A Victorious Christian should not feel resentment.

Let us consider what resentment is….and who it is against.

If we are a Christian….and belong to Christ, everything that comes to us is through His hand. He permits it…either for our learning, to draw out our faith in Him….or for our correction, to awaken to His claims on our life….or for our blessing, for every time we grow closer to Him, it is a blessing.

So we need to see first what resentment is:

Resentment is spoken in the scriptures as “bitterness”

Hebrews 12:15 “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.”

This was spoken of Esau. He sold his birthright easily enough, he never cared for it. But when it came time to acknowledging Jacob with the birthright…..he refused and hated him for obtaining it. He never let this resentment go….and it continued in his descendants, the Edomites toward Israel….till they were destroyed.

Peter told Simon, the sorcerer, when he pretended to be converted….and then tried to buy the gift of the Holy Spirit to make himself important…Acts 8:22-23….”Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”

(The story is an interesting one. A revival was going on in Samaria, where Simon was “Somebody”….For they thought he was from God.

But when Jesus Christ was preached, and people were truly saved, they realized that he had fooled them.

But then Simon “believed”, and followed Phillip around, seeing the healing and miracles that he did in Jesus name. Then when the Holy Spirit was given by Peter coming and laying on of his hands….he felt he could regain his power….and sought to buy it.

The object of his affection wasn’t God’s glory but his own glory….because at the root of his heart….there was bitterness or resentment that Christ Jesus had replaced him with the people!)

Resentment then has to do with us….our place in the world, our place or position in our own thoughts:

Why did they do this to me?

Why should they have this, and not me? Why am I always the one to give in to this person’s way?

Why? Why? Why?

But all these “whys” have to do with the way people or God is treating me…..in other words, resentment has to do with our self-life.

My husband once was preaching on this verse in Hebrews and told a story on himself:

When he first came back into the Way with the Lord, and the Lord was dealing with him about people at work…about the church he was to attend…and about being called to preach….he kept asking God, “Why”.

Every time the Lord would deal with him, about this question…..”It is not for you to know why I tell you to do something….but for you to obey.”

Again and again, my husband would catch himself starting to ask, Why?

And again and again the Lord’s Words….”Not my Will, but Thine be done” would come to him.

It began to hurt every time he thought “why”…..and finally he settled things with the Lord…..he came as God’s servant, and simply told Him that he would obey….he would be in the place that God chose, with the people God chose, and doing the work God chose.

His heart came to the place of rest, and the bitterness….resentment….was gone.

And it is the same with each of us….

….when we see that we resent this or that….whatever it is, and for what cause or reason….we must deal with it by going to the Lord and laying it all out to Him.

“Lord, I resent this….and I want to deal with it….please show me the whole root of this, and I submit to You in it. Remove the bitterness, and resentment that is here….for I give it, and myself…and my place in this, to You.”

He will have the Victory over us….He will lead us as One with Him in our everyday things….and we can know the amazing liberty from the burden of bitterness and resentment.

A Victorious Christian should not feel resentment….for we have left the world’s accolades….and our desire for being first….and given ourselves to be the servants of the Most High.

He rules and overrules….and though we face many problems….and though the nights are dark, and the enemies are many….yet we rest in the Sovereign Pleasure of the Lord Jesus Christ….and yield in thanksgiving to the blessings He has for me,….for us.

His Fulness

John 1:16 “And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.”

As born again ones, we….”and of HIs fulness have all we received”.

It is “of His fulness”….which suggests out of the fulness of God….His Word, His merits, His ability, His character, His strength, His love….comes to us.

We have the Holy Spirit within.

We are babes in Christ….but as we grow in grace, we learn to trust His grace….and are filled with Him to the capacity we are emptied of self. (Eph. 5:18)…

….and as we continue to yield to the Holy Spirit within….we will continue to be filled….even to overflowing.

