Are you yoked with Christ Jesus?

The Christian experience is an ever upward movement.

When we fall or fail in our walk, we lose ground.

But coming to Christ Jesus is always the first step in being restored,  or in what is next for our lives. (Even after we have failed)

He is our hiding place,  our fire within,  our rest of soul,  our peace.   Coming to Him should be one of the easiest movements for us, as Christians,  because we know His great love for us.

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy ladened,  and I will give you rest.

               Take My yoke upon you,  and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart:  and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

                For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”

When we come to Him, the first thing He gives us is rest.   

             It is rest of spirit…peace (this you feel, as the sea was calmed by the Voice of Jesus),….

…..and it is rest of soul (this comes with understanding His Word, and knowing we are forgiven and cleansed from our sin. 1 John 1:9-10)

                He takes the burden of laboring in this world under the dominion of sin (and the trouble of our besetting sin, as well)….and gives us deliverance.

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

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

This “became the servant of righteousness” is to “learn of Me”.    It happens as we walk with Him.

And then, with the rest of heart and mind,  He shows us His way of progress.

Whether two oxen are plowing, or harvesting, or pulling a wagon to town;  the way the work gets done, is the yoke.

The yoke was a wooden bar, which went across the neck and shoulders of the animals…..two smaller wooden pieces came down against the front of the shoulders….where the animals pushed against to move forward.

        The yoke was to keep the animals together…..each pulling their part…together.

This yoke, then, represents His way to bring His will to pass in our lives…..it is His Way of keeping us…He and I….together in the work.

       (There is the work of growing in grace,….in us.

        There is the work of showing forgiveness and mercy…through us to others.

        There is the work of witness,  prayer, and ministry.)

          

        As Jesus, Himself submitted to all the Father’s Will….humbling Himself….and letting the Father exalt Him in due time…

…so we are to submit to the Lord….

…and let Him work all things out,  for His good,  for me.

But here is the beautiful and….oh so sweet…part.

       “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

“Easy” here means gentle.   The yoke is gentle….it does not chafe or “rub us the wrong way”…..(unless we fight against it).   But it is gently keeping us close to Him, Who walks along side us….wherever we are sent.

The Lord does not say there will not be burdens…..but rather says they will be “light”.

         When the Holy Spirit gives a burden….He gives with it,  understanding, and the ability to discharge it.

“Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden,  and I will give you rest.”

Are we yoked with Christ Jesus?   Are we experiencing the real rest He offers those who submit to Him?

O Give thanks unto the Lord.  

Psalm 107:1 “O give thanks unto the Lord,  for He is good:  for His mercy endureth forever.”

How can we count the mercies God has given us?   

Mercy is God’s kindness to sinners.  

Grace is God’s unmerited favor of power to us.

Hope is of the Holy Spirit….it is that confident expectation that God will do what He says.

Love is God’s Everlasting Arms around us,  and working in us,  for our good.

(There are temporal mercies:  the sun, rain, and food, etc. which come on the good and the evil.    

      But spiritual mercies are for His elect…which have to do with Salvation…all the blessings in Christ.

      The first time “merciful” is used, is when Lot is “taken by the hand” and lead out of the destruction of Sodom…..which is a picture of every man’s salvation:  God takes us by the hand and saves us from the destruction of our sin.

Titus 3:4-6 “But after that  the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared,

          Not by works of righteousness which we have done,  but according to His mercy He saved us,  by working of regeneration,  and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

          Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior;”)

Psalm 86:3 “Be merciful unto me, O Lord:  for I cry unto Thee daily.”

The Lord shows us daily mercies…..again and again….He is there.

Psalm 106:1 “Praise ye the Lord.   O give thanks unto the Lord;  for He is good:  for His mercy endureth forever.”

For His mercy, and all that He has done…..is doing….and certainly will ultimately do…….we should praise Him….

for without mercy we are lost….lost in our sin,…..but also lost in our many sorrows of this world.   

We can become “mired” in the troubles and problems we have…

But His mercy comes along and lifts us out  of all of them.  

He reminds us of HIs might….is He not able?   Of course.

He reminds us of His joy….is He not with us, and for us?   And If He is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

He gives us peace like a fortress. (Philippians 4:7)

Psalm 94:18 “When I said,  My foot slippeth;  Thy mercy, O Lord, held me up.”

Psalm 105:1 “O give thanks unto the Lord;  call upon His name:  make known His deeds among the people.”

Isaiah 63:7 “I will mention the lovingkindness of the Lord,  and the praises of the Lord,  according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us,….”

Praising the Lord should always come when we receive answers to our prayers.    It is His due, of course,……but it also helps us.

“I will mention the lovingkindness of the Lord”…

It is a way to grow in grace and in the knowledge of God….by the retelling of the “adventure” and the deliverance of the Lord,  for us.

It encourages  us now….in what ever is going on…so we will continue to trust and hold on to Him.

It helps us for tomorrow…..it nerves us for the coming storms……for we never know what a day will bring….but we can know our God.

Daniel 11:32 “….but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.”

Not only so……but our testimony of deliverance,  comforts others who might be going through some of the same situations.

Ps 89:1 “I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever:  with my mouth will I make known Thy faithfulness to all generations.”

O give thanks unto the Lord…..thanking the Lord should be as exhaling…..for as we breath in His many blessings…..we should breath out His many praises.

Paul was eminently the Apostle of “thanks unto the Lord”….

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57)

“Now thanks be unto God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of His knowledge by us in every place.” (2 Corinthians 2:14)

“But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care in the heart of Titus for you.” (2 Corinthians 8:16)

“In everything give thanks:  for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

1 Timothy 2:1 “I exhort therefore,  that,  first of all supplications,  prayers,  intercessions,  and giving of thanks,  be made for all men;”

Hebrews 13:15 “By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually,  that is, the fruit of our lips,  giving thanks to His Name.”

