Grace and Peace be multiplied

2 Peter 1:1-2 “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have attained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ:

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God , and of Jesus our Lord,”

“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you”. Peter is writing, considering that he will soon be martyred. And because of the persecution that the church will be under soon.

(Peter was writing in the apostolic age of the church….the church to Ephesus in Revelation is this church. There was beginning, even then, to be error and apostasy…..”thou hast lost thy first love”.

….But soon the age of Smyrna…the time of throwing Christians to the lions in Rome…would come upon them. And so Peter calls them to see the blessings that are in Christ….the importance for every Christian to grow in grace and peace…by growing in knowledge (experience with Christ).

Peter is praying for them that Christ’s grace and peace abound….or be multiplied to them. And telling them how it will be:

It is “through the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord”.

This is, of course, personal, experiential knowledge of God. That He is our God.

Have you ever thought of that term: God. It means Sovereign…over all. It means All powerful. It means Gracious, Merciful, and Holy.

But what does it mean to us? When I think of God, I think of when Jesus said….”I ascend to My Father, and Your Father; and My God, and your God.” John 20:17

He chose me,….

…..and when I was born again, I chose Him.

He is my God. Over all….the world…and my circumstances.

And He wants us to know Him.

They that know their God shall do exploits (Daniel 11:32)

And through the knowledge of “Jesus our Lord”.

Do you know Jesus as Savior, only? Or as Lord?

And what knowledge are we to gain?

2 Peter 1:3 “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:”. Notice how many times Peter stresses “knowledge of Him”.

It is knowledge through His Word;

2 Peter 1:4 “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

How important reading the Bible everyday is, for it’s guidance and help. (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

But it is laying hold on them for our everyday lives that counts. As we dare….be bold…and act in accordance to what these promises for us are….then we really “grow” in Christ. We begin to show HIs nature….His character…and have the reality of those promises.

How can we best know how to pray? Listen to the prayers of those written of here, in the scriptures.

(It is amazing that Jesus prayed all night many times….yet the prayers we have recorded are prayers He taught the disciples (Matthew 6:10-13, Luke 11:2-4)….and the two prayers of subjection to His Father:

Matthew 11:25-26 “…I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in Thy sight.”

And of course the prayers in the garden….”Not Mine will, but Thine be done.” What a lesson in these prayers!)

Knowledge of what He wants to do for us, today, in the very circumstances we are in; with the very people we are called to be around.

(Read Ephesians 6:1-9 for an exhortation in practical life in our homes and jobs!)

Knowledge of His peaceful, powerful, and encouraging Presence. What a blessing it is!

Psalm 3:5 “I laid me down and slept; I awake; for the Lord sustained me.”

Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to HIs riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

And knowledge of what we need to put aside as we grow in grace,…..what we need to cast off.

2 Peter 1:9-10 “But he that lacketh these things is blind,…

(and Peter has just named the works of the Holy Spirit’s power within us, as we give all diligence to grow…[virtue or the force of the Holy Spirit, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, love]…..

…..so if we lack these things being worked in us…we have become blinded by the world in some respect)

…and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for it ye do these things, ye shall never fall:”

“Fall” here means to trip, to err, to offend, to sin. It does not mean to fall away.

And here is the prayer of Peter. That, because I am going away, I will not be here to warn you….then seek to know your God, and Jesus Christ more. Much trouble is coming to the church….be strong in the Lord.

(And isn’t the church facing these very things again today in this age?)

True knowledge is experiencing victory. For the more we experience Christ…the more like Him we become.

2 Peter 1:11 “For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Heaven is the Father’s house….and every believer, weak or strong, is welcome with the same title and love.

But the everlasting kingdom is one of reward….which is based on our devotion to Christ Jesus. (Paul stresses this in: 1 Cor. 13:1-3 2 John 8 “Look to yourselves, that ye lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.”)

Peter calls them to use the knowledge that they have….and grow in more knowledge of God and Christ Jesus….that will multiply unto themselves the blessings of grace and peace….which they and we….sorely need.

The Garden of our Souls

Song of Solomon 4:12 “A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.”

It is in the garden of our souls, that we have the personal relationship to Jesus. He considers us:

“My sister”, Because in Him, we are of the family of God.

“My spouse”, Because He wants that love relationship with us.

In the beginning, after being born again, a believer is like a piece of uncultivated ground;…..formerly hard and unyielding;…..which has now been dedicated to the Lord.

We begin to allow Him to transform us into a beautiful garden.

This is something that is the same for each believer, as to the final result…..but very different for each, as to the means God uses.

In a garden, you do not plant things at random. There is order,…..although the order may differ in your garden, then in mine.

For some gardens, the beautiful flowers, and bushes may take center stage; whereas in another, berries, or trees of nuts and fruits. In another, vegetables are top priority.

But each is a garden producing fruit for the Gardener.

This is to come to the place where we are willing, whole heartedly working for the pleasure and Will of God.

When we have determined this (it is in the will, willing with the Holy Spirit within),…..we begin to see Him build a “wall” around us; for we are become a “garden enclosed”,…..which includes in it a spring shut up, a fountain sealed for use in the garden.