Romans 5:17 (Williams Version) “For if by one man’s offense, death reigned thru that one, to a much greater degree will those who continue to receive the overflow of His unmerited favor and HIs gift of right standing with Himself, reign in real life through One, Jesus Christ.”

Romans 5:17 (KJV) “For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by One, Jesus Christ.”

In Christ Jesus, it is “to a much greater degree”. We will receive more….and can continue to receive more….than what we lost in Adam (and we lost a lot).

This “overflow” of grace….is the same, as the promise of “abundant life”…

John 10:10 “….I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

There are two things here: life in Christ, and abundant life in Christ. And Jesus Christ said He had come to give both to His sheep.

It is the Creator, giving of Himself to the creature…God, giving of Himself to you.

We are to experience this overflow of grace (the unmerited favor of power).

The more you use the grace given…and remember it is “grace for grace”…the more you acquire grace.

Grace is not just for salvation….but it is the ability we need to see us from being born again to heaven. We are not to stumble along….but we are to:

Isaiah 40:31 “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.”

This we are to do….have our strength, renewed. (Renewed means changed)

Whether we will mount up with wings as eagles…seemingly flying over our circumstances in attitude and obedience.

Or we will run, focusing on the Lord’s Way before us….yielding to His stamina to finish our race.

Or we will walk with Him, in our day by day situations….in perseverance….no matter what comes up.

“Of His fulness have we all received”. Notice, it is we all. Not one Christian is exempt from this fulness.

They may be “Little-faith”. Or they may be “Great-grace”…but they have received…”of His fulness”.

And we are called to “continue to receive the overflow”.

How? Let me ask you…..how did you first believe?

Simply, the power of the Holy Spirit worked in you the desire for salvation. “For by grace are we saved”…..So it is with His fulness.

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

The grace we received from Christ changes us into “the same image”….or the image (character) of Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Even as by the Holy Spirit, Who creates within us the desire to grow up. From babes in Christ, feeding on the milk of the Word…..to flying, running, walking with God.

We experience the good will of God toward us, and the good work of God in us….keeping us to “continue to receive the overflow” of HIs grace…..His fulness.

It is not that we earn these things, but that we continue to receive them…..with open face….open hearts toward Him.

Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ (John 1:17)…and as we see ourselves in that glass (mirror James 1:22-25)……facing the truth about ourselves, “grace for grace” will be applied.

How much ability do we need? To that extent….God’s grace is given….every time.

2 Corinthians 4:6 “For God, Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Again, “in the face of Jesus Christ”. As we behold Him in eyes of faith, we are changed….by grace….into the same image….

….and that light can shine out through us.

His fulness….all that He has done….and all that the Lord Jesus Christ is….as Creator, Savior, Lord, King, Mediator,….

….all that He is….is shone us as we behold Him….and as we yield to the Holy Spirit, He changes us into the same character…..by grace.

Tabitha/Dorcas

Acts 9:36-38 “Now there was in Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and alms-deeds which she did.

And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.

….and the disciples heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.”

Notice two things: she was a disciple….a believer and follower of Jesus Christ.

Whether she had been saved before the Lord’s death….or after, in the outflowing of the giving of the Holy Spirit to the church….it does not say.

But she was living proof of what Jesus said,….

John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give unto you. That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

….for she loved God, and others in word and action….doing all she could for those who had no one to care for them…..the widows.

(Widows were often destitute….unless they had children who would care for them, as well as their own families.)

Acts 9:39 “Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.”

Second, she had two names…..one Hebrew, and one Greek. Both mean “gazelle, or beautiful”.

She had two names, I believe, because she ministered to any and all widows.

As a believer….she had not confined her ministry to the Hebrew widows but to others as well.

She made coats and garments for these…..things of her own hands….not a penny here, or there as if they were beggars…..but providing coverings for the cold nights, and garments for dignity.

(As Christians, we too, should provide for those we minister to…..we should cover them by our prayers, and seek for their good….not just outward, but inward blessing.)

