The Man with the Withered Hand.

Matthew 12:9-10 “And when He was departed thence, He went into their synagogue:

And behold, there was a man who had his hand withered. And they asked Him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath days? That they might accuse Him.”

Jesus had been on a teaching tour through the cities of Israel. And now He was come to their synagogue.

In the synagogues, every Israelite could stand up, read the scriptures, and interpret them for those gathered. Then there would be a general discussion of the scriptures.

That day there was in the men gathered, a man with a withered hand. He hid it in his cloak, so no one would see it….but he was known by the men gathered, and Jesus knew, of course.

The Pharisees were watching Him,…not to find out whether He was the Messiah,….or to hear the scriptures interpreted…..but….”that they might accuse Him”.

Mark 3:2 “And they watched Him whither He would heal on the Sabbath day; that they might accuse Him.”

To have a deformity in Israel, was to be disgraced, for it meant that sin was somewhere in the family of the person.

(They thought that this man had sinned, or someone in his family had sinned, and he was being punished for it.)

So the Pharisees asked a question, that they thought was pretty straight forward.

Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?

The Sabbath was the day of rest. A day which should be spent in contemplating God, and His Word. A day of fellowship with others of His people.

They were to do no work on the Sabbath, or it would be defiled.

But what is work, and what is mercy?

Jesus points out the difference.

Matthew 12:11-12 “And He said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?

How much then is a man better that a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.”

Would you save your one sheep? Your only sheep? Are you not commanded in the ceremonial law, to save a sheep, even of your neighbors? (Deuteronomy 22:4)

This is interesting. Jesus does not say one out of a hundred. Or a thousand.

But one.

That is exactly the way He feels about us. If He only came to save one, He would have.

We are that one. The man with the withered hand, was that one.

He would save us, and He would save him.

So His question to the Pharisees was really:

would you save the one sheep you own; would you save your livelihood?

Or the livelihood of your neighbor?

He said the truth: of course they would.

Therefore, since they would save their one sheep on the sabbath, He would save this one man on the sabbath.

Also notice, the way He talked of the sheep: “if it fall into a pit”. Are we not also ready to fall into a pit, without His Salvation?

Christ’s answer showed God’s character.

The Sabbath was made for man to have rest with His God. It is lawful, then to show mercy on the sabbath days.

Matthew 12:13 “Then saith He to the man, Stretch forth thine hand….”

This man with the withered hand, had heard enough to know that the mercy of God was being extended to him. Did he believe it?

To believe Jesus and obey,….would cost him something. He would have to stretch out his hand for all, to see his deformity.

It would cost him embarrassment.

(And how many of us would be stopped right here?)

It could also cost him the company of these people.

To obey Jesus might be dangerous, as these people were influential.

So, here is the choice: Jesus, and God’s mercy; or his normal existence, but accepted by the religious rulers.

Which would he do?

Matthew 12:13 “…And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.”

His choice was Jesus, and obedience. For that choice, he was healed.

But Jesus was also speaking to all, who were there in the synagogue.

He was offering mercy to all those who heard Him: including those Pharisees,…..if they would simply submit to the truth and believe in Him.

But they refused to believe Him. They refused His healing their hearts.

Matthew 12:14 “Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against Him, how they might destroy Him.”

God’s mercy and salvation was refused by them that day.

Their choice was to keep the life and influence they had; not to yield to the mercy offered.

How much they lost by their choice!

Jesus talked of saving the “one sheep”, because each of us are that one sheep.

He came to save us: from the guilt of sin, the power of sin, and one day from the presence of sin.

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

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Reality, is it for you?

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

This is a real invitation to us from the Almighty God. “Come boldly”: to obtain, or get for us, mercy and grace to help in this time of need. Whatever that need is.

Christianity is an ideology (a body of ideas reflecting the social needs and goals of a group or people).

To a great many people, it is nothing more than that, for they have never been Born Again. It takes the element of faith in Christ Jesus our Lord to make these things of the Bible, real to us.

If it is only an ideology, then we are left up to our own means and power to bring His Will to pass in our lives. That is impossible.

Only by God’s enabling, can we do His Will.

God’s plan for us is the fullness of the Spirit: The Holy Spirit of power.

Matthew 6:10 “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

This is how we have the fullness of the Holy Spirit. And His kingdom must first be set up in our personal heart.

If we are citizens of His Kingdom, God is honored and obeyed by us. And that can only be done as we voluntarily submit to His Rule over us, in His personal direction for our lives.

Jesus said, “ If ye love Me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)

Hebrews 4:1 “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.”

Every promise in the Word, and every promise given to you personally is there: ready for you to enter into it by faith. (The Holy Spirit gives you hope: or the confident assurance that God will do what He says. We feel it! Hallelujah!)

There can never be true faith without obedience.

Faith takes us by the hand and guides us to do, what we believe.

God may have given you this promise, and this…and this, but until you have these promises in your experience, they are only promises.

True and Sure; but like money in a bank, sometimes not used.

