The Work Goes On

Acts 5:12 “And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.”

To be of “one accord” is to be in complete subjection to Christ Jesus. The accord is with Him. We “agree” with what He wants for us.

This is what they all were, here.

On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Ghost was given to the believers gathered in Jerusalem, as Jesus had told them to do. Many were saved under Peter’s message of:

Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

But as soon as there was a church, there was also opposition. (Our Adversary, the devil, seeks to wreak anything of God.)

Acts 5:17-18 “Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees) and were filled with indignation.

And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.”

Peter and John had been threatened before, and told by the religious rulers, not to preach in Jesus name.

(It is a Name at which every knee shall bow one day. Philippians 2:9-11)

But they continued to speak and preach in the Name of Jesus; for they told them “we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

So now they were put in prison.

Yet, The Lord sends His angel and delivers them.

Acts 5:19-20 “But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,

Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”

A command was given them to go right back in the temple,…….right where these religious rulers would be able to find them,…..and preach “all the words of this life”.

What Jesus had taught, and how He had been crucified, and raised up the third day; to save all who would receive Him.

Acts 5:21-22, 25 “And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together,…and sent to the prison to have them brought.

But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison,…

Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.”

This was what the Lord wanted, both to encourage His disciples, and to awaken the religious rulers (if they would be awakened) to His Presence with His own, and the power of His Word.

When they were brought again from the temple to the council, the high priest asked them:

“Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name?”

Now, under the Old Testament Law, they should have obeyed the high priest; But…

Acts 5:29 “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”

Then Peter begins to preach to them:

(How many times have they heard? Yet Jesus Christ is presented again…how long-suffering He is, “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9)

What about you? How many times have we heard, in messages and others….the Word of Life by Christ Jesus?

Acts 5:30-32 “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

(But you have to acknowledge you are a sinner)

And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him.”

Hearing this, the council “was cut to the heart”—simply they knew absolutely within themselves, that Jesus was God’s Son, and they were being offered forgiveness and a way to come to Him….again.

But they refused this mercy: “When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.” (Acts 5:33)

Yet one man, Gamaliel, stood up. He knew the Law, and trusted in the God of that Law.

He spoke of how God brings to nothing those who say they are something, when they are not.

He gave some examples, and concluded:

“Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:

But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.” (Acts 5:35-39)

Very good advice….but not spiritual advice…

…perceptive, but not submissive to God.

Wait and see….is never a good idea when God comes knocking on your heart, saying…”This is Me, let Me in.”

Now I believe that each man knew they were fighting against God: had been and were.

So they agreed with Gamaliel, hoping to ease their guilty conscience.

What did they do? They could not kill them, or imprison them (if God wanted them out).

But they beat them, and threatened them again, not to speak in Jesus’s Name.

Acts 5:41-42 “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His Name.

And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”

These religious rulers could not stop the spread of the gospel….for the disciples had more than a knowledge of the truth of these things….they had fervent love for Jesus Christ.

Joy and rejoicing should be our heart’s reward for obedience. Courage and strength also come to those who obey Him.

Today the work goes on, as well.

Are we entering into our part?

A New Thing….a New Year

Isaiah 43:21 “This people have I formed for Myself, they shall show forth My praise.”

God has formed us for Himself…..let us show forth His praise!

This is a new year, perhaps a new beginning…..at least, it can be….in our souls, yielding more to the Holy Spirit within.

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 of obedience unto righteousness?”

We can not change circumstances……but we can get the love, joy, peace, and all the fruits of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23)…that are our portion for today.

These are not for others…..although they affect others…through our being yielded to God….

….but they are for us….giving us joy instead of sorrow, peace in place of confusion or hurt,…

…..and God places this first….love, by the Holy Spirit….because He would have us know that He loves us….and that He has enough love to work through us…and hold us up.

Deuteronomy 33:27 “The Eternal God is our refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms:…..”

As Christians, we should wake up each morning and see the day as belonging to Him.

Whether we go to work, or stay home and teach our children, or work online…..

…this day is the Lord’s…..and we are part of His plan for it.

Remember not the former things….whether good or bad, they should not influence the work or words of today.