Peter, who had just healed a man in the neighboring city (Acts 9:34 “…Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.”)…

…… was hurriedly called to come to see if he could do anything for Tabitha.

Peter had healed…….this would be resurrection from the dead in Jesus Name. Was it possible?

Peter comes, as he is called, and goes in…..not stopping to admire her good works….or grieve with their loss….

….he knew what he had to do….and did it….according to the Lord’s Will.

Acts 9:40-41 “But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body (she is still dead, at this point)

said, Tabitha, arise.

And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.”

Jesus had brought back to life, several, when He was here…..but no one had been risen from the dead since the Holy Spirit had been given on the day of Pentecost.

Yet, praying in the Name of Jesus Christ, Peter then speaks the same word as Jesus did to the ruler’s daughter (Luke 8:54-55)…”Arise”.

Because of this, there was not only joy in those widows and the believers there…..but this was a witness to Jesus Christ throughout the city…..

Acts 9:42 “And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.”

We think that this happened because she was so good…..

….but it happened because those around her sought for her…..the Lord’s Will.

They might not have believed that their prayers alone would have brought her back to life…..but they believed that Peter would know what to do….so…

They called for Peter…..and Peter did just that….the Lord’s Will.

What of us?

Are we hesitating to seek in prayer for the spiritual life of someone….because we are not very important?

Then let us call for the One we know will do what is right…Jesus Christ…..and seek His Will done in every situation.

Ask and Ye Shall Receive

Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

Would you have this promise? Would you have the opportunities opened to you, or those you are praying for?

(Notice the “it shall”, “ye shall”, “it shall” of this promise.)

The first thing we must do….is ask.

Well, that is nothing new….and it is not.

We need to “ask” for everything. We are so poor, so desperate,….that we are in need of everything from Him.

For without Him, we can do nothing.

We are called to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

And the first thing we need to know is,…….Is what we are asking for, according to His Will?

Well, if it is, then we can continue with the promise, for we will receive an answer.

We can then “seek, that we shall find”

Seeking requires effort.

If you are looking for something in one place, and it is in another place…..no matter how hard you look, you won’t find it.

You must go where it is….to look for it.

For instance:

There are times that what we ask for…..is right before us.

But we refuse to see it…..because it is not what we think it ought to be, or the way it ought to be.

(I must tell you, I have many a discussion with the Lord about “the way” He is doing things….the people He used to show me things….the times of waiting on Him to speak.)

Simple Example: When my daughter was younger, she had a paper route, she walked around every evening. I was not always home at the time she left, but about half the time I was.

I had been praying about losing a little weight, for my health….as I was getting older, and I thought the Lord would give me directions for diet, or exercises…..but what He said was….”go out on the paper route with your daughter.”

First, I thought this ridiculous (yes, I was the ridiculous one)…..because it was her job, and “I thought” it would be taking some of that responsibility away from her.

But, the Lord insisted….and I went….every time I was home to go. It helped my knees, my breathing…..but it also gave us time to talk…..about something….about nothing things.

And it led to some conversations with other people I had not officially met, and some prayers shared.

Did the Lord know what He was doing? Of course!!! And it was right in front of me the whole time! God is so good!)

So we “seek” the means or the way the Lord wants to show us the door, that needs to be opened.

So many examples….

Moses’ shepherd’s rod….just a shepherd’s rod (Exodus 4:2-5)…..but in God’s Way, it was used……before Pharaoh, at the Red Sea, bringing water from the rock, holding it up in battle. (This was a means for Moses….God had him use it all the time)

David before Goliath…..stones and a sling, instead of Saul’s armor. (1 Samuel 17:38-40) was God’s way for him.