I started this with….”How can we count the mercies  God has given us?”

We can not….they are without number….like the stars in the night sky.

But they all center in our blessed Lord Jesus Christ…..Who is the sum and substance of our blessings.

2 Corinthians 9:15 “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

           In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” 

“Direct” here is to “make straight, or right”,  “to make prosperous”.

My husband received these verses years ago when praying about how to receive direction, for the work he was called to do at the time.

It is of the heart not the head….

…what this means is,  that we have to want to hear what the Lord is telling us…..we have to incline our ear…..lean toward Him,  so we can really hear what the Lord is saying to us.

Again,  this is of the heart.

He told me the story of when he was first brought into the ministry of tract passing and soul winning….even before he was called to preach.

He was always praying for opportunities to be used…and as he prayed, he learned how to get guidance for this work…..to yield to the Holy Spirit’s promptings….where people was concerned, and for the words to say.

But after a while,  when he prayed……the Lord would impress him,  with this one person he should speak to….

….but he did not want to speak to  this particular person.

Finally, the Lord told my husband…..this person….or none.

And that settled it…..he spoke to this man.

You see, we can not pick and choose…..who,  or where,  or how…..if we are to let the Lord direct us.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

              In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”

But the real secret to this direction from the Holy Spirit for our walk (our conversation, our calling,  our ministry,  our life)….is:

To acknowledge Him…..in all our ways…..and then He will direct our paths.

But we must acknowledge Him in everything,….

…..not just the big, important things….but the little, everyday things as well.

It is seeking Him in our “paths”…..it is our everyday walk that matters.

And that is where the “trust in the Lord” comes in.

Trust is hanging on to Jesus….to hold Him….and not to let Him go….for His felt Presence with us, by the Holy Spirit,  is our power.

Acknowledge comes from the root word “know”….and that is what it is all about.

     What we know about our God….

….that is what we tell Him….and ask Him, in accordance to that knowledge,  to do for us.

Examples:

David after his sin with Bathsheba….

….David cried for mercy…getting honest with God……for he knew God was merciful:

Psalm 51:1, 6 “Have mercy upon me,  O God, according to Thy loving-kindness:  according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

           Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part Thou shalt make me to know wisdom.”

Jeremiah’s lamentation when Josiah, the last godly king, died…and he knew that terrible judgement which would come on Jerusalem and Judah…

….for they had forsaken God,and His commandments.

Here was the cry of the Lord’s prophet knowing what would come to His people….

…but He also knows God….so he prays….

Lamentations 3:48-50 “Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughters of my people.

              My eye tricketh down,  and ceaseth not, without any intermission, 

              Till the Lord looked down,  and behold from heaven.”

Lamentations 3:22-23, 25 “It is of the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,  because His compassions fail not.

             They are new every morning,  great is Thy faithfulness.

             The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him,  to the soul that seeketh Him.”

And then Peter:

Peter had denied the Lord three times….after he had said he would “lay down his life” for Jesus (John 13:37)

        But then Peter is given the opportunity to confess and get forgiveness….

But the subject is not sin…..although that was there….but love.

John 21:15-17 “So when they had dined,  Jesus saith unto Simon Peter,   Simon, son of Jonas,  lovest thou Me more than these?     He saith unto Him,  Yea,  Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee.      He saith unto him,  Feed my lambs.

          He saith to him again the second time,  Simon,  son of Jonas,  lovest thou Me?    He saith unto Him,   Yea,  Lord;  Thou knowest that I love Thee.    He saith unto him,  Feed My Sheep.

          He saith unto him the third time,   Simon,  son of Jonas,  lovest thou Me?

Peter was grieved because He said unto him the third time,  Lovest thou Me?

And he said unto Him,  Lord, Thou knowest all things;  Thou knowest that I love Thee.    Jesus saith unto him,   Feed My Sheep.”

Why did Peter deny the Lord?     Fear.

Why would Peter go on and do the Lord’s Will, feeding His lambs and sheep,  now….against all that would come up?      Love.

Love must be the motivating factor to our lives….love for Jesus.   Peter would be empowered by the Holy Spirit when He was given on the day of Pentecost….but love must wave the banner over our lives.

“…And when He (Jesus) had spoken this,  He saith unto him (Peter),   Follow Me.” (John 21:19)

Peter must love the Lord (so must we)….if we are to “Trust in the Lord”….and get direction.

It must be love…..to trust and obey.

It is our privilege and duty to seek His direction in our paths….our everyday walk in this world….even when we have failed….

And He is more than willing to give it.

Let us….Trust in the Lord,….stop leaning on our own opinions….and since we know Him….and love Him….

…..let us go to Him in all our ways, and seek Him according to our knowledge of Him…..and He will guide us.

Now According to the Faithful and True Witness 

Revelation 3:14 “And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write;  these things saith the Amen,  the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the Creation of God.”

I will say here, that we believe that we are called to this Laodicean age. In other words we believe that we are called to Awaken the church to God’s claims on their lives.  

As Christians, we are redeemed;  we belong to Him, therefore His Will should be the purpose of our lives.

(Yes, we believe that these letters each represent both a real church being written to;  and an age within the Church dispensation.

In each letter,  the church or the true believers is the focus—not the lost.  Jesus Christ is dictating these letters so they will know how He feels about their problems,  their tribulations, and their failures;  and the grace they need to get, to deal with them.)

Thus saith the Amen.

Now, He alone can say this:  this means “Let it be,  Let it happen.”  He alone is the Affirmation and Confirmation of every Word of God.

We must say,  “If God wills.”  (James 4:13-15).  But He can say Amen, and it will be.