The writer says “fear” coming short of the promises God gives us.

Fear means to be alarmed! To wake up to what you have in God’s Word, and reach out for it.

In praying, “Thy Kingdom come.”

(And notice it is a complete sentence, all by itself. It is not a part of God’s Will………It is God’s Will: that His Kingdom should come to each and every child of His, and that by it, they will enjoy communion and fellowship as they come into all that God has for them.)

We are to pray for His Kingdom to come within us, and submit to Him. We are praying for the Power and blessing of the Holy Spirit upon the Word; when we hear it, read it, and on the preaching of it.

We are praying that we may understand and know His Will; and willingly do His Will. (Philippians 2:13)

We are praying that the Word of God will be spread abroad by believing ministers, and that their lives will show forth God’s praise. (Matthew 5:16)

We are praying that His Kingdom which has come within us, may go on and influence those around us. That we might be a sanctifying influence to those we come into contact with.

This is the furthering of Christ’s Kingdom here. It always begins with us: getting by faith what God has for us, and sharing Christ and His Word to others.

For this we should come boldly to the throne of grace, God’s Throne, and get mercy (that help to sinners in need) and grace (the power that we need) for this time, and the next time, and the next time….onward.

For to will is present with me

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

There is within me a principle of rebellion, left over from my old nature, that must be overcome if I am to find “how to perform that which is good.”

Romans 7:22 “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:”

       Here is where I need to be strengthened….in the inward man.

I need to learn how to yield to that inner unction; that is the impressions of the Holy Spirit in my spirit. (1 John 2:20,27)

       Paul stresses “yield” to the Romans. (And they are all found in the sixth chapter. Romans 6:13, 16, 19)

       Romans 6:13 “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin:  but yield  yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”

       Yield means to stand beside, to assist, to be at hand, ready.   And this is what we are to do for the Holy Spirit.   

We are to stand beside Him in what He tells us to do….giving Him our full, diligent obedience.

There is ample strength in Him, if we learn to stifle not the Holy Spirit.  Our new nature, is the Holy Spirit in our spirits…and we need to learn to be ready to assist Him….to yield to Him.

Jude 20-21 “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.”

We cannot save ourselves….but by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can build up our spiritual life by faith, on the Rock of Jesus Christ…..and keep placing ourselves under His arm of love….all the while watching for Him to supply mercy for us, and for others.

And this is the call:  to mortify….to put to death the old nature….by yielding to the new nature (the Holy Spirit)….this is how we build a spiritual life on Christ.

(My husband used to say that,…”To build our lives on Christ will take a lot of spiritual consecration”…..but the Lord showed him once that it is really “spiritual concentration”…..concentrating all our faculties on the Will of God…on honoring the Holy Ghost.)

2 John 1:8 “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought,  but that we receive a full reward.”

Watch for any cooling in our love for the Lord or for HIs work in others….watch for a loss of peace…..watch for a neglect of the services or of reading HIs Word.

      The Holy Spirit has given us love, joy, peace…..have we  appreciated them enough to seek the Lord when they seem to vanish?

All the things you are aware of, you deal with them first.  This is how you get honest…and get fruit in your life.

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

Our hearts are good only because they are honest.  Honesty brings forth the 

fruit of the Holy Spirit….within a Christian.

Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart:  try me, and know my thoughts:

      And see if there be any wicked way in me,  and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Let God do this,  and you will begin to know the honesty that leads to a fruitful life.

We, as the creature must bow to the Creator…..rather than ascert ourselves, or demand anything…we must bow to God, Who is ruling all things for our good.

We are new creatures in Christ, and that new nature should have supremacy over our old nature…”all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17)

We are His workmanship (Ephesians 2:10)    What will we do with that fact?

We started this with….”For to will is present with me….but how to perform that which is good, I find not.”

But Paul did find out how…..

Romans 8:11 “But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you,  He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.”

So we need to yield ourselves as unto a Faithful Creator, that we may find how to perform that which is good….for ourselves For He doeth all things well.

The Word of the Amen.

Amen means “so be it, or let it come to pass”.

When we say it, we are affirming our faith, that God will do what He said.

But when God says it….He is the affirmation and the confirmation of every Word of God.

He says….and it is done. He spoke all into being in the beginning….and He is still speaking to bring His Purpose to pass….with us….

2 Corinthians 1:20 “For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.”

One of the places in scripture, where it is a name of Christ is:

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

It is odd to me that this Name would be at the end of the Church age….

…I would think, that since His work in the church is almost over, as far as this world is concerned….that He would not use this Name.

After all, this church, if you read the letter, is in really bad shape…..

Why identify Himself, here, as the Amen? Or as the One Who can say and bring it to pass?

To remind us of just Who He is…..for at HIs Word the world was made.

I believe it is to encourage our hearts….He has not given up on this Laodicean church….even though He stands outside it’s door, knocking….

…..and because He is the Amen, the One who can say….and it will be…

….He calls us to join Him in what He will do….not could do….