David bringing the Ark to Jerusalem….using the wrong means at first, for they did not seek His Way….but then bringing it up after God’s “due order”,….in joy.(2 Samuel 6:3-15)

Daniel praying for Jerusalem…..should he continue to do what the Lord wanted………and be thrown into the lion’s den…….or save himself, giving up prayer? (Daniel 6:5-23)

Paul and Silas in jail…..when the earthquake came…..they remained in jail, not moving until the Lord gave permission….to the saving of a jailer.(Acts 16:25-34)

And my daughter and I. Our relationship was good….but so much better after I began to go out with her……an opened door that would not have been,…..had I rejected God’s Word to me.

When we find the door, we are to “knock” at the “door”.

This is the doing, the obedience to God’s answer; for He will open it at the right time.

When we ask…..we are to receive the answer. Sometimes that is it…..the answer given, we are done.

In some cases, we need to seek the means for further instruction as to how to find the door we need to knock on.

Some prayer seems simple: This person is troubled….”Lord help them find an answer, or comfort.”

But what if the Lord shows you that you are to seek a promise to claim for them…

Then, when you have it,…..you are to knock with that promise till the “door” is opened….whether it is a door within them….opened more to Jesus;

Or a “door” of opportunity,…a “door” of forgiveness,…..a “door” of liberty.

Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.”

It is not calling Jesus, Lord…..but it is doing the Will of the Father that counts.

When the Lord Jesus has my will….then He will use my will to bring His Will to pass…..many different ways….but all His Way.

Because our Wills are One with His.

How many “doors” are still shut in our lives, or the lives of others……because we are not going the full way with the Lord,……and seeking,….and knocking?

Take Heed

Luke 8:18 “Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.”

If you have the desire to hear what the Lord is saying to you….you will. If you do not really want to hear…you won’t.

Take heed, or pay attention to those things that will hinder our profiting from the Word that we hear.

Jesus just gave the parable of the Sower sowing the Word. There were four kinds of soil which it landed on:

1)The wayside….the really hard ground around the prepared field where the workers walked.

The seed was so little considered, that when it landed there, it was walked on; “trodden under foot”.

This is the way some people treat God’s Word…they might listen to it, but they do not regard it, so they eventually they trample all over what it says…and Jesus, Who said it.

2)The rocky ground…the part of the field where they had taken out the large rocks, but there were still smaller ones there.

The seed there was starved for moisture…or the healthful influences of the Holy Spirit.

It “sprung up”….started to hear and to see what was being said for themselves, but the hard places in the heart…even though they were smaller(resentments, hurts, anger)….quenched the Holy Spirit….and because they refused to remove these “rocks”, the Word withered within them.

3)The thorny ground…the part of the field where the seed grows up with the weeds.

At first, it looks like you can get some harvest, though it maybe small.

But the “thorns” or the things of the world (worries, riches or wanting them, and pleasures of this life) are too strong….they pull all the life from the plants, and do not produce anything.

(How many times have we felt our desires taking over our thoughts, and actions?

And these desires can be for a better home, job, car, or anything else. It is not the desire, itself….but how much it influences our affections.

Are we becoming depressed because we do not have them?

Are we thinking about them all the time?

These are thorns, which if we continue to let them grow; and do not pull them out, will choke the Word of God from our hearts.

We pull them out by coming to the Lord and turning them over to Him; confess any sin about them, and ask Him to remove the affections for them….and the influence they have on us.)

4)The good ground…the part of the field where the most preparation has taken place (Jeremiah 4:3).

The ground has been turned over, and smoothed, so when the Seed was placed there, there was nothing to hinder it’s growth.

Luke 8:15 “And that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”

There is nothing that God loves so much than a person that get’s honest with Him…..it is an acknowledgement that our hearts are open to Him in everything.

Jeremiah 17:10 “I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

If a person’s ways are honest with the Lord, He will reward his honesty with spiritual fruit.

This heart produces fruit….for the Word we hear, we keep, and we use to help us.

Any honest man who comes to God as he is, comes to the ground where God can meet with him.

Isaiah 57:15, 18 “For thus saith the High and Lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, Whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

I have seen his ways, and I will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners (those that sympathized with him).”