The Faithful and True Witness.  A witness just states what He sees and what He knows.

And what does Jesus see when He looks at Laodicea?

Revelation 3:15-16 “I know thy works,  that thou art neither cold or hot:  I would thou wert cold or hot.

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

(Indifference to God, after He has done so much for us;  is the very worst state we can possibly be in. 

And if continued in, will result in being “spued out of His mouth”.)

And the reason of our indifference?

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:”

Because we say, that I am rich, and increased with goods….and our attitude is 

I “have need of nothing”….not even God’s direction, anymore.

But Jesus sees their true condition before Him, and says:  And knowest not!

Is it possible to be in such a state and not know it?  According to the Faithful and True Witness, it is;  and we Laodiceans, are.

We do not know that we are really wretched:  

This is a terrible word,  but Paul used it of himself when he was testifying of his battle with himself, his “old man”.

Paul was a very religious Pharisee,  but he discovered from the Spirit of God, his covetousness.   

To covet is to “set the heart upon”. 

(When we set our hearts upon something, it takes over our emotions, our reason, and our wills…..we even become unwilling to listen to God,…to have this thing.   It is on the throne of our hearts…not God as He should be.)

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

      Why did he say this?   Because he saw that even as a Christian, we have our old nature within us….which still wants its own way.

Romans 7:18 “For I know that in me(that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me;  but how to perform that which is good I find not.”

Paul was having trouble with his old self.   He was trying to do what God wanted, but found that his trying often failed.  

Paul knew he was wretched.

So what did he do?    He sought freedom from self, by the Spirit of God.

Romans 8:2, 4 “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

                         That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us,  who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Here was the answer to his wretchedness:  walking in the Spirit,  not in the flesh.

We Laodiceans are trying to do both:  be in Christ, and in the world……for ourselves.

Christ Jesus plainly teaches that if you would be a follower of Christ you should deny yourself, pick up your cross [does that sound like something the world would like to be around?] and follow Him.

We are to lose our self-life,  to have our Christ- life (Matthew 16:24-26)

That is why the Faithful and True Witness says we are also:  

     miserable…..how many Christians today are unhappy, discontented.

     and poor….not rich in God’s grace by His Spirit, but barely getting by.

     and blind….someone has said,  we are blind because we have our eyes shut, so we can not see ourselves as Christ sees us.

     And naked…..without the righteous acts or the obediences to God, which separate us from the world, and give a “covering” of peace, and power.

Christ’s witness has been against us so far……..but our blessed Lord Jesus does not leave us (never!);    but counsels us, as our Advocate, with the best advice:

Revelations 3:18 “I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire,  that thou mayest be rich;  and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed,  and that the shame of thy nakedness  do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve,  that thou mayest see.”

When we “buy” from Jesus,  we are not buying salvation;  that is a free gift.

But when we are His,  we are to come to Him and get what we need.  

He calls it “buying” here because we are to come with the attitude of getting real gain, real value.

To come with the knowledge of our lack;  and seek Him for His precious grace,  being obedient to His call;….this is to “buy” from Him.

He knows all and counsels us to get gold—gold always speaks of God.   So we are to get the true riches of His commanding presence and power in our lives. 

(Tried in the fire, is true gold with the dross or admixture burnt out, by the trials of standing with Him)

He counsels us to get white raiment, or the covering of righteous acts, so we will not be ashamed at His coming. (2 John 8-9)

He counsels us to stop being blind, by getting honest (by the Holy Spirit’s help) with Him and with ourselves. 

As the Lord told my husband once:  that if any true Christian would get a good look at their own heart, they would want to do something about it immediately.  

Then Jesus says to His Laodicean church:

Revelation 3:19-20 “As many as I love,  I rebuke and chasten:  be zealous therefore, and repent.

                                   Behold, I stand at the door,  and knock:  if any man hear My  voice,  and open the door,  I will come into him, and will sup with him,  and he with me.”

This is fellowship…

And the power of His presence. 

(Psalm 23:5 “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:  Thou anointed my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”)

“I will come into him and will sup with him”….these two things the Lord says He will do…..if we will repent and open our lives to Him,  again.

Do you hear Him today, calling you to repent of your lukewarmness or indifference….to Him?

Then answer His voice:

To answer the call of Christ in this Laodicean age, requires not an answer of words at some altar;

But the answer of a life open to and receptive to Him.

None other will do.

He says, “I will”.      Will you?

Our Armor of Proof 

Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil”

Ephesians 6:13 “Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

We are to put on the whole armor of God;   to stand,    that we might withstand.

Stand in this military context, means “to hold the ground given”.   In other words, we are to hold the ground Christ bought and paid for; and has given us (individually) to stand on.

To withstand means to resist or oppose.   We are to resist or oppose evil, that we might continue to stand on the ground Christ has given us.

The ground Christ has won for us is life….eternal life, lived now in the circumstances we are in.   It is our ministries, and our gifts….it is peace and joy.   

This ground Christ has won,  but we are to hold on to it…..and not let the world or the devil deprive us of them….or doubt God’s love and purpose for us.

Our armor of proof is not so many imaginary pieces, but real, spiritual helps; that we might stand in the evil day.

Ephesians 6:14 “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth,..”

We first need truth.   It is pictured as surrounding us, as protection.   

This truth covers the will.   When we do God’s Will, we are yielding to the Truth.  We are in the Light, in the path we are to tread;  and as such, certain things can not touch us.   There is power in the truth, and it is at our disposal.

And Jesus again said:

John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

As we let the word of God surround us in our everyday life;  it will be like armor to our soul.   Nothing will be able to get in that is not according to His will,  for we know His Word. 

(This is not the offensive weapon of our sword, but defensive knowledge)

Ephesians 6:14 “…and having on the breastplate of righteousness;”

There is the righteousness of Christ, which is imputed to us;  which makes us righteous before God.