….but will do for this church.

And what will He do?

He will rebuke…..to awaken us to our condition. (Revelation 3:15-17)

(Has He done anything to you, lately, to awaken you?)

But then He promises His blessings for all who will awaken to His rebuke (Revelation 3:18-19)

His empowerment (the gold tried in fire—pure with no dross in it; which speaks of God in us,…losing our self dominion)

His manifested righteousness (the white raiment—covering our nakedness which comes from no obedient fruit to God: either fruit of the Spirit [faith,peace,love,gentleness,etc]……or the fruit of another Christian)

His enlightenment, which is power to see things as He sees them…(the eyesalve which is honesty with God)

He will knock on our hearts door….and more….

….He will speak, personally, to us.

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

And more….

…He will give us authority in our lives….and as ambassadors of His kingship, here on earth…..as we overcome every obstacle to His Will in our lives.

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

And when we set our hearts to obey Him, however He chooses to speak…..

……He will soon bring all the needed direction….

……and the needed grace to do.

Philippians 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”

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 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.”

And just what is it, that He is saying to us?

Micah 6:8-9 “He hath shown thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

The Lord’s voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see Thy Name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.”

This “rod” is the same word as in Psalm 23:4 “….Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.”

The comfort comes in our hearing Him….hearing His rod of correction….waking up to His Word….and obeying Him.

He is the Amen,….He can say, and it will be done.

How He chooses to do His Will in my life, depends on how I hear….and answer His call…

He looks for an answer….not of words….( “I go, sir…and went not.” Matthew 21:27-31)

But an answer which will show itself in our hearts, and lives….when we “open the door” to Him……and give our lives over to Him, to lead us as He will.

Finally,

Ephesians 6:10 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.”

Finally….

Paul had begun this letter to the church in Ephesus, 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:”

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

Paul told of all the spiritual blessings that are ours….in the heavenlies….in Christ…

….as we are in Christ Jesus,…..those spiritual blessings can flow down to us, here on earth….

……and the means of getting those blessings to flow down….is to give Christ complete charge of our lives, as King. (Matthew 6:10)

He represents us up there before God the Father…so we are seated “in Him” in the heavenlies before God, too.

And we represent Him down here before the world…..and He is “in us” here before every person we meet with.

This is a great blessing….the Presence of God within us…..and those spiritual blessings, He has won for us.

The blessing of the Holy Spirit’s power within us (Eph. 1:13-14)

The blessing of understanding, and power (Eph. 1:18-20)

The blessing of quickening….both for salvation, and against sin. (Eph. 2:1-5)

The blessing of the works we are to walk in. (Eph. 2:10)

The blessing of letting the Gentiles into the church. (Eph.2:19)

The blessing of being rooted and grounded in Christ’s love (Eph.3:17)

The blessing of grace given in His measure…to us personally (Eph. 4:7)

Then after Paul speaks of all the blessings Christ has won for us…..those that should be coming down to us, in our every day life….

….he speaks of the practical life we are to live….as children, parents, workers, and employers.

Christianity is very practical. Eternal life is not for heaven alone…..but for the life we live now.

The Lord never intended us to be saved,…..and then wait for heaven to know His love or peace or joy or mercy or grace…..but, to have them now in active fellowship and communion with Him.

That is why the blessed Holy Spirit lives within us….to bring down to us all that Christ has won for us….and that we will use in obedience to Him.

Then…..”Finally, my brethren”…..

Paul is summing up his thoughts for this beloved church….by showing them another blessing….the blessing of the armor of God.

Armor (Greek “panoply”) is a covering for warfare.

And here, he states, it covers our “loins”….or the pivotal power of our body….the place of real power of our movement……our will.

And our will, needs to be covered by the truth…otherwise our will go this way and that….without purpose.

Our armor covers our chest….our heart and affections…..with righteousness.

(Righteousness is being right with God.)

It is given us by Christ….it is His righteousness that we are clothed with….but for the armor, it is also our righteousness….our seeing that we are kept right before God….our sins confessed….our obediences up-to-date. (1 John 1:9)

Our armor covers our feet….our movements in this world.

And they are to be in peace. This is to go with God’s peace firmly in place….not in fear….resting upon the promises of God….and then we will not slip. (John 14:27)

Our armor includes our shield….a moveable piece which can help….for extra covering against the “fiery darts of the wicked”.

This is our faith…..true faith overcomes. (1 John 5:4)

Faith stops those suggestions which “fly” at us….in our minds….and those emotions which come to us in our hearts….

….with the internal knowledge of God. Faith puts God in front of us…and if God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31-32)

Our armor….our covering for warfare…includes covering for our minds….the helmet of salvation.

Our Salvation is a complete one……God saves every part of us.

He firmly places over our thought life a covering….to keep us safe from every panic and imaginations which suggest that God is not able. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

Our armor gives us a weapon….it is the Word of God….it is like a sword in our hand….to use against the wiles (tricks, and flattery) of the devil.