Let us get on with the Lord’s Will for our lives now.

Isaiah 43:19 “Behold, I will do a new thing: now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”

He will make “a Way” in the wilderness of this world….

….and did He not do that very thing, when He sent HIs Son to be “the Way the Truth and the Life” for us?

….and isn’t He now the same?

He is the Way. Do you need a way through some situation…..He is there.

He is the Truth….and He will tell you the truth….you need not be concerned about getting lost in this world’s speech…or influence, if you listen to Him.

He is the Life…always bringing life to us,….removing sin, and self….and giving us His character.

And rivers in the desert….

….certainly, through Christ, we have rivers of living water in the barren desert of our souls…

….but also, He will give rivers of blessings by the Holy Spirit….to those who make Him their all in all.

Let us commit today into the Lord’s hands….asking His Will done…within us and through us….and then let us yield to the Holy Spirit within.

Psalm 37:5 “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.”

To Count the Cost

Luke 14:28 “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?”

Luke 14:31 “Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?”

The Lord told His disciples that they were to count the cost of service, and following Him.

He gave two examples…..one of building,…and one of warfare.

We are to do both.

If we follow Christ, we will be in a battle against the wiles of the Devil. The Adversary will seek to dissuade us, by fear. Or seek to destroy us, if we stand with Christ.

If we follow Christ, we are to build.

First we are to build our house upon the Rock of Christ and His Word.

Then we are to add to the building of the Church. From the foundation to the roof, we are to build up His Church, by edification (teaching); exhortation (to wake up) and comfort.

1 Corinthians 3:10 “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.”

We are to count the cost, because to stand with Jesus in this world, will cause us to be mocked, hated, ridiculed, and left out of a lot of what the world has.

You sit down and count the cost. And He says to do it first.

To run after Christ emotionally, will play out. (Emotions do)

To run after Christ mentally, will lead you to reasons, and when reasons run out, so do you.

To run after Christ willfully, will lead you to count the cost for yourself, and choose.

Christ wants you to run after Him willfully; eyes wide open, to what is ahead.

He has a great life for all who follow Him:

…..here on earth: peace, and joy in Christ Jesus,….even amid the trouble this life gives,…

(and He always tells His disciples that there will be trouble).

There in Heaven: face to face with Christ; which makes heaven, heaven.

Luke 14:33 “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”

“Forsaketh” here means to bid adieu, to depart from, to leave.

We are to count the cost of giving up all that we have, for the life Christ has for us.

That way you know, if there is something in your life that you refuse to give up,….even for Christ’s sake.

That is what counting the cost means. Christ requires of His servants, that they should obey Him, and His words to Him.

It costs everyone the same amount: everything.

Jesus did not seek to persuade men to follow Him with false promises.

He spoke plainly, that to follow Him was the most costly of decisions, for it meant putting Him above everything and everyone else in our lives.

Luke 14:25-26 “And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,

If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.”

Multitudes were following Christ, but instead of encouraging them, He put a hurtle in front of them.

Why?

Because the only reason to follow Christ, was love to Him. If you love Him, no cost is too much.

He was saying:

“To follow Me, means that the affections you feel for everything else, even yourself, will be like hatred in comparison to the love you have to Me.”

Do you want to follow Christ Jesus? Have you counted the cost?

Jesus says to do this….then, “follow Me”.

The Called According to His Purpose

Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”

If I am one of the called, when did He call me? And for what purpose, did He call me?

He brought us into being; not to live to ourselves, or to do what we want.

We are God’s, bought with a price, and are not our own.

1 Peter 1:18-20 “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

But with the precious blood of Christ; as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.”

It is His calling, His saving, His purpose and grace for us….we are to find for ourselves.

What is His purpose?

First, His purpose for us, is that we know Him, and keep learning more of Him.

We are to come into a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and grow in that knowledge.

He is life, and as we know Him more, we experience more of His life,….within our life….in our everyday situations.

His joy, His peace, His hope, His correction, and His satisfaction.

He wants fellowship with His saved, beloved ones.