On that same ground of honesty, God grants grace….the unmerited favor of power to do something about ourselves, and the situation we are in.

John 1:17 “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”

Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

When we face the truth about ourselves, in any given situation….His grace is applied, right then….and we can produce the fruit of the Spirit within us.

Grace changes us….enabling the weakest Christian to remain strong, patient, to forgive, or any ability we need…..when we get honest with the Lord.

(To be frank, this is the hardest part….for when we pray, we often just ask for grace, without telling the Lord all our deepest feelings. Tell Him all, and let Him heal all…that is the truth and grace of Christ Jesus being applied to us…to make us whole.)

If you read this parable, it was only His disciples who asked, “What might this parable be?”

They wanted to understand the Word that they heard.

To “understand” means “to come together”……..to comprehend so that the actions follow the mind.

The crowd seemed happy just to listen and be around Jesus. Like a vacation from their life….but with no change in their life.

Matthew 13:13, 15 “Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their hearts, and should be converted, and I should heal them.”

They did not understand…because they let their hearts become heavy with cares. (Their life was hard….This might be natural)

They let their ears stop hearing Him, because He required more than they wanted to give.

[He asked them to trust and believe in Him….they wanted Him to keep feeding them, and healing all their illnesses John 6:26-27].

(This is a turning away with their hearts)

Their eyes they closed, because they did not want to “see”, that the Lord was calling them to be His, completely. (This was a choice of the will…they closed them)

Luke 8:15 “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”

A good and honest heart: Good because it is honest with God.

(In the Greek, the word for “honest” (“kalos”) here, means “beautiful, valuable, or virtuous”. I believe the Lord shows that to be honest with Him, is beautiful.)

Again, any honest man who comes to God….as he is….comes to the ground where God can meet with him….and He will.

“…I have seen his ways, and I will heal him…”. The Lord says “I will” and where He wills, there is power.

Psalm 136: A psalm of praise for the Lord’s Mercy

Psalm 136:1 “O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever.”

In this Psalm, every verse ends with the phrase, “for His mercy endureth forever”.

“Endureth” means that it is established and stands fast. God’s mercy for us has been established in eternity past….and will stand fast….immovable for us throughout eternity future.

He is the God of gods, the Lord of lords, Who alone does great wonders.

Whose wisdom made the heavens, stretched out the earth above the waters.

Who made the sun to rule by day, and the moon and stars to rule by night.

Who redeemed Israel from Egypt,…protecting under Blood, their firstborn; while slaying the firstborn of Egypt.

Who brought them through, dry shod, the Red Sea.

Yet slew Pharaoh’s army when they followed, bringing the same Sea to drown them.

Who lead them through the wilderness, bringing them into the Promised land.

All these things are the marvelous works He has done….

….but then,…. the personal memory of God for “us”….the personal pronoun.

Who remembered, and remembers “us” now (for it is in a continuing sense)…..and here it takes a personal turn.

And “hath redeemed us”….

Psalm 136:23-24 “Who remembered us in our low estate: for His mercy endureth forever:

And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for His mercy endureth forever.”

It is good to see and acknowledge…to praise and extoll God for Who He is, and what He has done.

But it is better to know God’s mercy personally……that He remembers me, or us. And redeems us.

How often we are in need of His mercy.

Mercy is God’s kindness to sinners.

There is temporal mercy: He sends the rain on the just and unjust. (Matthew 5:45)

And there is Spiritual mercy, which is only found in Christ Jesus, for ”us”.

This redemption is personal Salvation, guidance, and victory.

Let us acknowledge Who God is, and praise Him for it.

But let us make sure we have a personal interest in Christ Jesus, that He is our Redeemer.

We are ever in His memory…ever before His eyes.

2 Timothy 1:9-10 “Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began;

But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, Who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:”

This seal of mercy is set on all the circumstances, people, and paths that comes to “us”: “His mercy endureth forever.”