The “spring shut up”, is the Holy Spirit within.

Isaiah 58:11 “And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.”

The Holy Spirit is not given to us, so we can “show off” to others.

But He is “shut up” to us, so we can experience His power in our lives, to bring us into subjection to Christ;……and so we can have His peace in the world we walk in.

The “fountain sealed”, is the precious blood of Christ, whereby we are forgiven and cleansed.

Zechariah 13:1 “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanliness.”

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

The fountain is sealed here, because it is speaking of the personal salvation and cleansing of this love one….me, you.

Christ’s forgiveness and cleansing is open to all who come to Him…..but then, in a personal sense….it is made “enclosed” or intimate for that one who comes.

We are made for the Lord’s pleasure. Our beauty of character, and faithful works, are for His joy.

Song of Solomon 4:16 “Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.”

The north wind can be chilling, and frosty.

The south wind is mild, and warm.

As we are tilled, and weeded….as the seasons come and go…..we can come to see that the Gardener has worked in us the fruit of the Spirit;…..and taught us to use His grace.

So, no matter the circumstances: favorable or not,……we will learn that we do not have to be influenced…by them.

Instead, we can simply use them to the Lord’s advantage.

We can come to the place, where real prosperity, Spiritual Prosperity, does not rest upon external circumstances.

No, it rests upon the internal life of Christ within us. The inner man of the heart; the relationship with Christ.

We can grow in any situation, when we come to this.

We are totally dependent upon God, and being filled with His grace in each situation.

We are looking, in a special way, to the Holy Spirit, to accomplish His purpose in everything.

There is no difficulty in adjusting to any circumstance. This is pretty amazing, since most of us do not like change. (Some say they do, if they make the change……But if it is thrust upon them, that is different.)

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

I know how to be abased, (very hard, without the Holy Spirit’s help) and I know how to abound (not if we let it go to our heads): every where in all things I am instructed (not just told, but empowered so we can learn) both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

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

It is “through Christ”. He saves, He makes me His own, He teaches by the Holy Spirit, He furnishes all the grace, and holds me up in His own hand.

We are His garden. We are “in Christ”, and it is “through Christ” that we live.

The Christian life is not easy; not so much because of the circumstances we are in;……..but because we do not have in our experience the lessons we need.

Is it because we will not go through them?

Or is it because we do not know all that Christ has for us?

Christ’s invitation to “learn of Me” still holds true.

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, 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.”

Adam

Romans 5:18-19 “Therefore, as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of One the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous.”

The “corruption” (2 Peter 1:4) that we inherit from our first parents, is a great evil….for it is the source of all our personal sins.

We choose our personal sins….but the internal corruption (nature of sin) came through Adam.

Adam was made in the image of God…..and God pronounced him “very good”(Genesis 1:31).

Adam was indwelt by the Holy Spirit….and fully capable, by the Holy Spirit’s enabling to discharge his responsibility to God.

God made Adam upright (Ecclesiastes 7:29)…..which means that Adam had intelligence, and purity.

His body was strong and sound.

His soul was focused on the will of God.

His spirit was enlightened by the Spirit of God.

His circumstances were wonderful…..living in a beautiful garden….where God had made him ruler, under Him (Genesis 1:26) of all things….animals included.

He had everything he needed, and wanted…..

….and there was only one thing in which God tested his faithfulness….and obedience….

…..The tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

That was the only requirement for Adam….he was not to eat of it.

Therefore the test for Adam….was whether he would change his glorious life with God….

….for a life of independence from his Creator.

To do so…..(and God told him so Genesis 2:16-17)…..would be rebellion of the worst kind….

….for it would be…..trying to be like God Himself….

…..trying to throw God off His throne….and be god over himself….to choose to have, what God said he should not have.

Would he try and be independent of God…..to puff up himself….by an act of disobedience to God?

(I am asking all of these in questions…..for, as Christians, with the Holy Spirit within us….we are presented with the same questions:

Will we throw off our subjection to Christ….to choose what God says we should not have….and lose His blessing?

Will we be faithful and obedient…..or rebel against His Word and Will?

This is our life:

We have been given the Holy Spirit….and the garden of our soul’s to “dress and keep” for Him.

We have been given dominion…..under Christ….to rule ourselves in our circumstances…..to live the life of faith, which sees God first….but are we doing so…..in practical life?

Have we sought out the tree of the knowledge of good and evil…..and thought about “tasting” it’s fruit again?)

Had Adam continued to be faithful to His Creator and God….by refusing to eat of the tree of good and evil….even though Eve offered it to him….

….he would have remained as ruler in Eden….

……instead he sentenced all future generations to sin, illness, death.

He “fell”…..it is a term used for being on a high plan……and tumbling down to the very bottom….Hell.

Adam looked at the fruit in Eve’s hand…..and was not ignorant of the consequences.

God had told him death would be his reward for such willful rebellion.

Adam knew what death was…..it was the opposite of life with God….

…but he chose to be independent of God….to close His eyes to God’s Word….

….which had always been a source of comfort, and goodness to him….