Second, His purpose is for our conformity to His Will……..He is life, His Word is Truth…and we are to deal with anything that hinders our walk in HIs Will.

There is the cleansing we need,….so we can receive from Him all He has for us.

If there is unconfessed sin, that puts up a barrier between us. Therefore we are to:

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.”

And this on a daily basis….that no shadows come between us..

His purpose is that we should walk before Him…..as His children,…for He will look after us.

His purpose is for us to follow after Him as His disciples…learning dependence and obedience to our Master’s commands.

His purpose is for us to walk as friends with Him…

John 15:14-15 “Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Henceforth I call ye not servants; for the servant knoweth not what His Lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you.”

Colossians 2:6-7 “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him:

Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”

Shall we not yield to His purpose for us, and honor His love for us?

It is to set yourself aside to Him, in each situation.

This takes some effort, but as someone once said, (and I like this) “It is to find out where Jesus is standing in this situation, and then go and stand with Him.”

To yield to Him. Yes, yield is to “give-in”. And that is what we are to do….give in to Christ….believing He knows best….believing He sees all that is going on with me….believing He loves me.

He is our life, let us embrace Him….and learn of Him.

Psalm 100

Psalm 100:1 “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands”

This is a psalm of praise….to the Lord. Four times in five verses the name of the Lord is used.

It is Jehovah….the eternal, ever existent One….the ever becoming One.

He was, and is, and ever will be….yet He becomes the need of His people.

This is the Lord Jesus Christ….and all should praise Him with a joyful noice.

One day, the whole earth will praise and glorify our Lord and Savior!

But today this call goes out…..to all who will hear, and bow to Him, as Lord.

Psalm 100:2 “Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing.”

“Gladness” here means to brighten up….to be blithe (lighthearted).

The Lord Jesus said:

Matthew 11:29-30 “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.”

The burden of sin has been put away….and the weight of the world’s influence has been laid aside…..

There is a lightness to our life, and a strength in our will….by the Holy Spirit who gives us joy and peace for our walk.

How often we come before the Lord in prayer, and supplication,……and in need, and confession…..

and also in thanksgiving….

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

Psalm 100:3 “Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.”

Here, we see our Lord in a few of His Ways for us: “Know ye”….He is always personal.

He is God…..very God of very God. And became…the Son of God, the Son of man….for us. Our Lord Jesus Christ.

John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

How much we need to know this.

He is the Creator….He said, “Let there be light”, and there was light. He created all beings….and formed man of the dust of the ground.

He is our Shepherd, for we belong to Him. He has redeemed us, and leads us with that same Voice He spoke the creation into being.

John 10:27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow me:”

We need to listen for this.

Psalm 100:4 “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.”

This, of course, refers to the gathering together for worship.

Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as we see the day approaching.”

He blesses us with so many things….the greatest of these is His presence by the Holy Spirit….

…but we could also mention faith…without which we could not grasp God’s hand in this dark world.

…also peace…a very choice blessing in the chaotic circumstances of life.

….also His Word….which is a light unto our path (Psalm 119:105)

….and so many more.

Since He has blessed us, we can surely “bless His name.”

To bless God is to praise Him and declare our confidence in His Ways with us.

It is to bring back to Him,…..in testimony,…all the grace He has given us.

He is…..Who He says He is.

Psalm 100:5 “For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.”

This is the confession and testimony of the psalmist…..

….is it ours?

The Lord is good….

….good to seek us when we were far away from Him….

…..and good to save us…

….and good to stay with us, by His Holy Spirit.

His mercy is everlasting….how precious! His mercy will not begin a work in us….then leave us when we become hesitant, or angry.

His truth endures to all generations….we can count on what He says……both promise and precept is forever….they are His Word, which can not fail.

We are called to make a joyful noice….serve the Lord….know the Lord….be thankful unto Him.

He is our Lord.

What a fullness there is in Him.

The Word of the Amen

Amen means “So be it”……and only God can speak and it is done.

All of us can only say…..”amen” after Him…..or say, “If God wills”. (James 4:13-15)

So we need to hear the Word of the Lord, if we want to have what He has for us.

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

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

Now, is what you are asking for, according to His will?