(2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”)

         We can come before God in boldness (Hebrews 4:16) because of Christ’s righteousness.

But there is also the righteous acts we are to do:  

Romans 6:16 “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey;  whether of sin unto death,  or obedience unto righteousness?”

Titus 3:8 “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.  These things are good and profitable unto men.”

This breastplate of righteousness, covers the heart.  

The term here “having” for the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness,  suggests the thought: “Will you have it?”

For these are the beginning of our protection. And we can not stand without truth and righteousness in our lives.

Ephesians 6:15 “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;”

        We need peace to stand on.   The peace that passeth all understanding.(Philippians 4:7) keeps us in all sorts of circumstances.  The storm may blow, but we are at peace.    It keeps us grounded, so our emotions and thoughts do not “run away with us.”

And when we have experienced this for ourselves, we are able to stand firm , no matter the storm.

Ephesians 6:16 “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”

       Faith is that amazing gift of the Holy Spirit, that delivers us in times of doubt (Hebrews 4:1-2), in times of temptation from the world (1 John 5:4),  and here it states that it keeps us from the accusations and suggestions of the devil.

It will “shield” us by covering the mind with Light to see these tricks as they really are.

It will “shield” us by covering our heart with Love, God’s love for us.

It will “shield” us by covering our walk with the knowledge of God’s forgiveness, and power.

Remember, this piece is movable…for faith covers all of us.

Ephesians 6:17 “And take the helmet of salvation,…”

“Take” implies use.

Take the knowledge of your salvation to keep you from sin:

1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

Our salvation can protect our mind:

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) 

                    Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against  the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

Ephesians 6:17 “…and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:”

        This and all-prayer are our offensive weapons.   All the rest are defensive.  For we don’t go out to conqueror; but we are standing, holding ground that Christ has already won.  

But when attacked, we need to defend ourselves.   

And the best offense is: 

God’s Word given to you at the time of attack….by the Holy Spirit to you.  

        It suits what the devil is suggesting, or accusing you of……taking the influence of that attack away.

It is verses, or parts of verses, and promises.   

Then God’s power is there for you.

James 4:7-8 “Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

                 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.  Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded.”

Ephesians 6:18 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

We are to pray always (1 Thess. 5:17)

Jude 20 “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,”

Prayer is our life line to direction, comfort, correction, everything we need.

This kind of prayer is  “in the Spirit”.    

Both of the offensive weapons are by direction of the Holy Spirit.

The sword of the Spirit, and prayer…in the Spirit.

He guides us into what to say to the attacks of the devil;   And what to pray for, to get the help we need against these attacks….both for ourselves and for others.

I titled this  Our Armor of Proof,  because the Lord has provided these spiritual helps…..He has given us His Word,    His Spirit,    and knowledge of our enemy’s wiles….and in our “Stand”, we need to prove them, for ourselves.

They are all we need to stand against the wiles of the devil….will we use them?

Have you Heard the Lord call you? 

Song of Solomon 5:2 ” I sleep, but my heart waketh:  it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh,  saying,  Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled:  for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.”

This is a story of a believer, who has gone to sleep.   But she hears the voice of her Lord, in her heart, and she awakes.

So far, so good.

Then with her understanding, she hears Him call to her to open to Him.

This opening up of her life,  is different than the Salvation she has already experienced.      For He calls her, His sister;  being joint-heirs with Christ.

Romans 8:16-17 “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit,  that we are the children of God:

          And if children, then heirs;  heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him,  that we may be also glorified together.”

She has had fellowship with the Lord;   and has gone on in that fellowship to be called  His dove.

Now a dove can see only one thing at a time, and this has been her experience in Christ;  keeping her eyes on Him.

Song of Solomon 1:15 “Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves eyes.”

Matthew 6:22 “The light of the body is the eye:  if therefore thine eye be single,  thy whole body  shall be full of light.”

He calls her His undefiled.   This shows, that in that love relationship, she has gone on with Him;…..so she is being saved from the defilements of the world,  and self.

1 John 2:15 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

            For all that is in the world,  the lust of the flesh,   and the lust of the eyes,   and the pride of life,  is not of the Father, but is of the world.”

But  this calling, here, is a deeper calling, for Jesus calls her,  as the One who sweat great drops of blood as in the garden (Luke 22:44).

But there seems to be a hinderance to His call,….

Song of Solomon 5:3 “I have put off my coat;  how shall I put it on?   I have washed my  feet;  how shall I defile them?”

It would seem that having experienced so much of Her Lord, she has become a little proud. (Remember, one of the things the Lord deals with His own about is the “pride of life”)

“I have put off my coat”…….simply means she had begun to put off the old man with it’s deeds.

Colossians 3:9 “Lie not one to another, seeing ye have put off the old man with his deeds;”

Was she now to be defiled by working in the world?

“I have washed my feet”……..All her sins were confessed, up to date.  And she had been cleansed from them.   If she ventures out into the world to work for Jesus, won’t she again be contaminated by it?

These might have been very good questions,…..if…..Jesus were not the One calling her to go out with Him,…..to the work of bringing souls to Christ.

Song of Solomon 5:4-5 “My beloved put his hand by the hole of the door,  and my bowels were moved for him.

         I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh,  and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh,   upon the handles of the lock.”

The ancient doors used to have holes in them by the handle, so that when someone dear would come, they would put perfume (myrrh) on the inside of the door handle, to show they had been there.

Though she had hesitated to go further with the Lord,…..for what she thought were good reasons;……still she loves Him and is moved to go and open her hearts door again to His  Call.    

When she does, her hands drip with the perfume of myrrh.