The Word of God divides false from true….and shows us God’s Way to go. (Psalm 119:11,36-37)

Our armor is prayer…..and how many times has our prayer saved us, when we are under attack! Remember, God answers prayer because we believe Him….not because we say all the right words. (Peter when he was drowning…”Lord, save me.” Matthew 14:30)

A soldier does not put on his armor, after going into the battle….but a soldier puts his armor on….knowing the coming battle, and is prepared.

God has given us in Christ Jesus….by His Spirit, many blessings.

God has given us instruction as….how to live….

…..whether we are son, or daughter, father or mother, wife or husband, employee or employer….God has showed us that we are to think of each other in light of what Christ has done for us…..

….not what we or they have done.

And, finally….God has supplied His power to cover us…

….with truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and His Word…and prayer…

….as a covering for us in the battle which we are in, here on earth.

Are we discovering all that Christ has for us?

Lift up the Hands that Hang Down

Hebrews 12: 12-13 “Wherefore lift up the hands that hang down, and the feeble knees;

And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.”

This has to do with the race we are called to finish for the Lord.

God never intends that we go through life miserable.

It is true that we are in a battle with sin, self, and the Adversary, but it should always be a path of Light.

In this part of Hebrews, the writer has just told of heroes of faith (Hebrews 11).

Not just how they had faith….but how they used their faith.

And he calls all who have faith now, to:

Hebrews 12:1 “Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”

In every race, it is those who lay aside every weight, who will win.

You can not be weighed down, and run well.

This race is not a sprint….but a long distance race; it is the race that compasses our lives.

Weights are those things which we carry, which are unnecessary to our walk with the Lord. In fact, they hinder it.

These can be habits we have picked up, which need to be put aside;

or acquaintance which we have let get an advantage over us;

or ideas from the world which sound right, but are not.

These weights interfere with our race; and hinder our faith’s growth.

We can still run; but with difficulty….and perhaps a fall.

So, the writer says, you need to “lay aside” these; and run with patience the race that is set before us, by the Lord.

A good way to start this is:

Hebrews 12: 2-3 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For consider Him that endured such contradictions of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”

We are to look to Jesus: look at His example, and look at the reason He went to the cross.

Jesus Christ our Lord came from His glory, into humiliation for us; that we might have His life and peace.

We are His joy, and satisfaction.

(Isaiah 53:11 “He shall see the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall My righteous servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities.”)

It was not just His suffering in death, but the “contradiction of sinners”.

That was in the unbelief of the people he came to;

the anger of the chief priests and Pharisees, who refused to acknowledge Jesus’ authority;…..

…..and in the face of so many proofs, rejected Him and sought to make others refuse Him as well.

Yet Christ Jesus went to the cross to die and save all who would come unto Him.

He ran the race His Father placed before Him, that He might have us with Him for all eternity. Again, we are His joy.

The writer also goes on to say that we should be prepared to be corrected, if you wander from the path of life.

Your Heavenly Father loves you, and seeks to keep you safe.

The further you are from Jesus; the further out of His Light and Love you go; the more in the dark we are.

This is not what Jesus has for us.

Hebrews 12:11 “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, afterward it yeildeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”

“Them that are exercised thereby” are the people who really want to learn.

(A group of people are all training for a big game.

The trainer is working hard with all of them, in order for them to win.

But he will take extra time with those who get bruises, or sore feet, or are failures at first; and still get up and want more of the training, so they can get it right. These are those that are “exercised thereby”.)

When we have seen the value of the life the Lord gives us, and we come to the place where we need correcting (and we all do)…..yet if we go on with Jesus, and learn; we will bare the fruit of righteousness within ourselves….because we stayed with Him.

So in Spiritual Life:

Our Trainer is the Holy Spirit He is come to us to guide us in the Lord’s Way, in grace.

But we are often slow learners; or frightened; or we want to do it another way.

But the Holy Spirit does not give up on us; but rather seeks to point us to Christ; and keeps working in us. (Philippians 2:13)

He tells us: don’t give up, do not get discouraged; but go on with Him.

Hebrew 12: 12-13 “Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.”

Lift up the hands which hang down in fear or tiredness.

Strengthen the knees which want to just sit down, and forget it.

Make your paths straight, by:

Trusting in the Lord.

Listening to Him.

And holding on to His love.

He is always with us, let us stay with Him.

Ask for these to be shown to us; and be prepared to be strengthened by His Holy Spirit, in peace and joy.

the lessons of Mt Sinai

The lessons of the children of Israel in the wilderness, are varied and many.  

       But the lessons at Mt Sinai, are special.

Here, they heard the voice of God themselves….here,  they became, officially, a nation, under God….here, they built the Tabernacle, where God dwelt in the midst of them….here, they spent one year (half of the time it would have taken them to get to the promised land, if they had entered it in believing obedience, the first time)!

