:  because as He is, so are we in this world.

          There is no fear in love;  but perfect love casteth out fear:  because fear hath torment.  He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

As we know His love for us….we love Him.   

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

 And as we love Him….we find our Stronghold,  our fortress…our refuge…in Him..

        David, in the psalm that spoke of his battles in life….”

….begins with…

        Psalm 18:1 “I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.”

And then he continues to describe what he has learned the Lord will be to him.   Weak as he was in many situations….yet David knew the Lord’s love….and loved God.

        Psalm 18:2 “The Lord is my Rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;  my God, my strength, in whom I will trust;  my buckler (armor), and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”  

And we, too, are called to be garrisoned about with HIs peace…as a fortress through this world.

       Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

It isn’t only our thoughts and emotions that are kept….we are not just calmed….but delivered from fear and trouble.

Psalm 46:1-2 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  

       Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;”

Our God, by the Holy Spirit is “very present”.   He is with us….and working in us.  Let us yield to Him….and have the Peace that the Lord left us….gave us.

“O Wretched man that I am”

Revelation 3:17 “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:”

The wretchedness of Laodicea spills over into it’s miserableness, poverty, blindness and nakedness.

The Lord says we are wretched….which means deplorable or deserving disapproval…….for we are not zealous (boiling hot) for God’s Will (Rev.3:19)….but lukewarm.

We are ‘warm’ enough that we think we are alright….and cool enough to save ourselves from the “shame” of the gospel-way.

Wanting God’s blessing,…..but, along with friendship with the world. (1 John 2:15)

Paul writes Timothy, a young preacher, who had been a companion of his, before Paul was imprisoned:

2 Timothy 1:8 “Be thou not therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner; but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God.”

We too, should not be ashamed of The Lord or His Word.

Yet,…..God does not require at our hand, what He does not supply grace for:

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.”

Paul writes of his testimony a lot in Romans (remember he was a persecutor of this gospel….till God spoke to him)…..and he begins with:

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

And he proved this,….after he was converted…by…

Acts 9:20, 22 “And straightway he (Saul/Paul) preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.”

But what does Paul, the mighty Apostle, have to do with “wretchedness”?

Surely he could never be accused of this!

Well, Paul said he was wretched….giving his testimony to the Romans:

Romans 7:24 “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”

What does this mean?

(Under Roman law, if you killed a relative, the judge could chain that dead body on to you…..and send you away from the city. You could not remove it, till it fell off itself, after decaying.

Well, Paul felt that way….he was carrying the body of his old self, which he had “killed” when he was born again.

But he felt it’s weight, it’s noxious influence when he tried to do God’s Will….he wanted freedom from it.)

Paul describes his experience, in vibrant colors:

Romans 7:7 “…Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.”

He had discovered that this brilliant Pharisee, full of desires to fulfill the will of God…..good in all points….except coveting. He coveted….and that “slew” him.

He realized that even in religious things, his attitude of coveting was there.

(We think of certain sins as “bad”…..and others….well, to be overlooked. And worse, we think…..God thinks that way.

No….sin is sin. No matter how large or small…sin is rebellion against a Holy God and His Way.)

“Thou shalt not covet”, knocked him down with all the other “sinners”. He realized, if he was going to live a life to God….he needed help.

He really wanted to do God’s will…”for to will is present with me: but how to perform that which is good I find not.” (Verse 18)

(Galatians 5:17 “For the flesh lusteth (fights) against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary one to the other; so that ye can not do the things that ye would.”

Even after we are saved, our natural life [“old man”, “flesh”, “self”] fights against us being in subjection to God.

That is why we are given a new nature….the Holy Spirit. For our new nature helps us to yield to God, and the Holy Spirit gives us the power as we yield.

Sometimes, our battles against sin and self are relatively short….others long and hard.)

So Paul confessed and cried out: “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”

Paul knew to continue in sin is death to fellowship with Christ….so he looked again to his Lord and Savior.

And there was a battle…..yet Paul wanted deliverance and continuing fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ who had saved him….enough to stay after an answer….

….do we?

And the answer came,……Paul, you are already “dead” in Christ’s crucifixion. (Romans 6:6-7, 11)

You have to “reckon” it…….believe Me, and rely on the Holy Spirit within as the power to prove it, by living above the world, and out of sin….day by day.

Yield and obey the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:16 “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.”

Romans 8:1-2 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.

For the law of the Spirit in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”

And freedom was given….and you can have it too.

Romans 8:14-15 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”

And again, in Rome, “sons” have authority, for they represent the family they are from.

Paul is saying that God gives us freedom, and authority in our new life with Him…..and it is all given in love; for “Abba, Father” means “Daddy”.

An affectionate, personal Name for our Father God.

That was Paul’s testimony…..he knew he was wretched…he knew he coveted, he saw the lust within himself;…..and wanted deliverance.

And got it.

What about us? Are we lukewarm…just getting by?