(Myrrh was used to anoint the bodies of the dead, before burial, and was one of the treasures brought to Jesus at His birth by the wise men.)

So Jesus Christ is calling this loved one to go with Him into the experience of intercession, and travail for those He wants saved…..

and to work for those who are babes in Christ,….to help them grow up in Him.

Often, this is a hard work, for it recognizes our imperfections, as well as those of others.   

Also, it is a long work;  it is not done in a day, or even a week;  but till Christ be formed in them.

Galatians 4:19 “My little children,  of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,”

But she had opened,……..but she found Him gone.

Christ never retracts a calling;  but He often withdraws the feeling of His presence, to prove us.

Will we become angry?

Or will be seek Him?

Song of Solomon 5:6 “I opened to my beloved;  but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone:  my soul failed when he spake:  I sought him,  but I could not find him;  I called him, but he gave me no answer:”

She seeks Him.  She sought Christ Jesus in the usual means….of prayer and church services…..hoping to find Him there.

She calls to Him to speak to her again, but it seemed as if He was refusing to call again.

She had come so far with Him,  and now she had failed Him, the dearest Friend she had ever had.   

She wanted to go back to the way things were….but the call had come, and she was either going to seek till she did find,……or  yield to the pride she had shown earlier.

What follows is a conversation between her, and those who would seek Him also.

“What is thy beloved more that another beloved?”  They ask. (Song of Solomon 5:9-16)

Then she describes His  Greatness,  His strength in times of her weakness,…….and that He is the altogether lovely One to her.

Song of Solomon 5:16 “His mouth is most sweet:  yea,  he is altogether lovely.  This is my beloved,  and  this is my friend,  O daughters of Jerusalem.”

When she describes Him,  she realizes that He has never left her,  but proved her love to Him.   

Did she love Him?…….Or His gifts?

She loved Him,  and found Him.  

They were united in the work as well as in life. 

Theirs was a love relationship;   And true love follows to the end,  for the Loved One.

Have you heard the Lord call you?    Perhaps you have hesitated, too.   Listen to the love in your heart for Jesus, and answer His call.    

Jeremiah  29:13 “And ye shall seek Me, and find Me,  when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.”

His,  has been, and is an everlasting love, for us.

Will we answer His call?

Our conscience 

What is our conscience?  Our conscience is the “light that lighteth every man” (John 1:9)….

…it is the impress of the brilliant light of the Holy Spirit when we were first created (Genesis 2:7)….

….the Holy Spirit left Adam when he sinned….but left the impress of the knowledge of God,…..and man’s responsibility to obey Him.

It is our moral compass….a gift from our Creator….

….it is a inward knowledge of what is good and what is evil,…showing that man is responsible to God’s will…….which either approves of what is done….or reproves what is done.

Romans 2:13-15 “(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

             For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

             Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another;)”

Our conscience can become contaminated,  darkened,….by the choices we make….

….or they can hear the Lord’s voice, and convict us….to lead us toward or away from Him,….

….they can be cleansed…..through Christ….

….and we can have a “good conscience, void of offense.”

There are several types of consciences in scripture:

There is the defiled conscience…

Titus 1:15 “Unto the pure all things are pure:  but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure;  but even their mind and conscience is defiled.”

Defiled means to taint or to contaminate.  

Simply speaking,  those with a defiled conscience see good in nothing…..they expect everyone to have the same greedy, lustful, or malicious motives as they do….

Example:  Judas when he saw Mary pour a very expensive box of ointment on Jesus….

John 12:3-6 “Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus….

       Then saith….Judas Iscariot….which should betray Him,  

       Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence,  and given to the poor?

        This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief….”

Now what he said, sounded good…..maybe even charitable…..but behind it was his defiled conscience….which thought Jesus not worthy of anything…..and him worthy of getting all he could get (for he wanted to steal part of the money).

(The sad thing is……what people suggest often effects others….for when Judas says this…..even the other disciples were…..for a moment…thinking that way….

Mark 14:4 says,  “And there were some that had indignation…”

Matthew 26:6 says,  “But when His disciples saw it, they had indignation…”

But in both of these places, it shows the real attitude of the other disciples….for when Jesus corrects them, that settles it.)

But Judas immediately goes to the chief priests to “sell” Jesus to them [Matthew 26:14-16]

And to his defiled conscience, it was perfectly alright to do so.

        

Matthew 15:18-20 “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart;  and they defile the man.

          For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

          These are the things which defile a man:…”

Then there is the convicted conscience:

John 8:9 “And they which heard it,  being convicted by their own conscience,  went out one by one,  beginning at the eldest, even unto the last:  and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.”

This was the woman taken in adultery….quite guilty….and according to the law…should be stoned (so should the man that had been with her, though the Pharisee’s did not bring him)…

…..yet Jesus’s statement brought everyone of them to their senses…..to the moral right.

They had not brought the man….only her….not for God’s glory, but to lay a trap for Jesus.

When Jesus said, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” (Verse 7)

That brought their minds back to God….sin….their sin….

And their moral compass turned to right thoughts….and they left.

(We could also mention Peter’s convicted conscience…….when he heard the cock crow….which Jesus had told him would happen……and went out weeping.)

There is the weak conscience:  

1 Corinthians 8:12 “But when ye sin so against the brethren,  and wound their weak conscience,  ye sin against Christ.”

Some Christians are strong in the faith….some are not.    The weak are easily fearful,  without the confidence in God’s Word to them.

What  Christians do, has a great deal of influence on others.   Some could eat the meat, that had been formerly offered to idols…..because they were just idols…

….while others thought that it would be sacrilege, because the meat had been part of the offering to what they came out of….idol worship.

We are not to offend a brother or sister with a weak conscience…..for Christ shed HIs blood to save them, just like He did for us.   