One year spent in the shadow of the Mt of God! (Exodus 19:1-2)

They came to Mt Sinai, right after the first battle they had  to fight,which was over the water the Lord gave them….from the Rock.

       What a lesson!….after the battles we have, The Lord  often prepares to lead us on in communion with Him…that we can know Him better for the life He calls us to.

When they came to the Mt., Moses was given instruction that they were to wash themselves…and their clothes.  A sign of inward cleansing from sin, and an outward setting of things right.

They must not come near the Mt.  Neither them or their animals were to come within a certain distance….for…

…the first lesson God prepares His people to know,…is His holiness.   God must be God to us.     

            He is certainly our Savior….but we must come to adore, love, and submit to His holiness…and rule…if we are to worship Him.

           He was to be their King….and He begins to show them His kingdom…and how they were to be HIs citizens.

Then the magnificent and terrifying sight:   The third day,  God came down on Mt Sinai!

Thunderings, and lightning, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and a very loud trumpet!

(Exodus 19:16-18)

The people who had gathered to watch….were terrified….but so was Moses!  (Hebrews 12:21)

       God’s Holiness does this….it shows us as sinners before His sight….unable to stand in His gaze.   

Then the Voice…. God speaking directly to His people.  (Deuteronomy 4:32-33) 

       Before,  He had spoken to Moses,….now He would give His people the Ten Commandments….whereupon all other good laws have been built.   (Deut.4:8)

       The first:  “you shall have no other gods before Me.”  The Lord was to be first in all things.

The people were afraid…and instead of drawing near,  they pulled back…telling Moses he could talk to God on their behalf.

 But though Moses, too, was astonished….yet he came near to God when He called….for he recognized that the Lord was giving them a trial…

…”Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that His fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.”

Here was a lesson, unfortunately they refused…and unfortunately led them to unbelief and sin, many times.   The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

We, too have been called to be the Lord’s people…to hear Him, and know Him.

Hebrews 10:22 “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” …Hebrews 10:22 

(How do we want to know Him?    

There are two ways to know God.    To know about Him through the words of others (including the Bible)….

…or to know Him in all His characteristics,…personally by fellowship….Holy, Mighty to save, King)

                                 The next lesson was….they were to be His people by covenant of blood.  It was based on His Holy laws….and their obedience to Him,… in them.

Exodus 24:4,7-8 “And Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord.  He rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain,….

      Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people.  And they said, All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.

      And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said,  Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you….”

          (I want to mention that this covenant was imperitive.   God could not claim a people that would not submit to His laws.)

           Here they became Israel, the nation under the kingship of God,….His nation, by the shedding of the blood (Exodus 24:5-6) of the covenant.  

     They were no longer Jacob’s children.  They were no longer the slaves of the Egyptians….they were Israel….under the rule of God.

                                  Then the Lord begins to teach them about fellowship with Him…what it would be like to “draw near”…..and He began with the elders.

Moses and 70 elders, were called to go up into the mountain a ways,….and eat before God!

     Here they saw a magnificent sight!  And ate in the Presence of God!   This should have given them a look into the character of their King….He would be honored,…but He extended His hand for fellowship and closeness with Him!    They should have loved this closeness….and been willing to learn how to have it in their everyday lives!

                      Exodus 24: 9-11 “Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up,

      And they saw the God of Israel.   There was under His feet as  it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness.

      And He did not lay His hand on the chief of the people of Israel;  they beheld God, and ate and drank.”

                     (Here was an amazing example of what the life before the Lord could be.   “..and I will come into him and sup with him and he with Me.”  Revelation 3:20 is extended to us, as well.)

Have they learned anything from this lesson?

                     But as Moses was called to go further on the mountain, and the seventy went back into the camp….

……these same men….did not call this to heart and mind…or even tell others of this wonder.

        Moses was only up there forty days…..it could have been a time for resting, caring for their livestock and family,  discussing their new role as a kingdom under God, and what that would mean for them.  The elders could have told how they saw Him and ate before Him….

…….but…they did not exercise faith….but was ruled by sight.    

        …they did not want to wait for Moses to come down.        Really, they just did not want to wait on God…..sad!   

         Exodus 32:1″When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain,  the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him,  Up, make us gods who shall go before us.  As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.”

     And it says “the people”….perhaps if the elders had stepped forward here, with a testimony of their experience…. this terrible apostasy would have been stopped!

(We will not go into the terribleness of what they did….suffice it to say, that the idol was one from Egypt….the rites truly horrible.

    Though they were nothing but slaves there,  yet the people kept looking back to it.  A true wile of the devil.  How many times we are warned of the same thing….not to look back, but to go forward in the things of God.   Philippians 3:13    The answer is a communion and fellowship, with the Lord.   That is what keeps us from the world, and sin.)

But God in faithfulness does not leave them in their sin.  

        As He always does,  He moves first….sending Moses down to deal with them.  To show them their sin, and present a way of forgiveness.