His mercy reaches us where we are.

His mercy leads us out of bondage.

His mercy delivers us and gives us the promises.

His mercy remembers us, and in Christ Jesus, our Lord, brings us before His throne to get what we need.

Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

How much He has for us, if we will but come to Him and get it, and then with the help of the Holy Spirit within, use it.

Reality, is it for me?

Spiritual Reality is not measured by accomplishments, but by the hearts loving embrace of all that is set before me….for His sake.

Matthew 16:24-25 “Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.”

This is the path to Reality for everyone of us. We will have Reality, to the degree we walk in it.

Will you choose this path?

“Jesus said unto HIs disciples”…they had already left their lives to a certain extent and followed after Jesus….becoming HIs companions….and had even been sent out to preach “the Kingdom of heaven Is at hand.”

But Jesus spoke to them….to draw them out to a further apprehension of a walk with Him. He never sugar-coated the cost of following Him….He never promised them anything….but to know God, and HIs Son, His Spirit, and His kingdom. (And that is Eternal Life!)

“If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”

Notice it is a call to follow Him….the disciples knew when Jesus called them to leave all they knew and become fishers of men….that it was to follow after Him and learn of Him….

….but now a cross was involved….their cross. And in order to pick it up….they would have to deny themselves….or drop everything of their self-life.

What a call!

(We deny ourselves, berrying our cross, to the place we no longer resist the Lord’s Will in anything. There must be an absolute surrender to the Lord….we come to the place we will do His Will. It may not be instant obedience….but we will obey.)

But there was still more to the call Jesus was giving now:

“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.”

You can save your life for time, and lose it for eternity. Or, you can deny yourself and lose your life for time, and have it for eternity.

To lose our life is to lose the way we do things….the plans that we have made….the way we think about things, our very attitude toward them, will be lost…for it will become HIs attitude. Our life consists of our thoughts, dreams, and our affections…and what we will about all of these things. It does not mean our soul’ personality….but our character. That which molds our life, will now be HIs character lived out through me.

If we choose to lose our life…..it will be for His sake. There is nothing…no reward, no mansion in heaven, no crown,…..nothing that can persuade men to lose our life….

…..but for the love of the Lord Jesus Christ….for His sake, we will lose everything.

John 21:15 “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me more than these?….”

We know that this was the third time Jesus showed Himself after the resurrection…that He spoke to Peter to restore him…after Peter’s three denials of Jesus.

But listen to what Jesus asks….and see that He asks us the same thing!

First, He calls him….”Simon, son of Jonas”….not Peter (the name Jesus gave him Matthew 16:18. Peter means “a stone”…stressing that he was to be like Him, the Rock.)

“Look, you can be Simon, your father’s son….with all that entails. You can be a fisherman….living your life here….isn’t that what you have gone back to? (John 21:3)

Consider your life, your friends, your family,….and then answer:

“Lovest thou Me, more than these?”

Was Peter’s life as a fisherman, away from the trials and tribulations of being Jesus’ disciple, of more value than Christ?

Was He, Jesus Christ, worth the loss of his life?

John 21:15 “…He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord; Thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.”

Twice more Jesus gave Peter the opportunity to save his life….the life he had before Jesus called him….

….and twice more Peter declares “…I love Thee”…

And so then…..the call was to “feed my lambs, feed my sheep”.

There is work for all who will lose their lives in themselves….that they may find their lives in Christ Jesus…..for His sake.

Spiritual Reality for all who would follow the Lord Jesus is to:

Deny ourselves

Pick up our cross

And follow Him….and in our following Him, we, like Peter will come across many trials of our courage and faith….but then…

…we must choose to lose our lives,…..and all that they are made of….that we may find our lives in Christ…..only out of love for Christ Jesus.

Will you choose this path?

And Yet There is Room

Luke 14:22 “And the servant said, Lord, it is done as Thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.”

Our Lord Jesus Christ, when He was here on earth, was zealous in His Work,…..so that all would hear the invitation to the Kingdom.