We are to “bend over backward” so that they will not be offended…

…..or worse,…..we are not to encourage them to do, what  would be sin to them.

Matthew 18:6-7 “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone where hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

               Woe unto the world because of offenses! For it must needs be that offenses come;  but woe to the man by whom the offenses cometh!”

We are not to dishearten or discourage the weaker children of God…..but strengthen and encourage them to keep following Christ….and grow in Him.

There is a cleansed conscience:

Hebrews 9:14 “How much more shall the blood of Christ,  Who through the Eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

Christ’s blood cleanses us from all sin…..and cleanses our conscience, that we may come boldly to God.

Hebrews 10:19, 22 “Having therefore,  brethren,  boldness to enter into the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,  

            Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,  having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience,  and our bodies washed with pure water.”

We come to Christ….just as we are…and then He washes us by His blood,  His Word, and His Spirit….

…..making us clean….in spirit, mind, and heart….right down to our consciences….making us pure, in wanting God’s Will

1 John 3:20-21 “For if our heart condemn us,  God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

               Beloved, if our heart condemn us not,  then have we confidence toward God.”

And then there is the “good conscience”….

1 Timothy 1:5 “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:”

Notice that a good conscience has to do with a pure heart (which sees God Matthew 5:8)…..and faith.

Acts 23:1 “And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said,  Men and brethren,  I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.”

And how did he do this?

Acts 24:16 “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men.”

It wasn’t that Paul was especially good….rather it was that he lived not to do anything that would dishonor his God,  or injure another person…..

….and if he did, he wanted to know….and to get it taken care of.

Our conscience is our moral compass…..which shows us that we have a responsibility to God, and our fellowman.

When we are born again…..our conscience is enlightened by His Word,  and cleansed by His blood……so that it is not an enemy to us,   but a helper.

It does not lead us…..the Holy Spirit does that…..but it lends it’s inward voice within us….saying “Amen”….to what the Holy Spirit does.

Our enlightened conscience helps to unite all the voices within (the voice of reason,  the voice of emotion,  the voice of others we hear) to Christ.

Are we staying in the middle of the Way? 

Proverbs 30:7-9 “Two things have I required of Thee;  deny me them not before I die:

                Remove far from me vanity and lies;   Give me neither poverty or riches,  feed me with food convenient for me:

                Lest I be full, and deny Thee,  and say,  Who is the Lord?   Or lest I be poor, and steal,  and take the name of my God in vain.”

This “middle of the Way”, comes from my reading Pilgrims Progress.  

          It is when Christian is hurrying up the hill of Difficulty, and it is growing dark….that he sees two lions;  one on either side of the Way!

          This sight frightens and stops Christian for a moment…..till the Porter of the House Beautiful (the local Church),  calls out to him:

          “Can’t you see they are chained….they can only come so far into the Way.  You will be safe….as long as you stay in the middle of the Way.”

            

And how often it is the same for us…..when circumstances frighten….because we were not prepared,….

…..or we have expected,…..since we have “climbed this hill of Difficulty”,…..that things will be easy…..

We get frightened….then stop.     

            It is good the Lord often calls out to us, through the Word, or a message, or a fellow Christian…..that we may see that the lions are chained.

(How grateful to the Lord Jesus for this!)

These verses are some I love.    They set the goal of my life on the right footing.

Giving God charge of what is in store for me….and petitioning (“required” here means “earnestly beseeching”) our Lord, that He keep us “in the middle of the Way.”

“Remove me far from vanity and lies”.      “Far from”,  is where we all should want to be, from the useless things of this world,….and that is what “vanity” is.

And from lies…..lies that I want to believe….or that are spread abroad about others,   or me.

Our Lord taught us to pray: (Matthew 6:13) “And lead us not into temptation”…..for He has made a way to escape, if we will seek it (1 Corinthians 10:13)……but when I fall into it…….

…..”but deliver us from evil”…..the evil one, the devil, and his tricks…..and the evil of coming under the influence of my fall.

Let me…

Not be rich….either in money, prestige, or success….so I won’t get proud and begin to think I do not need the Lord. (Luke 12:16-21)

Not be poor….either in money, friends, or spiritual experience….so I won’t envy others…..or be angry with You, Lord, and “take the name of my God in vain”.

This “take the name of my God in vain” (and notice is it “my God”)……does not mean swearing…..

……but in the Hebrew, means:  “accusing God of not being what His Name says He is”.    To accuse God’s mercy and love, of being false.

He is Merciful, Righteous, Glorious, Gracious, full of loving-kindness, and peace.

But when circumstances grow difficult…..trials come…..and we seem quite unable to meet them….we are poor, then….

…do we still feel the same way, toward the Lord?

My husband had taught a study on Galatians, and then began Philippians, once,……when our son….who was little at the time….

….said,  Dad, I like this study better than that other one.

….Really, why?

…..Because this one has happy people in it…the other one didn’t.

And he was right, though I had not seen it before,….like that…..

The Galatians were trying so hard to be superior Christians…..and had gotten tricked into thinking their own works…following the law…..would add to their value to the Lord. (Galatians 1:6-8)

The Philippians, on the other hand, 

(and I recommend, if you have not read it lately, to do so again!   Nine times, more than any other book in the New Testament, “rejoice” is used. Six times “joy” is used.)  

They were being persecuted, [Philippians 1:28-30],….yet only sought to be steadfast to the Lord Jesus Christ…..and they were joyful in it!

They were a poor church, yet sent an offering to Paul for his needs. (Philippians 4:15)

What a difference in the two books!

Listen to the epistle the Apostle wrote:

Philippians 1:9 “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;”

Philippians 1:25-26 “And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; 

              That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ  for me by my coming to you again.”

Philippians 3:1 “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord…..”