        (And when we were at our worst, He sent His only begotten Son down to earth to do the same.   Show us our sin, and give us salvation from our sin.John 3:16)

Moses came down, having already prayed for their forgiveness (Ex. 32:11-13)…..and breaks the stones of Ten commandments (Ex.32:19)….showing that they had already broken them….and turned aside.   

        They were in desperate circumstances,  having made an idol and worshiped it….after God had showed them Himself!

The next lesson God teaches them is:

Sin is death.   

First Moses made them eat the ground up idol.( Exodus 32:20)

     ( It is often the case that the Lord makes us “eat” our sinful words  or our actions.   Making us look as silly as we have been.)

Then, Moses, stands at the entrance of the camp…and gives a call here.

            All could have answered this call:

Exodus 32:26 “Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said,   Who is on the Lord’s side?  Come to me.   And all the sons of Levi gathered around him.”

                       If they had all come,  Moses would have known that the sin was seen by Israel and repented of.   They would have learned a bitter lesson…..but they would have learned and gone on.

                       But only the sons of Levi came…and the bitter task of teaching that sin is death was given to them.

Exodus 32:27-28 “And he said to them,  Thus says the Lord God of Israel,  Put your sword on your side each of you, and go to and fro from the gate to gate throughout the camp, and each of you kill his brother and his companion and his neighbor.

      And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses and that day about three thousand men of the people fell.”

I want to mention here that these men had also sinned…..they were no better than the rest!   Yet when the call came to leave their sin and stand with the Lord (they did not know what the Lord would do to them)…..they came, willing to receive from His hand whatever He willed.

       That day they were ordained to stand before God as priests,…because of their repentance and obedience.

The next  lesson was of forgiveness…

…..how could they stand and live before their King, as guilty transgressors?  How could they go on and have the inheritance that the Lord called them to?

                             The forgiveness was prayed for,…. by Moses.    Here Moses is seen as a type of Jesus Christ, our Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5)….going before God for the people.

        When Moses went to see the Lord for the people….the Lord said,  “Go up…but I will not  go up among you…” (Exodus 33:1,3)

        (Important!)   But Moses cried,  “If Your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.”     What good is anything without the Presence of God in it?

                            “Is it not in your going with us?, so shall we be seperate,  I and Thy people, from all the people that are on the face of the earth?”   (Exodus 33:16)

And is it not the same with us?   His Presence with us by His Holy Spirit is what separates us from the world….and keeps us throughout our journey to heaven!

And the Lord said, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do….for you have found favor in my sight..” (And isn’t for Jesus sake that we are forgiven, and taken into fellowship with Him, even after we sin? 1 John 2:1)

So after forgiveness….the Lord led them into knowing His worship.

 Moses then went up into the Mt. again for forty days and forty nights…receiving the second tables of stone, whereon the Ten Commandments were written….that it might be with them, as His law and sign of His presence.

                Here, the next lesson…..with Moses on the Mt.,  God gives the pattern of the Tabernacle.   

But the first thing He mentions in connection with it,….is “willingness” to give and do for the Lord and the work.

 Exodus 25:2 “Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take My offering..” 

Exodus 35:21 “And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him up, and everyone whom HIs spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering to the work….”

    Many  men and women brought a free-will offering to the Lord, for the Tabernacle.   They had been at Mt. Sinai for a few months….and the rest of the year was in seeing the Tabernacle built from their gifts…and learning to worship.

                          The  lesson of learning to worship :  There is a time and due order for all the work of God: 

        Exodus 40:2 “On the first day of the first month you shall erect the Tabernacle of the  tent of meeting.”     

       Tent of Meeting!  This is what God wanted with Israel….and wants with us….”where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20)

Moses was the one who assembled the Tabernacle, and washed and anointed the priests. Piece by piece the Tabernacle was put together and finished….the first piece being the Ark of the Covenant. He set the veils, and all the rest…”So Moses finished the work”

And Jesus on the cross said, “It is finished.” Will we enter into our part of it?

                         “Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” (Exodus 40:34)

Then….Moses instructs concerning the sacrifices….”If any man of you bring an offering unto the Lord,..”     

                     And the Lord begins with the whole burnt offering….which speaks of the person’s consecration….wholly unto the Lord….and he ends with the sin offering.     All these sacrifices were to be done, that they might come before their God, in fellowship….all of the people could come….and bring a sacrifice.  

                        How the atonement of the Christ was being taught here.   They could not come without a sacrifice….but when they did,  there was peace and blessing for them.

And all of these happened in one year!   So many lessons, that the Lord wanted to teach His people.   All for His glory and praise….all for their peace and good.

If they had learned the lessons of Sinai,   they would have been ready for the lessons to be learned in the promised land.

How many times does the Lord have to teach us something….he already taught us?  So many lessons are based upon what we have learned before.   

What is a lesson from God?  

  It is a necessary part of the purpose of God, that we have the experience in knowing and doing.   

What is a lesson from God?   

 It is Him reaching out through His Spirit or Word to take us by the hand and lead us out of ourselves and what we have known…..into that strength and wisdom that He has for us next.