Well, if it is….then it rests with the Amen God.

(There are times when what we ask for, is right before us.

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

Are we receiving His Word to us?)

Then we are to seek. We seek the means to bring to pass that which we are asking for. How to obtain the promised thing.

Remember king David and the Ark….

1 Chronicles 15:13 “For because ye did it not at the first, the Lord our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought Him not after the due order.”

For that we sought Him not after the due order.

This was a very devotional act…..moving the Ark to Jerusalem. But David did not seek Him after His due order…..but had a meeting of his close associates.

God is a God of order and He always has His due order for us.

And what is His due order for us Christians?

Matthew 21:21-22 “Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”

Believing obedience. He requires us to obey Him…..and believe Him while we obey Him.

This is His due order.

“But if ye shall say unto this mountain”. Mountains speak of things we cannot, of ourselves, do anything about.

And we are to speak …..what He wants said….in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Our words are important….they are not to be thrown around….but are to be used to honor the Lord.

Then knock…use His Word, in believing obedience and it shall be opened.

When the Lord Jesus has my will….then He will use my will to bring His Will to pass…because they are One.

I am to stay knocking, until it is indeed opened unto me.

(I want to remind every Christian here,…..that Christ Jesus has knocked on our hearts door for a long time.

He has stood….waiting, for us to open our hearts to Him……and our lives to Him. Revelation 3:20)

Let us then, not be weary in well doing. Not be tired of praying, and thinking we see no results….

….but let us labor on, asking of the Lord….and receiving.

Putting what we received to work by seeking the means of having it.

And then speaking what He wants…..in believing obedience to Him….

….and knock.

Keep using the means until God opens up the door that has been shut before us.

Zechariah

Luke 1:20 “And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”

Zechariah is an interesting case of unbelief.

When we think of unbelief, we think that the person will not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Those that will stubbornly hang onto belief in themselves…or those that refuse to believe because they do not want to be in submission to Anyone.

This is true of the lost…

….but for those who believe in God and in Christ Jesus…

….unbelief can still attack us…and do us great harm.

This is usually an unbelief from “reasons”.

I have a “reason”….therefore what God said,…..could not possibly happen….to me.

Luke 1:5-7 “In the days of Herod,…there was a priest named Zechariah,…And he had a wife….and her name was Elizabeth.

And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.

But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.”

Here was a couple who loved God and each other.

Zechariah went to fulfill his duties as a priest, and was chosen by lot to go in to the golden altar and burn incense.

(This was in the Holy place….and the golden altar was right next to the vail which was before the Holy of Holies. The priests burnt incense upon it, to symbolize the prays of His people.)

Luke1:10” And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the time of the incense.”

As he is doing his duty,….

Luke 1:11”And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.”

Now Zechariah sees an angel….but is afraid. What could God want from him, an ordinary priest?

Have we ever asked that question? God, I am not trained, I am not eloquent, Or I am too old….there are many reasons we can begin to question the Lord’s call….but they can lead to unbelief in His Word.

(Now I want to mention that there has been no recorded revelations from God for about 400 years….

….but the very last Word to Israel, was…

Malachi 4:5-6 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.

And he will turn the heart of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a degree of utter destruction.”

So the next Word of revelation, to begin Christ’s ministry of Salvation, was about this very person. Before anything else happened….Zechariah, an ordinary priest, is given this revelation of this prophet.)

First, the angel quiets Zechariah’s fears, for himself,…

….and speaks of the Purpose of God, in Zechariah’s prayers for a son for him and Elizabeth.

“Do not be afraid….for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

For he will be great before the Lord…and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God,

And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” (Luke1:13, 15-17)

What joyful news!!!! What a blessing!

Yet…

….and aren’t we like this….stifling the joy by…looking at the circumstances of now….instead of God’s power.

First Zechariah feared, then wondered about himself, then questioned the goodness and wisdom of God!

Once we start looking at ourselves…we can all slide into the questioning attitude….”but, Lord”….and then into unbelief.

Luke 1:18 “And Zechariah said to the angel, How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife advanced in years.”