…..and when he did….he sinned….and he lost the Holy Spirit….

….and his spirit became darkened.

He lost his dominion over anything….and became a scared creature hiding in the trees….grabbing anything to cover themselves from the eyes of He Who sees everything.

Spiritual death came instantly…..physical death came years later…..but Adam died everyday he remained.

Adam was prominent in the first three chapters….but after he was driven out of Eden….he was named in only three instances….

….for the birth of Cain….so like his father…a murderer….

….and for the birth of Seth….from which Christ came…

….and to tell of the years of his life….”and he died” (Genesis 5:1-5)

Adam, though he was made upright….was given a nature that could turn from God and by choice….change his glory to shame.

Adam’s sons and daughters….all of humanity….also has a choice to make:

God, or the knowledge of good and evil?

(If you thought I was going to say: heaven or hell…..not so.

Though God tells of those as the final places of residence for all of Adam’s children…….yet, God never speaks of our chose…..in those terms.

He speaks in the terms: Life or Death?

You see, we can come to Christ Jesus, and receive His life…..Eternal life:

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

Or,…..we can refuse His Word, and rebel against Christ Jesus, and die:

John 3:16,18 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”)

Adam existed nine hundred and thirty years….almost a millennial…..but he never really “lived” after sinning.

He was the father of all humanity….but condemned each and everyone….

…..to sin: hurt….illness….death.

Sin is a great evil…..all humanity was damned for it.

Yet Christ’s righteousness is a great blessing….for all who believe on Him are saved for it.

Luke 19:10 “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

What will we choose?

God’s life through Christ Jesus the Lord?

Or….

A life of existence only, without God….till death?

Adam

Romans 5:18-19 “Therefore, as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of One the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous.”

The “corruption” (2 Peter 1:4) that we inherit from our first parents, is a great evil….for it is the source of all our personal sins.

We choose our personal sins….but the internal corruption (nature of sin) came through Adam.

Adam was made in the image of God…..and God pronounced him “very good”(Genesis 1:31).

Adam was indwelt by the Holy Spirit….and fully capable, by the Holy Spirit’s enabling to discharge his responsibility to God.

God made Adam upright (Ecclesiastes 7:29)…..which means that Adam had intelligence, and purity.

His body was strong and sound.

His soul was focused on the will of God.

His spirit was enlightened by the Spirit of God.

His circumstances were wonderful…..living in a beautiful garden….where God had made him ruler, under Him (Genesis 1:26) of all things….animals included.

He had everything he needed, and wanted…..

….and there was only one thing in which God tested his faithfulness….and obedience….

…..The tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

That was the only requirement for Adam….he was not to eat of it.

Therefore the test for Adam….was whether he would change his glorious life with God….

….for a life of independence from his Creator.

To do so…..(and God told him so Genesis 2:16-17)…..would be rebellion of the worst kind….

….for it would be…..trying to be like God Himself….

…..trying to throw God off His throne….and be god over himself….to choose to have, what God said he should not have.

Would he try and be independent of God…..to puff up himself….by an act of disobedience to God?

(I am asking all of these in questions…..for, as Christians, with the Holy Spirit within us….we are presented with the same questions:

Will we throw off our subjection to Christ….to choose what God says we should not have….and lose His blessing?

Will we be faithful and obedient…..or rebel against His Word and Will?

This is our life:

We have been given the Holy Spirit….and the garden of our soul’s to “dress and keep” for Him.

We have been given dominion…..under Christ….to rule ourselves in our circumstances…..to live the life of faith, which sees God first….but are we doing so…..in practical life?

Have we sought out the tree of the knowledge of good and evil…..and thought about “tasting” it’s fruit again?)

Had Adam continued to be faithful to His Creator and God….by refusing to eat of the tree of good and evil….even though Eve offered it to him….

….he would have remained as ruler in Eden….

……instead he sentenced all future generations to sin, illness, death.

He “fell”…..it is a term used for being on a high plan……and tumbling down to the very bottom….Hell.

Adam looked at the fruit in Eve’s hand…..and was not ignorant of the consequences.

God had told him death would be his reward for such willful rebellion.

Adam knew what death was…..it was the opposite of life with God….

…but he chose to be independent of God….to close His eyes to God’s Word….

….which had always been a source of comfort, and goodness to him….

…..and when he did….he sinned….and he lost the Holy Spirit….

….and his spirit became darkened.

He lost his dominion over anything….and became a scared creature hiding in the trees….grabbing anything to cover themselves from the eyes of He Who sees everything.

Spiritual death came instantly…..physical death came years later…..but Adam died everyday he remained.

Adam was prominent in the first three chapters….but after he was driven out of Eden….he was named in only three instances….

….for the birth of Cain….so like his father…a murderer….

….and for the birth of Seth….from which Christ came…

….and to tell of the years of his life….”and he died” (Genesis 5:1-5)

Adam, though he was made upright….was given a nature that could turn from God and by choice….change his glory to shame.

Adam’s sons and daughters….all of humanity….also has a choice to make:

God, or the knowledge of good and evil?

(If you thought I was going to say: heaven or hell…..not so.