      His lessons come many ways….but all with one Purpose….to bring us to the place where His glory and grace are our everyday circumstances.   We begin to live in the awe and joy of His salvation and fellowship…and worship. 

This was what He wanted Israel to know….Him….as their God, as their Savior, as their King.

What is He teaching us?

God is our refuge and strength

Psalm 46:1-3 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

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

Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.”

The testimony of the Lord’s people is wonderful. In the chaos of our day, we can be lights to the stability and help of our God.

It is not that we are not troubled….we are often. It is not that the world does not seem to fall in around us….it does.

But it is that we have an Anchor…..a Captain of our Salvation….a King, who still rules….and over rules for us.

Peter, when he was writing the dispersed Jewish church….spoke plainly of “manifold temptations…and trials of faith”….

…yet he spoke also of….”wherein we greatly rejoice”!

2 Peter 1:6-7 “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried in fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”

How can this be…in the midst of change and troubles….we can rejoice?

Because, like the psalmist…..Peter looked to the Lord….our refuge and strength.

In this epistle he speaks of the three-fold work of the Godhead.

1 Peter 1:2-3 “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”

God the Father saw us in Christ Jesus….before times eternal. (2 Timothy 1:9)…and prepared a purpose for us.

God the Son, by HIs precious blood and resurrection gives us forgiveness and life….a life of hope and obedience.

God the Spirit leads us into sanctification….being set aside in spirit, soul, and body to God.

This is why….

….even though the “heaviness” of many kinds of temptations are thrown at us….to trip us up….

….(the devil would use them to get us to distrust God’s wisdom or love….to get us to fix our eyes on ourselves…)

….yet through the sanctification of the Spirit….He leads us to look to Jesus, and obey from the heart the Will of God…and receive that joy….which should be the end of our trials…

1 Peter 1:8-9 “Whom having not seen, ye love; in Whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”

Our faith is tried again and again….to strengthen it. For our faith must be constantly active in this world.

“Yet believing”….is a present-tense word…..for again….it anchors our hearts and minds and wills to Christ….

….and He is our salvation….here and now….and for eternity.

God is our refuge and strength…..a very present help in time of trouble.

Nicodemus

John 3:1-2 “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

         The same came to  Jesus by night, and said unto him,  Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except God be with Him.”

I love this old gentleman,…Nicodemus,  who was surely frightened of the chief rulers and priests….still came to see Jesus….to settle some heart questions he had about his own state before God.

        A good man,  and observant of the law….yet feeling as though something was missing;…something….not right between him and his God.  He wanted to know how he could be in the Kingdom of God.

So Nicodemus came to see Jesus….but at night, so that he would not be seen and questioned about it.

(We think, shame on him!  surely that would disqualify him from being a follower of Christ.  But Jesus saw his heart….and desire for truth in his own life.

What of us?   Do we come to Jesus when we know something is not right?)

       And so Nicodemus began his inquiry….by “flattery”.     Everything he said was true…..Jesus was come from God.   He was teaching the truth about God, and performing miracles that Israel had not seen for a long while….

….yet,  Nicodemus started with this…not getting to the point of the visit….not really knowing how to speak of his own lack in his spiritual life.

But Jesus got right to the point….to answer Nicodemus’ need:

John 3:3 “Jesus answered and said unto him,   Verily, verily, I say unto thee,   Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

(Verily means truth.   Jesus said,  Truth, truth, I say unto thee….a man must be born again to see the kingdom of God.)

Nicodemus was  taken back….and asks,  “how?”

       John 3:4 “Nicodemus saith unto Him,  How can a man be born when he is old?   can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?”

If we were thinking in physical terms, this might be a good question.   But the Kingdom of God is a spiritual Kingdom…one where He reigns within us.   This Nicodemus lacked…and he knew it…and wanted it.

        Even every Israelite knew that the Kingdom was internal as well as….someday, external.   Many were looking for a King which would establish the external Kingdom….one where they were over the other nations, making them “someone”…. but few were looking to be in a right relationship with God…in the internal Kingdom of the heart and life.

       The system of sacrifices (all pointing to Christ’s perfect sacrifice) was only good if they were given from the heart.            This should have been sufficient to lead Nicodemus out of himself….and into seeing the life of the Spirit of God.

How? is often a question we ask when a specific problem is troubling us….and Nicodemus was an old man….his life closer to the end than the beginning.   

How? wants an explanation…. 

….”we know Thou art a teacher come from God”….so please explain being born again.

Knowing Nicodemus desire….Jesus explains.   (And it is a great revelation to every soul, when we see this)

John 3:5-8 “Jesus answered,  Verily, verily,  I say unto thee,  Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

      That which is born of the flesh is flesh;  and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Marvel not that I say unto thee,  Ye must be born again.

      The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is everyone that is born of the Spirit.”

To be born of water….as when we come from our Mother’s womb…..