Do we want to get zealous? Well, it requires:

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

But the rewards are great:

Revelation 3:21 “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.”

The Lord promises those that overcome every obstacle in their lives, in the power of the Spirit,….throne authority.

To represent our King, here…..not by command or demand….but by power—real power of His Life,….in us, by us and through us.

Delivering us from wretched self and from sin……and making us sons of our Almighty God.

To be a Good Steward

1 Corinthians 4:2 “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

A steward is one, who under the owner, manages part of the house, or property.

As Christians we are to be good stewards, and administer or manage our part of the household of God….our gifts, those we are responsible to teach, encourage, or pray for.

We are going to consider a “good steward” of Abraham.

Genesis 24:2-4 “And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:

And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.”

Abraham was old, and weakened, so that he could not go out and do the things he had before.

Sarah, his wife, was dead. Now Abraham begins to consider a wife, for Isaac.

Abraham was not to return to his land,…..so he calls for his trusted steward, and makes him swear (put your hand under my thigh),….that he will go and see about a wife for Isaac,…..from his family in Mesopotamia.

There is some question about whether the steward was to take Issac to Mesopotamia again…….

…..No, this is the land the Lord gave me after He brought me out of my homeland;……so do not take Isaac back.

And if the woman is unwilling to come……then the steward would be free from this oath.

Abraham gives a promise to the steward: “He (the Lord) shall send His angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.”

So this steward sets out with ten camels laden with goods from Abraham, to give as presents to the family of the woman who would come.

(First to notice, that this steward did all this effort for someone else: his Master’s son…..not for himself.

And aren’t we to be faithful servants for our Master’s Son, Jesus Christ?)

How long this journey was, it does not say….but the steward arrives at Nahor in Mesopotamia….in the evening……” the time that women go out to draw water.”

He makes his camels kneel down by the city well,…..and waits

And he prays…

Genesis 24:12-14 “And he said, O Lord God of my master Abraham I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham.

Behold, I stand here by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:

And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink,

and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also:

let the same be she that Thou hast appointed for Thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that Thou hast shown kindness unto my master.”

(How this shows us the spiritual witness Abraham was on his household and servants: each knew God,…..and what God could do…..because of him.

Abraham wasn’t just a good man…..but a Godly man.)

Before the steward was finished praying, Rebekah, who was of Abraham’s family came to the well, with a pitcher, to draw water.

Genesis 24:17 “And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.”

She not only gave him a drink, but as he prayed,….she watered his camels, as well.

He was cautious, and waited till she was done, and then asked: “Whose daughter art thou?” Is there room in your father’s house for us to lodge in?

As soon as he heard who she was, and who her family was:

Genesis 24:26-27 “And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the Lord.

And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of His mercy and His truth:

I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brethren.”

(Abraham had been promised the land of Canaan for an inheritance….not to him but to “his seed”. Without a proper wife for Isaac, this promise would not be fulfilled.

So the steward praised God for His mercy…..not to him…..but to Abraham.

And praised God for the truth of His promise….that an angel would go before him and lead his way.)

Rebekah goes home, and her brother comes and leads the steward and the camels to their house…..for a steward from their relative Abraham, was come!

How exciting.

Then the steward tells the business of his journey, and how the promise was fulfilled concerning the Lord’s guidance; and how his prayer had been answered…..

…and he asks:

Would Rebekah come? Would she leave her family, and come and be Isaac’s wife?

The family gave permission…..but when they wanted her to stay for at least ten days….the steward said:

Genesis 24:56 “And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the Lord hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.”

(Part of our business as stewards of the gospel, is to deal with hinderances. To not be persuaded to “put off” till tomorrow, what should be done today.)

Rebekah is called, and she agrees to go….right away. “I will go”

(When speaking about our Master, and the gospel He gave us to tell…..we need to know that often,….delay is hinderance. “He commands all men everywhere to repent.” “Today, if you will hear His voice.”)

Genesis 24:61, 63, 66-67 “And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.

And Issac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.

And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.

And Isaac brought her into her mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.”

This is a story of a good steward…..working not for himself, or his family,…but for his master, and his master’s son.

(This man is never named…..I believe it is because he illustrates all “good stewards”.

Those, that fulfill their duty,…..out of love and honor for their Master,….down through the ages…….which should include us)

It is a story of fulfilled promises….and promises that were to be fulfilled later, because of the obedience of the steward.

[Abraham’s children did obtain the promise of the Land….and Abraham’s Seed….Christ. Galatians 3:8-9,14,16. Came from this line.]

Yet, we too, have stories like this. We too, have been sent to deliver and bring home to our Master, God,….and His Son, Jesus Christ….those that will belong to the Church (the bride of Christ. Revelation 19:7-8)

As with Rebekah;……if they will not come,…..we are free of our duty….we have done what we could.

Like this steward of Abraham,……we need to follow the Lord’s guidance,….pray for blessing,….and deal with any hinderances,…..that we might fulfill our duty to our Master God, and His Son, Jesus Christ.