He was still looking at himself….no wonder there was unbelief!

Luke 1:19-20 “And the angel answered him, I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and bring you this good news.

And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”

(In the KJV the words “take place” are “fulfilled”. Much better. They did not just happen….God fulfilled His Word. I was without my Bible when I wrote this….I was using the Gideon Bible, provided in my room.)

Now God did indeed fulfilled His Word. Elizabeth conceived…and the son, born to her and Zechariah…was John the Baptist.

Then Zechariah, whose tongue was finally loosed…blessed God.

Luke 1:76-77 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways,

To give knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness of their sins,”

Praise God, the promise was not hindered by Zechariah’s unbelief…..except for himself. (He could have praised God’s will from the first.)

(How much joy we lose when we don’t deny ourselves,…and as we begin to doubt God’s goodness.)

Zechariah’s child was to be the forerunner of Christ.

The one who would herald to the nation, that they must prepare their hearts and ears to hear the Lord….Who was coming. To repent of their sins.

(A forerunner was one whose duty it was to run before the King’s procession and shout to all the people: Prepare yourselves, the King is coming, the King is coming! All the people would then come out and prepare to bow as the King went by.)

John’s ministry was absolutely necessary for the Awakening of Israel to the claims of God on their lives.

Israel had become complacent. They had a religious attitude….they still believed in God…

….but their regular life, was where the trials of providing food, shelter…and keeping out of the way of the Romans…was uppermost in their lives.

John the Baptist changed all of that for a great many Israelites. A baptism of repentance…..to show they had turned from their sin….to prepare them, for the Savior, Who would save them from their sin…Jesus Christ.

Luke 3:2-3”During the high priesthood of Annais and Caiaphas, the Word of the Lord came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”

John the Baptist not only preached of Christ…he pointed to Him.

John 1:29 “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world.”

Unbelief destroys joy…replacing peace with doubt.

Most of our unbelief comes from looking at ourselves;….

….when what we need to do is deny ourselves, believe the Lord’s Word…and praise Him for His Will for us, and to us.

Simeon, and Anna

God prepares hearts…….to see and receive His blessed Son……sometimes years ahead…..leading them to worship and joy.

Luke 2:25-26 “And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.”

Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus had come to Jerusalem eight days after his birth…..that they might offer Him unto the Lord…..by an offering told in the law(Exodus 22:29)…..and give the offering of purification. (Leviticus 12:2-8)

They had come to the Temple,….and the Holy Spirit had led Simeon to be there, as well…..when he saw them….he went over and….

Luke 2:28-32 “Then took he Him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

Lord, now lettest Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy Word:

For mine eyes have seen Thine Salvation,

Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

A Light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.”

How lovingly and tenderly does Simeon pick up His Lord…..”and blessed God”….

Simeon praised God’s goodness in letting him see His Son….for being faithful to His promise to him.

He praised God for His Salvation….wrapped up in this little baby.

He praised God for the Purpose of His Salvation….both to the Gentiles and Israel.

And in this praise Simeon prophesied of the Way of salvation….

…..”before the face of all people”….

……Christ was raised between earth and heaven, outside the city….on a hill…..before all the people, from all over, which came to the Passover!

Simeon showed that Christ was presented as God’s Glory….to Israel…..

(Luke 2:14 and the angels praise…..”Glory to God in the highest…”

Wise men coming and telling all, in Jerusalem, of the Star which announced the King’s birth Matthew 2:1-3.

The miracles, again and again…how glorious they all were.

The prophesy of Christ coming in as King to Jerusalem…..and He did. Zechariah 9:9).

And Simeon showed that Christ would be presented to the Gentiles…..as Light….(Matthew 4:15-16, John 8:12, Acts 26:17-18)

And then he turned to Mary and Joseph….

Luke 2:34-35 “And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary His mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

(Yea, a sword shall pass through thine own soul also;) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

God sent His Beloved Son to save all who would come to the the Light….

….many will rise to be joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17)…

…and many will fall…rebelling against their King…and Lord….and destroy themselves in the process. (Mark 12:1-9)

“That the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed”. It is our hearts, God wants…..will we give them?