Though God tells of those as the final places of residence for all of Adam’s children…….yet, God never speaks of our chose…..in those terms.

He speaks in the terms: Life or Death?

You see, we can come to Christ Jesus, and receive His life…..Eternal life:

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

Or,…..we can refuse His Word, and rebel against Christ Jesus, and die:

John 3:16,18 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”)

Adam existed nine hundred and thirty years….almost a millennial…..but he never really “lived” after sinning.

He was the father of all humanity….but condemned each and everyone….

…..to sin: hurt….illness….death.

Sin is a great evil…..all humanity was damned for it.

Yet Christ’s righteousness is a great blessing….for all who believe on Him are saved for it.

Luke 19:10 “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

What will we choose?

God’s life through Christ Jesus the Lord?

Or….

A life of existence only, without God….till death?

The Perilous times of the Last days

2 Timothy 3:1 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.”

This “last days” is not the Tribulation Period, but the last days of the Church Age, which is spoken of here.

And why are they perilous? In the Greek, “perilous” means to reduce strength, dangerous.

Anytime we are not at full strength to resist the Devil, or combat the temptations of the world; we are in a perilous situation.

And this is a warning for the Church.

2 Timothy 3:2-5 “For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good.

Traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God;

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

Paul was warning that there would come into the Church, those who would fit right into the times; but who would not be righteous with God; for they will deny the power of God in their lives…..to rule and change them.

They will refuse subjection to authority; though they may praise it in reguard to others.

The real telling description of these people, is that they are “lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.”

“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof”

We all know about forms. We fill numbers of them out when we send away for something. Our Taxes. For Schools. Etc.

So we know that a form, filled out, gives a lot of information…….which could just be false.

Here, this is expressed, as a form of godliness.

They have filled in all the blanks. Said all the right things, to be accepted, but they are all false;…..for they “deny” the Power of God, in their own lives.

To deny is to refuse.

They refuse to submit to that power, and receive it, for they don’t really want it or Him.

Luke 5:17 “There came to pass on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which are come out of every town of Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.”

But they were not healed. Those Pharisees and doctors came to hear Jesus, and after hearing Jesus, and seeing a miracle,……they left the very same men.

They could have been healed of their unbelief, but they refused.

Perilous times will come. If fact, are here.

And we, as Christians, need to strengthen ourselves in God’s Word for the days ahead.

We need to regain the personal relationship we once had with the Lord Jesus.

God is Almighty. He has promised to save us to the uttermost.

Hebrews 7:25 “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

Christ’s intercession before the Throne of God, for us…..brings us boldness to come into His presence (Hebrews 4:16)……and brings blessings down to us (Ephesians 1:3).

Let us receive His Power for our lives. Let us submit to Him….for He will heal….for He is Able.

Psalm 22

In the Old Testament there are many prophesies of Christ. Some telling of His exaltation, some of His humiliation.

In the very first prophesy concerning Christ’s coming to save mankind from our sin, death and the devil’s influence of evil….Christ is seen as the Victor.

Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed (the devil’s) and her seed (Christ): It shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.”

The seed of the woman: Christ would bruise Satan’s head…destroying the power of sin.

Satan would bruise His heel, in the crucifixion.

No one could have imagined the way Christ was going to come and destroy sin, and save His people. It is an amazing and costly plan.

But the Lord knew what would have to be done; and yielded Himself up to do it, …….that we might be saved from sin and it’s curse.

Hebrews 13:20-21 “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

Make you perfect (complete) in every good work to do His Will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Some of what would happen to Christ, was foretold….so the people would know when it did happen.

This Psalm 22 is an amazing prophesy concerning Christ, when He was on the cross.

Psalm 22:1 “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? Why art Thou so far from helping Me, and from the words of My raging (crying out in pain)?”

When Christ shouted this from the cross (Matthew 27:45-46), darkness had come in the day time because God would not look upon sin….the mass of sin (mine and yours) which was laid upon Christ, to save His people.

Psalm 22:6 “But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.”

The Son of God became the Son of man, and as our substitute became less than man…a worm, unnoticed and unheeded, even as He was crushed beneath the foot of our sins… and the mockery of the people.

Psalm 22:7-8 “All they that see Me laugh Me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

He trusted on the Lord that He would deliver Him: let Him deliver Him, seeing He delighted in Him.”

As He suffered on the cross, some walked by shaking their heads in disbelief, but many scorned Him, even in His death misery’s.

Matthew 27:39,41-43 …”He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him…

Psalm 22:10 “I was cast upon Thee from the womb: Thou art My God from My mother’s belly.”

Jesus was God’s Son, and from the first to the last, He was hunted and rejected….King Herod when He was born a king…the chief priests and scribes…and finally the crowd crying “Crucify Him.”

Psalm 22:11, 19 “Be not far from Me, for trouble is near, for there is none to help.

But be not far from Me , O Lord: O My Strength, haste Thee to help Me.”

Twice here, the cry is, “But be not Thou far from Me,”. This was Jesus’ greatest anxiety and pain….His Father’s removal from Him….being separated from Him by the sin He carried on Himself……for us.