He tells them of the way he has walked….what the Lord has shown him:

Philippians 3:13-14 “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, 

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

Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.”

Paul loves them dearly, writing: 

Philippians 4:1 “Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord,  my dearly beloved.”

And then, in this epistle,  he clearly speaks of true contentment:

Philippians 4:11-12 “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 I know 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.”

This is the same thing the writer of Proverbs was writing about…..but Paul adds a blessed reality of how we can do this:

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Let us take His strength in righteousness, joy and peace…..and be content.

Here is the secret of contentment…..of being neither rich or poor…..but staying in the middle of the Way……

….”through Christ which strengtheneth me.” 

Our Way is before us,…..our life is always a next step with Jesus Christ.

Let us “stay in the middle of the Way”……

…..the lions are chained,  though they roar, and frighten….

…..stay with Him, and let Him give us the strength for what is ahead.

Are you an Overcomer?

Revelation 3:20 “Behold,  I stand at the door, and knock:  if any man hear my voice and open the door,  I will come into him,  and will sup with him,  and he with me.”

Before you can become the overcomer of Revelation 3:21;  you must open the door of your life to Christ.

He will not knock down the door and come in;  nor will He force His way in some other way.

He calls to the individual that hears His voice, to open to Him.   It is  a Life,  open to and receptive to Him,  that counts.

This is not sinless perfection;  but the desire to have the fellowship offered by the Lord,  here.

He will not force us to have this fellowship which is suggested in the, “sup with him, and he with me”.  

It all rests with our “want to”.    

     You will never have the Reality of the love relationship that He intends,  until the Holy Spirit has created within you this want to.

(What is the want to?   

      It is not just feelings….like the want to of a new car.

      It is not just reasons….like a mathematical problem solved.   

It is the new nature within you replacing the desires of this world,  with the desire of God’s rule within.

      “The lack of desire is the ill of all ills.

Many thousand through it, the dark pathway have trod.

         The balsam, the wine of predestinate wills,

Is the jubilant pining and longing for God.”

Psalm 119:36 “Incline my heart unto Thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.”

    This should be our prayer….and God will answer within us by placing that fire of “want to” within.

Psalm 119:40 “Behold, I have longed after Thy precepts:  quicken me in Thy righteousness.”)

We can know and claim His love to us.   All His children can.   But before you can really say “I love you” to Christ;  you must give up loving yourself so much.

Again,  it is the want to .

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.”

And what do we overcome?

Everything which stands in the way of God’s Will for our lives.  

This is what Christ did while He was on earth,…..so must we.

We overcome fear, by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit,….and trust.

We overcome ourselves in every way, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and deny ourselves, and be obedient to Christ.

We overcome circumstances,  in the power of the Holy Spirit,  joy for sorrow,  peace for chaos,  patience for worry, and anger.   He empowers.  He gives grace (the unmerited favor of power)

To overcome anything is to yield to Christ’s Word, and the Holy Spirit within;  and come out of your self life,  and  into Christ’s life for you.

We must always bear in mind,  Who it is that speaks to us.   And What He is able to do;  even within the most rebellious, or lazy,  or selfish thoughts within us.

Christ is able, and has sent His Holy Spirit to us,  to enable us in the very place, time, and circumstances, we are in.

Have you heard His voice to you?   Is He knocking again for entrance to your life?

It is fellowship that He desires,  do you so desire this fellowship, too?

Are you an overcomer?   Will you overcome everything which stands in the way of Christ’s life for you?

The Test of Devotion/Where is the Lord God of Elijah? 

2 Kings 2:1 “And it came to pass,  when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind,  that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.”

Elijah was God’s Prophet.  He had been called,  when Israel was at one of it’s worst times. 

He had proved that God was “the God”, before all Israel in a “showdown” with the four hundred priests of Baal, who were supported by Jezebel, the queen. (1 Kings 18:36-39)

His success there, thwarted the efforts of Jezebel to destroy the worship of God.

There were still those who were idol worshippers……but she could no longer kill, and torture those who believed in God, as she had before.  

There had been a renewal of the worship of the Lord, because of Elijah.

But now it was time for Elijah to be taken to heaven.   Years before, Elijah had been told to anoint Elisha as prophet, in his room. (1 Kings 19:16, 19-21)

And Elisha had been a servant to Elijah, as his helper, while his training had been going on. (Some say this took about ten years…for Elijah’s ministry went through Ahab’s reign into his son’s  2 Kings 1)

2 Kings 2:2 “And Elijah said unto Elisha,  Tarry here, I pray thee;  for the Lord hath sent me to Beth-el.   And Elisha said unto him,  As the Lord liveth,  and as thy soul liveth,  I will not leave thee.  So they went down to Beth-el.”

                     

So Elijah and Elisha traveled from Gilgal to Beth-el together.  

Elijah had asked Elisha to stay at Gilgal, but Elisha would not leave him.   Where he went,  his helper would go also.

Elisha knew that God was going to take Elijah, and he wanted to hear every instruction, every prayer, and every help he could, before that happened.

He also felt that being with him till the end was his duty.

That God would show him what to do next,  by it.

We have been called to follow Christ Jesus.   Through His Word, He has shown us many things.

We know we are born again, but often, we are conscious of a lack of power in what we do….

How are we to do, all we have been called to do?   

Of course, it is through the power of the Holy Spirit within….learning all we can from Him….letting Him manifesting Himself through us……staying with Him, everywhere He leads.

2 Kings 2:4 “And Elijah said unto him,  Elisha, tarry here,  I pray thee;  for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho.   And he said,  As the Lord liveth,  and as thy soul liveth,  I will not leave thee.  So they came to Jericho.”

They travel on,  together…they are traveling south and east…toward the starting place where Israel first came into the land of Canaan…to the River Jordan. 