Luke 2:36-38 “And there was one Anna, a prophetess,…..of the tribe of Asher: she was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity.

And she was a widow of about four score and four years, which departed not from the Temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of Him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”

Anna, who was at least in her nineties, came into the part of the Temple that Mary, Joseph, Jesus, and Simeon were.

Hearing what Simeon said…..she rejoiced.

How much joy the birth of Jesus gave those “who looked for redemption”…in Israel.

She had not departed from the Temple for years, after she became a widow,….but stayed…..feeling her work to serve God was to fast and pray…..night and day.

(Night is first….probably her best time to pray…..for few would be around)

But with the knowledge that Redemption, in the Person of this baby was come….she told everyone that she knew,…..that was waiting for Him.

Even as a babe, Christ Jesus separated men and women into two groups…..those who wanted their King….and His kingdom, to come to them….

….and those to whom the news of Christ made no impact….except to interfere with their lives……they did not care that the King had come (Luke 19:14, 27)

To these two, Simeon and Anna,……Christ was the One they had been praying, and looking for…..Emmanuel….God with us….

……and here He was, a baby, in His mother’s arms.

How amazing!

God deserved all praise,….from all….

….yet being wise in the Holy Ghost……they told only those who were looking and waiting for Christ, the Son of God, the Messiah, to come.

Christ Jesus came a baby, born in a manger…..for there was no room in the inn….

Heralded by angels….seen and recognized by shepherds,

By wise men from a far country,…

…Simeon and Anna…..

……and those unnamed, but known of God, which looked for the Christ to come.

Let us rejoice at His birth…..and what it means for us.

(Notice the names of Christ spoken here:

Consolation: 2 Thessalonians 2:16 “Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God even our Father which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace.”

Salvation: Matthew 1:21 “And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins.”

Light: Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my Light and my Salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

The Glory: Psalm 24:7 “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in.”

Redemption: 1 Corinthians 1:30 “But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, Who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”

Redemption is to be bought back….bought back from sin, and death, from Satan’s power, and the world.

He is all these, and more, to those who receive Him.)

When the fullness of the time was come

Galatians 4:4-5 “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”

“But…”. This is a connective term, which changes the direction of the narrative……having to do with what is before:

Galatians 4:3 “Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:”

Paul is explaining that when we “were children in bondage”……this goes back to the traditions of Rome.

A man may have many children….his, or those he chooses…..but they are just children….till….

….the adoption of sons. He would go before the court of Rome….and openly declare that this child….was his son….his heir.

God has done this to us…..He has adopted us….and legally declared us to be His sons.

We were in bondage to the elements of the world….

What elements? The world’s attitudes, sins, anger and jealousy,….the world’s greed and self-exaltation…..the world’s lust for self-seeking pleasures.

We were under their control…..living and moving with the crowd to destruction…..

“But….”. Blessed change! But when the fullness of God’s time was finally come…..He did something so wonderful….

….so magnificent….

so different than expected….

….He sent forth on the greatest errand of mercy and hope….

……His Son, Christ Jesus, well beloved and holy….to redeem us….that we might be openly adopted and known as His sons.

Amen….Hallelujah….amen.

When we believe, then we are adopted and given HIs Spirit….as the certification of His salvation….and given an inheritance:

Romans 8:15, 17 “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; But ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

And 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.”

Ephesians 1:13-14 “In Whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in Whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

Which is the earnest (down payment) of our inheritance…”

And now we will talk of the “fullness of the times”….now….in this time.

And God waited…..till the fullness of the time came for me,…for you….for us.

They saw our birth, and the gospel given…..how many times?

They saw our call…and our twists and turns in the way.

They saw our spiritual steps till now…..some small, some large….

Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

The body is the instrument of the Spirit….so that if it be held for Christ, then the practical life is His.

The feet for walking at His bidding.

The hands to work His Way.

The tongue to speak for Him.

The ear to hear His Words….promise and command.

The eye to look at everything as under His control.

When we are born again, the body is the Temple of God, for it holds the Spirit of God within—and we are to bring our body to the Holy Spirit, and deny ourselves.