He traveled all over Judea, even ministering to the Samaritans and a Phonecian woman…..delivering from disease and oppression.

The main theme of the messages: The kingdom of heaven is at hand….in the presence of the King, Jesus Christ. “Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy ladened” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Matthew 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

He healed many: the blind, saw….the lepers, cleansed….the lame, walked….and the wandering multitude were fed.

They heard again and again His Word…they praised Him for His Works…..they followed Him for what He would give….and sought Him out, for miracles.

The years He went to the feast of Passover:

The first …He drove out the buyer and sellers from the temple. (John 2:13-16). “And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not My Father’s house a house of merchandise.”

This was a command from the King….one they refused, for two years later:

The last Passover, He drove out the buyers and sellers, again. (Matthew 21:12-13) “And He said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.”

Having refused His authority and blessing…….this time He quotes the scripture they said they believed….to honor His Father.

Everywhere He went……and when He sent His disciples out, the message was the same: the Kingdom of God is at hand……the people were going to have to make a decision about the King.

Luke 10:1-2, 9 “After these things the Lord appointed other seventy 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.

And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The Kingdom of God is nigh unto you.”

(During the three years of ministry, Jesus gave two parables of a great supper….one in the personal sense in Luke 14, and the other before multitudes in the temple, a few days before they took Him in Matthew 22.)

Jesus was often invited to homes….several of them, Pharisee’s homes:

In Luke, someone had said, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

Which prompted Jesus to tell the parable of “a certain man” who made a great supper. The man invited many, but when it was time to come, they all made an excuse to refuse to come.

(How many times do we feel we will do anything for God,….but when it comes time to do…..do we do?)

Jesus tells that this “certain man”, after His invitation was rejected, said….”Forget these who gave an excuse…….go out and get all those who are poor, and lame, and blind”. (This certainly describes each of us without Jesus)

And yet the servant came back and said….

Luke 14:22-23 “And the servant said, Lord, it is done as Thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.

And the Lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that My house may be filled.”

“Compel” here means to make them come in. Now this is what the Holy Spirit will do in the individual,…..as we, the servants….go out and give out the gospel.

(Yes, I was one of those “compelled” by the Holy Spirit. In my younger days, I was not going in His Way….as a matter of fact I had made a decision to leave the church and “do my own thing”. But, Hallelujah, God had other plans. And He would not let me go, and be lost!)

And now, Jesus has given us the charge to ….as He gave His disciples after His Resurrection:

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.”

As Christ’s followers we are to deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Him, personally. Growing in grace from here, to heaven.

As His disciples, we are to share our knowledge of our King, inviting all who will, to enter into the kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Are we ready to do the work…..in Word and action….that He wants us to do today?

Time to Take Inventory of our Progress

It is tax time, when everyone takes stock of their finances for the last year.

How much did we actually make?

How much will the tax be?

How much will we get back?

So let us pause and take stock of our spiritual gains and losses; for this last year.

Let us look and see if we have walked along with Christ and gained more of the influences of the Holy Spirit;

or if we have let cares and troubles burden us down, and we have lost joy, and maybe,….some time.

How much of last year was spent in rejoicing in the Lord, and how much was spent in worrying?

Philippians 4:4, 6-7. “Rejoice in the Lord always: again I say rejoice.”

“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

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

Last year, how much time did we spend in prayer?

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

Matthew 21:22. “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”

Have we prayed for our brothers and sisters in Christ? Those close,…or far away?

Has our time of prayer, increased or decreased?

Has our knowledge of what Jesus Christ will do for us personally, increased?

Have we obtained the promises we have been given us?

Do we have more of God’s grace, which He gives us by His Spirit?

(Remember, grace is the unmerited favor of power in our lives….or the ability to do what He puts in front of us, to do)

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

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

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature (having Christ’s character), having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust (lust is: I want this, and I want this now. Whatever “this” is).”