Psalm 22:14 “I am poured out like water, all My bones are out of joint: My heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of My bowels.”

He was not only nailed to the cross after the beatings He took;….but then they jolted the cross down into the hole they had made;….tearing and jerking His muscles and ligaments with the weight of His body.

“I am poured out like water….my bones are out of joint…my heart is like wax…melted.”

Yet He took every pain, every bit of anguish…lest He come short of His goal, of salvation for us.

Psalm 22:15 “My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and My tongue cleaveth to My jaws; and Thou hast brought Me into the dust of death.”

His mouth became dry after being filled with blood with the beatings. And hanging on the cross He thirsted:

But at first He would not drink of the stupefying gall (Matthew 27:34),….for He would pay every bit of the penalty of our sin.

But at the end when they gave Him just vinegar to drink, He drank from a sponge (John 19:29-30).

Psalm 22:16-17 “For dogs have compassed Me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed Me: they pierce My hands and My feet.

I may tell all My bones: they look and stare upon Me.”

They waited like a pack of hungry wolves, for Him to die. When will He be gone, and out of our hair?

The other’s crucified, had their legs broken, but not He. (John 20:32-33)

Psalm 22:18 “They part My garments among them, and cast lots upon My vesture.”

While He suffered, the soldiers gambled for His garments. (Mark 15:24)

But this Psalm goes beyond the cross to the resurrection, and the forty days of instruction before the Lord’s ascension back to heaven.

Psalm 22:22 “I will declare Thy name unto My brethren: In the midst of the congregation will I praise Thee.”

After His resurrection, He was seen by His disciples (both men and women): He appeared to Mary Magdalene and told her, “My Father and your Father” (John 20:16-18),

He appeared on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32),

and He appeared in the midst of His disciples several times (Luke 24:36-40),

He told Thomas to put his fingers into His hands, and side….and be not unbelieving. (John 20:24-29).

Psalm 22:27-28, 31 “All of the ends of the world shall remember and trust unto the Lord: all the kindreds of the nations shall worship Thee.

For the Kingdom is the Lord’s: and He is the governor among the nations.

They shall come, and shall declare His righteousness unto a people that shall be born (born again), that He hath done this.”

Jesus told of His authority, and gave last instructions to His disciples.

(Matthew 28:18-20 “All power is given unto Me in heaven and earth. Go ye,…and teach all nations…”)

And sent His disciples out to spread the good news of His Salvation to all.

(Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”)

This Psalm begins in horrible sorrow, and ends in triumph, and power;……as was His horrible death….and triumphant resurrection.

And it is all through the Will of the Father, the Sacrifice of the Son, and the giving of the Holy Spirit……to us, and for us.

Hallelujah, What a God and Savior, we have!

Turn us, O God

This psalm is a prayer for their afflicted country….looking to Jehovah,  Who alone is able to “turn us”….and bring about a reviving of the soul toward God….

….which is the greatest prosperity any  country can have.    When we, as Christians, are right with God,  we are a great blessing to our country.  For our prayers will be heard. (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

Psalm 85:1 “Lord, Thou hast been favorable unto Thy land:  Thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.”

The Lord had brought them out of Egypt….had brought them into Canaan…..had established a nation….and now the psalmist prays that the Lord will look upon HIs land….and save them.

     He had saved them many times….against many enemies.   He had led them by the hand many times….out of dangers, and out of sin.

Psalm 85:4 “Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause Thine anger toward us to cease.”

We want God to turn from HIs anger….but we need to pray that we will turn from our sin. 

       He is more willing to bless than we are willing to receive such blessing….but our sins separate us from them, often.

      He has delivered before….Praise God….let His mighty work be done, by turning us again.

And this,  the psalmist prays for his whole nation….to see his people converted to God, and love and worship Him.

Psalm 85:6-7 “Wilt Thou not revive us again:  that Thy people may rejoice in Thee?

      Shew us Thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us Thy salvation.”

Revive means to make alive, nourish and make whole.   God never does anything by halves.  He saves to “the uttermost” (Hebrews 7:25) those that come unto Him.

Psalm 85:8-9 “I will hear what God the Lord will speak:  for He will speak peace unto His people, and to His saints:  but let them not turn again to folly.

      Surely His salvation is nigh them that fear Him;  that glory may dwell in our land.”

To me this is the highest point in this prayer…..”I will hear what God the Lord will speak”.  When we willfully determine to hear the Lord,  He will speak peace to us:

      He is the Only One who can speak peace….and peace will come.

      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 (repentant) and humble (honest) spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

      I have seen his ways, and will heal him:  I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.”

Notice, “and to his mourners”….it is as if the Lord is showing that this one was as dead,….but He saw his ways….and will heal.

     His ways here means that God saw that this one humbled himself….became honest about his sin, and repented….coming to Him for forgiveness, and deliverance from it.

I will heal him….I will lead him…

…what more can we ask!   For healing is for now,  and leading is from now on.

“But let them not turn again to folly.”    