Romans 11:36 “For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to Whom be glory for ever. Amen.”

This is how the body….the whole life, finds itself under the government of the Kingdom of Christ.

Now the fullness of the time has come for me, for you…..for us…..now.

As joint-heirs of Christ will we take our place in His kingdom, now….and be found faithful in that which He has called us to do?

That we may know

In the Bible, when God speaks of “know”….He is speaking of understanding what He says, and to get it in our experience. To know, we actually have part and lot in the matter.

Ephesians 1:18 “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,”

Now Bible hope is of the Holy Spirit. When you know the hope of your salvation….you know the witness of the Spirit within you. (Romans 8:15-16)

Those commentators which study the make-up of the Bible, say that Ephesians is the book of possessing our possessions. It is as Joshua in the Old Testament…..the people gaining their Promised Land….through God’s workings, through obedience and battle.

Ephesians is like that. It begins with:

Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”

There is our promised land…..All Spiritual Blessings….laid up for us to use in the heavenlies….in Christ.

He has chosen us, and predestinated us, adopted us, and made us accepted in Himself….

In Him we have redemption, forgiveness of sins, the riches of grace, and His will made known unto us.

We are given the Holy Spirit, and Himself as Head of the church.

All this we have….and should know as our personal experience.

Ephesians 2:6 “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”

Together, as Christians, we are the people of God….a building of HIs making, and for His glory. (Eph. 2:20-22)

We are in the heavenlies, before the throne….in Christ.

He is working in the world….in us.

(I say in us,….because what is in us, really, comes out. It is shown abroad…especially the love of Christ.)

Ephesians 3:16-19 “That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by HIs Spirit in the inner man;

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.”

(A long time ago, when I was younger and more full of myself….I thought I can surely give explanation of these verses….

….and yes, to a (small) degree I could. I knew the love of Christ Jesus to me, both in salvation…and in fellowship.

But I have come to see….the ministry of these verses is in the church. When those that love the Lord,….are gathered together there is a special love filling the place. Not all feel or know it the same….but gathered together we may have a better glimpse of the Oneness and Abiding Presence.

The breadth….as wide as the church on earth itself.

The length….as long as Eternity.

The depth….for it reaches down to the lowest hell to save us….and keeps saving us for Himself.

The height….to Heaven where we will “know” in our fullest form.)

Our ministry is a personal one, to God and others. And our ministry is a corporate one, in our local church….and beyond….for the church: it’s growth and strength.

God loves His people….and gives us the Holy Spirit that we may know our part of the breadth, length, depth, and height of HIs love….by faith.

And we can never know this as we ought, till we begin to lose our love for ourselves.

(No this is not self-condemnation…that is just self-pity on steroids.

But this is truly to lose all that we worldly love, and place ourselves squarely in the flood of God’s love.

God’s love works for our good, not our wants…..His love works for His purpose in our lives, not our plans. God’s love molds…and sometimes that is in the furnace…but His love also shows that He is with us there.)

As we do, we see what it is to become of use to our God in our lives, and in the church….

Ephesians 4:1 “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,”

From the fourth chapter, on…..Paul exhorts about the walk of those that “know”….

We are to walk worthy of our calling…with all lowliness…with longsuffering for others….working to keep the unity of the Spirit….the Oneness we know.

We are not to walk as others do….but since we have learned Christ….we are to “walk in love, as Christ has loved us.”

As we walk with God, we are built up….further learning….further growing up into Christ….

….how infinite the knowledge of Christ is!

And then…..in our possessing our spiritual blessings…..we come to stand…possessing our armor….and holding what Christ has won for us….in our battles.

Ephesians 6:11, 13 “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand agains the wiles of the devil.

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.”

Twice we are exhorted to “put on the whole armor of God”. All of it,….for if we use the shield of faith,…..but do not put on the helmet of salvation….we may be wounded in our thought life.

God is interested in us gaining all our possessions…..all He has won for us….all He has set aside in Him.

He want us to “know” Him….and be filled with all the fullness of God.

Will we begin to “know” in understanding and experience all of Him….for us?