What about our stand as Christians?

Are we standing on the Rock?

It is quite true that amid the many anxieties and troubles….we may be shake and fear….

But our Rock of Christ Jesus, never moves under us;….but holds us up, still.

Matthew 7:24-25 “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon the Rock:

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a Rock.”

Have we let troubles deprive us of God’s joy or peace?

Do we know His sufficiency? In illness? In loss? Amid anger?

Are we letting His Presence comfort and guide us?

Romans 8:32, 37-39 “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Paul wrote even after years of serving the Lord:

Philippians 3:12. “Not though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.”

And how did he do that?

Philippians 3:13 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do,

forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,”

So, what about us…..this past year….

Whether we have learned a lot; or not gone very far with Him,……we have a new year to grow and gain.

To go on and get into our lives, what has been given us, in Christ Jesus.

Rejoice in the Lord.

Pray for ourselves, and others.

Believe, and obtain the promise of peace, everyday.

Stand on the Rock. (Hang on to Him, As He holds on to us)

Forget those things which are past…if they are forgiven…they are covered under His precious blood….leave them there.

Reach forth for those things Christ Jesus has for us ahead.

Let us gain more of Christ, Who is our life, this year.

Eben-ever, The stone of Help

1 Samuel 7:12 “Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ever, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.”

The story here is:

Israel had sinned, following strange gods. Because of this, Israel had been beaten by the Philistines, and were now in a state of fear.

Samuel then told Israel that it was their sin, which had caused this……

…..but if they would put away these idols………and “prepare their hearts unto the Lord, and serve Him only: and He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” (1 Samuel 7:3)

So they put away their idols, and began to serve the Lord, only.

Samuel then gathered all Israel together to pray for them.

1 Samuel 7:6 “And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the Lord, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the Lord. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.”

An Awakening Meeting was going on! They were getting things right between themselves and God, and the rest of Israel.

Then the Philistines heard of the gathering, and thought they were gathering an army…..this would be a good time to attack.

And so they came up to fight with Israel.

This caused Israel to be very afraid, and so they turned to Samuel:

1 Samuel 7:8 “And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us, that He will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.”

Because of their former sin, they were not only afraid of the Philistines,…..but they were also afraid that the Lord would not hear their cry for help.

They marshaled the men to fight the enemy, and went out.

(Aren’t we the same way. We have sinned, and then repented; our conscience is tender…we are afraid. We know the Lord has forgiven us, but….will He help us as He did before?

Hosea 6:1-2 “Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up.

After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight.”

His promise is….if we will return unto the Lord…..He will heal, He will bind us up, He will revive us, He will raise us up.

Let us believe Him….and return)

Samuel then offered a lamb for a whole burnt offering, and prayed to the Lord for Israel; “and the Lord heard him”.

1 Samuel 7:10 “And as Samuel was offering the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomforted them; and they were smitten before Israel.”

As the armies came together, the Lord thundered and caused fear among the Philistine ranks. God knows how to cause His enemies to fear, for He strikes at their hearts as well as their ears.

And they were defeated, and chased out of Israel.

1 Samuel 7:12-13 “Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ever, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.

So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.”

This stone was put there to remind all who would see, that the Lord is the greatest help, in all our troubles.

“Hitherto hath the Lord helped us”.

That means He has…..but it also looks forward…

……for as He has (and He changes not Lamentations 3:22-25, Hebrews 13:5-6, 8)…

……He surely will in the future…in what is next, and next, and next, for us.

This story shows how the prayer of the righteous, is heard.

The sacrifice of the lamb as a whole burnt offering showing forth Christ; and that we are accepted in Him.

Psalm 34:17-18 “The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”

Israel was beaten in the first place, not by the Philistines; but by their sin.

When they repented and worshipped God again; He heard their cry for help.

And He helped.

“Hitherto hath the Lord helped us”

And when we return unto the Lord,…..He will help us again.