    What folly sin is!   It loses so much for us.  It loses God’s felt presence (He never leaves a Christian…but He often withdraws the peace of His presence, and lets the darkness we stepped in, hide HIs glorious light).   

Sin loses time….and often loses opportunities for a growth in grace, or opportunities for witness to others.   

(People talk about “losers” all the time….sin is a loser!   For it separates us from our closest Friend.)

Psalm 85:10-11 “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

     Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.”

(I have never really understood these verses, till the Lord showed me the intimacy of them.  

    Where do mercy and truth meet?   Where does righteousness and peace kiss each other?

Only in Christ!   Again I say,   Only in Christ!     

    Are you in Christ?   Then know His mercy and truth….and be led on in them.  They meet together in Him, and walk together.    Face Him in truth, and mercy is right there, with you.

Righteousness…not mine, but His….and peace have kissed each other.   The most sweetest of greetings….kissed each other.   And  it is,  when His righteousness has been applied to me, that I have real peace.   Peace with God,  peace with others, and peace, even with myself.

They have kissed,  in Christ!    Righteousness and peace are not at a distance….but intimately linked for me.  

    What a blessing….in Christ….we have!)

And remember,  this is a prayer for the nation…..how wonderful for any nation,….whose God is the Lord!

Psalm 85:12-13 “Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good;  and our land shall yield her increase.

      Righteousness shall go before Him; and shall set us in the way of His steps.”

And here is “that confidence in God, which hath great recompense of reward” (Hebrews 10:35)

When God sends down His grace, the hearts that are His,  send up our prayers, with obedience.

To bear fruit for HIs glory…

…then, righteousness shall go before Him,…for it was always the Will of the Father that He did…but since Christ did it for us…

….He “shall set us in the way of His steps”.   Follow Me, was His call….and it is the same today.  

“Turn us, O God of our salvation,…shew us Thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us Thy salvation.  

Truth shall spring out of the earth…and righteousness shall look down from heaven.”

What a day that will be, when He reigns on earth. 

    But today, He can reign in us, His people,  and we can have His intimate peace and truth…and we can shed abroad HIs light….praying for ourselves to be revived….our family and our nation.

On the Way to Gethsemane

It was the night Jesus was taken, arrested, illegally tried by the Sanhedrin, and taken to Pilate.

Jesus was to have the passover feast with His disciples. He had washed their feet…Judas still being there.

(John 13:4-12. What an act of great mercy;….rejected mercy…..but it shows the mercy of God….one last act to Judas, though his heart was too greedy to receive it. It is either sin or Christ which rules within us.)

Then Jesus sat down and announced that one was there that would betray Him. None knew that it wasn’t them…..

(All thought they would be loyal…..but they did not realize their own weaknesses.)

Jesus shows the betrayer is Judas….giving him the first piece of the passover bread.

Judas goes out:

John 13:30 “He then, having received the sop, went immediately out; and it was night.”

(Terribly, it would never be “light” for him again.)

Then the Lord goes on to begin a new service;….what we call the communion service: the disciples given broken bread….to symbolize His body being broken for us….and the wine…symbolizing His blood being shed in sacrifice for our sins; and their being partakers of His gift….

Matthew 26:26-28 “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

They left the house, and began to walk to Gethsemane.

On the way, Jesus explains to them of His coming death and resurrection:

Mark 14:27-28 “And Jesus said unto them, All ye shall be offended because of Me this night: for it is written, I will smite the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.

But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.”

Peter emboldened by the fact that Jesus had not said he was the betrayer, confidently says he will never leave Him….

But Jesus speaks to warn…..and comfort him….

Luke 22:31-32 “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”

Then Jesus begins to speak of the future….

…..a future without His bodily presence with them…..

…..beginning His final conversation with them, before His crucifixion:

John 14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me.”

He begins to turn their eyes to Someone else….always with the provision of His love and peace.

“Trust Me that I will not leave you as Heavenly orphans,……but will send the Holy Spirit to take My place”…..(John 14:16, 18)

Twice He says that “whatsoever ye shall ask in in My name, that will I do….”(John 14:13-14)

The theme this part of His discourse is: peace….don’t be afraid, I will give you peace.

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

Then Jesus speaks of their future work, letting them know….even in this, He will not leave them….He will be their strength and life, in the time to come;…..as the Vine is to the branches.

He promises them fruit.

(Seven times He mentions the “fruit” that comes by abiding in Him….once He mentions the end of those branches which do not bear fruit, even though they are in the vine.)

John 15:5 “I am the Vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without Me ye can do nothing.”

And what is that fruit?

First the fruit of joy….

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

Then the fruit from bearing witness of Jesus….

John 15:26-27 “But when the Comforter is come, Whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me;

And He also shall bear witness, because ye have been with Me from the beginning.”

Jesus turns now to showing them what the world will do, now that He will go away…

John 16:2 “They shall put you out of the synagogue; yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.”

But even in this,…..He has provided for them.

The first provision being the Holy Spirit….

John 16:7 “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.

The other provision: the truth….

John 16:13 “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He will hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come.”

In the truth, there is great safety…..we know what the Lord says,…..therefore we know what we need to ask for….