2 Kings 2:6 “ And Elijah said unto him,  Tarry,  I pray thee, here;  for the Lord hath sent me unto Jordan.    And he said,  As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth,  I will not leave thee.    And they two went on.”

Stay here?    Elijah asked, at both places…….But again came the reply, “I will not leave thee.”

I believe, Elisha knew that the ministry of Elijah was ending…..and his, as God’s prophet to Israel,  was beginning.  

He knew that he would need to see the work Elijah started,…..done.  

Elijah had awakened the people to God’s claims on their lives…..and Elisha was to guide and instruct them into the Word and Will of God.

There were many who had come out of hiding, and now worship the Lord openly….but they needed instruction….so Elisha was to teach them.

God would part them….that was His Will……but Elisha would continue on as Elijah’s servant, and companion, till God did.  

He would not leave him, till then.

2 Kings 2:7c-9 “…and they two stood by Jordan.

And Elijah took his mantle,  and wrapped it together,  and smote the waters,  and they were divided hither and thither,  so that they two  went over on dry ground.

                       And it came to pass,  when they were gone over,  that Elijah said unto Elisha,  Ask what I shall do for thee,  before I be taken away from thee.                    And  Elisha said,   I pray thee,  that a double portion of thy Spirit be upon me.”

Here Elisha sees once more the power of God Elijah received,  and put to use…to cross a river which was an obstacle to where they were going…

And here, Elijah asks him “what shall I do for thee?”

Without hesitation,  Elisha asks for a double portion of the power of God.

Why a double portion?

He felt that he needed more of that power of the Holy Spirit,  to help him finish the work Elijah had started. 

It is one thing to begin following the Lord….it is another to persevere through testing and trials….so…

If Israel was to be guided according to the Word of God, then Elisha would need double the power that Elijah had been given.

It is one thing to show God, as “the God”;  as Elijah had.

But to guide the believers of God, into the life which they ought to have, stay with them, or visit them, to help them again and again.  

This was Elisha’s ministry.

He felt that such a work, would need great power.   The enemies of God were still at work.  Idolatry was always a problem.

Elisha felt, if he was to serve acceptably as God’s Prophet, he would need much of the Holy Spirit.

2 Kings 2:10 “And he said,   Thou hast asked a hard thing:  nevertheless,  if thou see me when I am taken from thee,  it shall be so unto thee;  but if not, it shall not be so.”

Now if Elijah had said this at the first,  we could understand Elisha’s sticking close to him.    

But that was not the reason for him staying with Elijah.  

His devotion was to the man who lead him into a deeper knowledge of God.

Elijah had taught Elisha many things,  shared his experiences, and manifested to Elisha the great faithfulness of God to His people.  

Now it was time for Elisha to do the same with the sons of the prophets (groups of believers which met together in various cities),  and with Israel.

Elijah’s ministry would now be passed on to Elisha, to be finished.

2 Kings 2:11-13 “And it came to pass,  as they went on,  and talked that,  Behold,  there appeared a chariot of fire,  and horses of fire,  and parted them both asunder;  and Elijah went by a whirlwind into heaven.

                        And Elisha saw it,  and he cried,  My Father, My Father,  the chariot of Israel,  and the horsemen thereof.  And he saw him no more.  And he took hold of his own clothes,  and rent them into two pieces.

                        He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him,  and went back,  and stood by the bank of Jordan;”

Going on, walking and talking, as they had done so many times;  God parted them, with a chariot of fire and horses of fire.

Elijah was taken up to heaven, without seeing death,  and Elisha saw him no more.

Elisha then tore his outer clothes in two pieces, to show he was no longer just Elisha…..and he picked up the mantle Elijah had dropped (which had been cast upon him when Elijah had called him. 1 Kings 19:19).

He was now Prophet in Elijah’s place.  

2 Kings 2:13-14 “He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him,  and went back,  and stood by the bank of the Jordan;

                        And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him,  and smote the waters, and said,

                        Where is the Lord God of Elijah?    And when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither:   And Elisha went over.”

Elisha got what was promised….and went on to do his calling.

He asked, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?”…..are you with me as You were with Elijah?

He had received a double portion of the Holy Spirit which had been on Elijah.

He was now to finish the work of leading the believers of God, in Israel, on to a more full, and joyful life with God….even in these trying times.

And we are always to continue on in our ministry to the church….to other Christians…and to those who seek the Lord.

In his ministry, Elisha dealt with kings,  captains, and those which would be kings. 

But his ministry mainly centered around the circuit he walked with his servants, to preach and instruct those that believed in God and stayed true to Him.

From Gilgal, to Mt. Carmel, to Samaria, to Beth-el, and around, Elisha went delivering the message of God; saving such as came to seek God’s help, and leading others to a fuller knowledge of God.

Elisha died an old man….ministering till the last to those who came to him. (2 Kings 13:13-21)

We, too, have a ministry for which we should seek the empowering of the Holy Spirit.

He is in us, if we are born again;  but to have His power in our lives, we need to submit to  Him….and His Word.

The condition of Elisha receiving the double portion, was that he stay with Elijah to the end, and see him go.

Elisha’s obedience gave him that blessing.

So we, too, need to “stay with” the Holy Spirit, by obeying what we have been given to do,  removing all that hinders His Word and influence within us, and….standing in the place Christ Jesus won for us in His Victory on the Cross.

Where is the Lord God of Elijah?    He is the same, yesterday, and today, and forever.

So He is ever with His people as they obey Him.

Hebrews 13:8-9b “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

                      Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines.  For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace;…”

He is ever ready to “give power to the faint, and to them that have not might, He increases strength”. (Isaiah 40:29)

But it is as we “stay with”,   yield to,   and obey the Holy Spirit within.