And again, three times He says to ask in His name: John 16:23, 24, 26.

He here tells them beforehand that He had overcome the world.

Remember, this is even before they took Him,…He was beaten,…He was mocked and given over to the cries of the mob,….and crucified……

….He knew all that was going to happen to Him; and He said they would treat His disciples the same way….

John 16:33 “….but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

(This He calls us to do in Revelation 3:21)

And then, as He grows closer to Gethsemane….(for He will be arrested before they leave)…..

He becomes very, very intimate….for He begins to pray to the Father:

John 17:1 “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee:”

He was showing us the pattern for our lives….glorify God, and He will honor us.

Telling how He had finished the work God had given Him to do….so we should “finish our course”.

He tells the Father that He had manifested His Name (verse 6)…..and His Words (verse 8, 14)

And then, right then….He begins to pray for them:

John 17:9 “I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which Thou hast given Me; for they are Thine.”

He prays that they will be kept:

John 17:11, (15) “And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to Thee, Holy Father, keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, as We are.”

He prays they will be sanctified,

John 17:17, (19) “Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Word is truth.”

Five times He prays that “they may be one, as We are.” (John 17:11, 21-23 )

That they may know God’s love through Christ Jesus.

John 17:26 “And I have declared unto them Thy name, and will declare it; that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

(Sixteen times in these chapters Jesus speaks of love

Six times He speaks of joy)

In this last part of His talk with them, He prays also for us: You and me, there, on His walk to Gethsemane….

John 17:20 “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word;”

Then He came to the garden: All the things He needed to say, were said….everything would proceed according to the Father’s Will (Acts 2:22-23).

The Nation stood on the brink…..what would they do with Jesus, Who was called the Christ?

But it was in this very important, intimate discourse with His disciples….that Jesus showed His Father’s heart and plan for them…..and us.

Jesus wants us to know His peace…..

…..His purpose for each of us: abide in Him and bear fruit……

…He wants us to know His overcoming amidst the tribulation and suffering of this present world;…and because He has, we can too……

……and HIs prayer—intimate and full of tender love for those who follow Him.

Will we walk with Him this day, and hear these things for ourselves?

The Lordship of our Lord

Revelation 4:11 “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.”

(Every song in the Bible praises the Lord.

It is interesting to note that a song is not mentioned in the Bible, until Israel is redeemed from Egypt (Exodus 15)……for it is only the redeemed that can truly sing praises to the Lord.)

But here we are talking of the Lordship of our Lord…..for there are many which say, “Lord, Lord,” with their lips….who never have the reality of His Lordship in their hearts and lives.

Luke 17:20-21 “And when He was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, He answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

Neither shall they say, Lo here! Or Lo there! For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”

Jesus had come preaching the kingdom of God:

Mark 1:14-15 “….Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye , and believe the gospel.”

If they would have received His Word…..and repented…and believed the good news that the kingdom was at hand…..they would have seen, by faith…that He was the King.

Yet, the Pharisees were always looking for ways to “catch something out of His mouth, that they might accuse Him” (Luke 11:54)….

…so they demand…

….(I think this is an amazing insight into their whole attitude….and the attitude of every natural man….we “demand” of God….

…..we demand to know….now, not later.

…..we demand to be shown the how of things.

…..we demand to be consulted, or included in the decisions of our Purpose.)

Yes, these Pharisees demanded….

…..and the Lord Jesus could have…with immense power….proved His kingdom….then, to them.

But instead He speaks…..letting His Word sink into their souls.

“You look for the Kingdom of God with trumpets…..Here!….or There!…..for you will only “see” with the “observing” eye of sight.

….no, I have not come with pomp and pageantry…..I have come to present Myself as King….to you”

They might have accepted a King to rule the nation…..to bring prosperity and honor to them….

….but would they accept a King to rule their lives?

Well, I am here to remind all of us….that it is the same today.

Christ Jesus is Lord……He rules and reigns supreme…..there is no where in the universe above or in the earth below…that He does not rule, and overrule.

Yet today, the kingdom of God….is shown on earth only within us….me, you, us…..when we make Christ Jesus our Lord.

He will take that small kingdom of my heart and life…..and shine brightly through it.

He will show His laws by my life…..my obedience to Him.

He will show His peace like a ever flowing river amid the troubles of this world….through His kingdom….which is me.

He will make this small kingdom a fruitful land…..with pleasant and comforting influences within me…..and through me.

And He will cause me to sit with Him,…..resting in His Victory…..even though the battle is still being fought within me…..and around me in this world.

He is King…..He is Lord….

…..are we just recognizing Him with our mouths as such….or are we bowing to Him.

Paul writes of some:

2 Timothy 3:5,7 “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

How do they deny the power thereof?

“…for He shall save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)

They are never able to come to the knowledge of that truth, that gives you deliverance….that sets you free….to serve!

The Lordship of the Lord makes claims on people’s lives….and we must….if we will make Him Lord….obey.

Perhaps you say, that does not sound like freedom….

…but it is.

Think of it…..

Any time we move further from sin…..and closer to God….

….the more free we become.

The service of sin is bondage by blindness…..to what we are heading into….and how far this dark tunnel leads.

The service of sin is bondage by tying our hands…..to “the thing” we lust after….and getting pulled by it….faster and faster till we are just being dragged by it.

The service of sin is bondage by laming us….with arrows of poison, till the limbs that might have walked away from sin….are so lame, they can’t.

But the Lord Jesus Christ first saves us from the love of sin…..this is great freedom.

The Holy Spirit moves…..and gives light for darkness….

….and then cuts the cords of lust, so that we are free to receive Christ….

….and then leads us to the Great Physician….who can remove the poison from us.

But more…..the Lord Jesus Christ gives a complete salvation…”to the uttermost”(Hebrews 7:25):

1 Timothy 2:4 “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

For “the knowledge of the truth” is the key…..and that knowledge is of ourselves…

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

The law was beautiful….showing the way to live a life of honesty and holiness…….but no man could keep it.

When the Lord Jesus Christ came…..He kept it….perfectly…fulfilling all that God demanded….fully.

And because He did….we have been given grace….the unmerited favor of power…..

…..His power in us, to do…..as we face the truth of ourselves.

There is no sin Christ can not forgive…

….no muck and mire He can not pull us out of….

….no pit He can not save us from….

….but we must get honest with the Lord about our sin…..and receive His grace or power….to do what He says about it.

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

For every grace we need…..He has it for us…..as our Lord and Savior….

Will we come to the “knowledge of the truth”?

Shew me Thy Ways, O Lord

Psalm 25:4 “Shew me Thy ways, O Lord; teach me Thy paths.”

Prayer, when we are led and taught of the Holy Spirit, is never selfish….

…when we ask for mercies for ourselves….we also are reminded and seek mercies for others, in situations like ourselves.

Jude 20-22 “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

And of some have compassion, making a difference:”

“Shew me Thy ways, O Lord”

“Your ways are so opposite mine….turn my eyes to see, in Your Word…and by Your Spirit, what Your way is.

And blessed Holy Spirit, sanctify my understanding, so that it will be enlightened to discern…for myself…..what You want me to do.” (Ephesians 1:17-18)

1 John 2:20 “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.”

“You are able to tell me what to do, You are able to show me what to do,….help me to “see” it,….and teach me to walk in it.”

Psalm 25:5 “Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me: for Thou art the God of my salvation; on Thee do I wait all the day.”

“Lord, I am so backwards sometimes….I ask that You would take my hand, as if I was a little child, and lead me….not just in the path of truth, in general…..but lead me into Thy truth, for me.”

“Teach me, and make me teachable in the situations we are going in…for You are my salvation….save me from myself, the world, and the Adversary of my soul.

….I will wait all through the lighted times, and even though it seems to grow dark….I will wait for You.”

(The first mention of “teach” is God’s teaching…..He is speaking to Moses that He will teach him “what to say” [Exodus 4:12], and “what to do” [Exodus 4:15].

And five times in this Psalm, David speaks of God “teaching” those who want to be taught.

Psalm 25:4 “….teach me Thy paths.”

Psalm 25:5 “Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me…”

Psalm 25:8 “….will He teach sinners in the Way.”

Psalm 25:9 “…the meek will He teach His Way.”

(Meek means “seeing yourself as you are”…..not boastful, not timid, not pretending humility…..but as you truly are…honest)

Psalm 25:12 “What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall He teach in the way that He shall choose.”)

And what is our part in this teaching?

Psalms 25:15 “Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord; for He shall pluck my feet out of the net.”

To keep our eyes on Him…in trust…for He is a God of tender mercies:

Psalm 25:6 “Remember, O Lord, Thy tender mercies and Thy loving kindnesses; for they have been ever of old.”

God’s spiritual mercy is based upon the covenant with His Son, Jesus Christ.

God would be merciful, because Christ would become our Redeemer, Savior, and Intercessor.

And God’s heart is full of “tender mercies, and loving kindnesses” for those who turn to Him.

(Elisha Coles 1678). “Divine love is an eternal fountain that never stops running while a vessel is empty, or is capable of holding more;…

….and it stands open to all comers: therefore, come:…”

This is what David felt….God was full of mercy and loving kindness….therefore he pleaded to be taught of God….

…confessing his sins (verses 7, 11, 18)

….and trusting in “O my God”…..

…for He is “good and upright (righteous)” [verse 8].

(Psalm 25:24 “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him; and He will show them His covenant.”

This covenant is, of course, Salvation through Christ…..

….and it is more….for it is the secret workings of the Holy Spirit in those that are born again…working in them the blessedness of intimate communion,…showing them the traps ahead,….or by passing on to them the hope and grace needed. John 14:26, John 16:13–14)

David’s final prayer for himself, here, is:

Psalm 25:21 “Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on Thee.”

“I know I am not through this trial yet,…..but I also know that You will give me Your truth to guide me….let me hang on to it…

…and You have placed me into Your covenant….and You will preserve me….from sin, and my enemies……that I may do Your Will.”

And so David turns, in trust, from himself….to pray for all Israel, and their troubles….

…God, Who would save him, would save all His believers.