…and of the Spirit….as when the new nature of God, by the Holy Spirit, comes within our spirit.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh….all who are born,  are flesh….are Adam’s children with his sinful nature.

And that which is born of the Spirit is spirit….all who come to Christ and receive Him are born again….and are God’s children with His new nature, by the Holy Spirit within.

The Holy Spirit is like the wind.  We are unable to see the wind,….but we can see the effects the wind has:  the leaves swaying back and forth, our hair blowing…we can hear the sound of it…etc.   So we can see the effects the Holy Spirit has in our life….we have new goals,  new desires,  new thoughts, new ways of speaking.   We have new life….God’s life implanted within us.

But this explanation flabbergasted Nicodemus….for again he asks  “How can these things be?” (John 3:9)

How can the Spirit of the living God come within me?    Nicodemus understands the fact that he must have the Spirit of God….but how?    It seems impossible that the Holy should enter into him and dwell there!

Then Jesus, with the patience of a true teacher….speaks a rebuke to Nicodemus’ limited thoughts of God….and shows him Who He, Jesus,  is. (John 3:10-21)

“Truth, truth, I say unto you,   We (My Father God, and the Holy Spirit and I) speak what we know,…and ye receive not our witness. 

         I have told you about the earthly life of one in the Kingdom of God.   It is by the Holy Spirit coming within you….to make all things new within you.

         But now I tell you that I am the Messiah.   I have come down from heaven as a Son of God,  to show in this flesh….that all who believe in Me, the Son of God,  may have everlasting life, by the Spirit.

         I was given by My Father to present the light of God,  and I  will be “lifted up”….and all who look and believe on Me will live.

         For I am showing the light of God….all who will receive this light…”who come to the light” will be saved…”that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”

In other words, Nicodemus….you will know that you are part of the Kingdom of God, as  the life given you will be leading you in God’s Will. 

Jesus brought it down to the most simple answer…..we do not need to comprehend everything about the gift of the Holy Spirit to us….but we do need to receive Him….come to Jesus and believe.   And His  light will manifest that we are born again, by HIs Spirit. (Romans 8:15-16) 

        It is believing and receiving that opens the heart and mind to Christ Jesus….and then gives us the understanding we need…to follow on.

Nicodemus did indeed follow on…..speaking out for Christ Jesus before the chief priests and Pharisees, later….when they wanted Jesus arrested in the Temple.

(And this is the way of the Kingdom of God…..giving NIcodemus courage to stand before the very men he was afraid of before.)

              John 7:50-51 “Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)

              Doth our law judge any man, before it hear Him, and know what He doeth?”

(It is interesting to note that right before they wanted the officers of the temple to “take Jesus”….He was again speaking of the giving of the Holy Spirit….the very Person of God Who personally guides and indwells us.

      If you look at the times the Spirit is mentioned….He  is only spoken of by Jesus,   when Jesus also is being spoken of or offered to people to believe on Him.

      John the Baptist hears of the Spirit, when he would see the One who is the Christ come.  John 1:32-34

      Nicodemus, when he came to Jesus.  John 3:5-8

      To His disciples, when He offered Himself as the Bread of life.  John 6:58, 61-63

      To the people who had gathered in the Temple, when He offered Himself as the Water of life to the thirsty.  John 7:37-39

      To the disciples that followed Him into Gethsemane, right before He was taken…when Jesus, spoke about sending the Spirit as the Comforter,  for Jesus would not leave them spiritual orphans….but would send a Spirit of Truth, who would testify of Jesus to them. John 14:16-18, 15:26-27, 16:13-14)

Jesus, the Son of God, came to live a perfect life and die a perfect sacrifice for all who come and believe.

The Holy Spirit comes to all who believe on Jesus, the Son of God, and lives within them forever….to Comfort, guide, and show the Truth.

Nicodemus is again seen…..at the death of our Lord.

       John 19:38-40 “And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus,….besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave….

       And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.

       Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.”

Seeing to the body of our Lord Jesus, with loving care….placing Him in the tomb.   He was a disciple….a follower.   

(And though his name, as many of the names are not mentioned when they gathered in the upper room waiting for the giving of the Holy Spirit, on the day of Pentecost….I believe he was there…waiting for the earnest of his inheritance, which Jesus had spoken about…which is the Holy Ghost,  won by Christ Jesus.)

Of course, Jesus Christ arose on the third day…by the power of God.   

And I am here to tell every Christian…..every born again one….that that same power of God, by HIs Holy Spirit is ready to be given each one of us….to  be raised to newness of life….in every respect.

Ephesians 1:13-20 “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 that Holy Spirit of promise,

        Which is the earnest of our inheritance….

        Wherefore I also…cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

        That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him:

        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, 

        And what is the exceeding greatness of HIs power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, 

        Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places,”

That power that raised Christ from the dead,…is there by the Holy Spirit within us,  as we receive it….as we yield to Him.

Nicodemus wanted to know…..about his personal way into the Kingdom of God.   He knew that his life was “good”, but lacking.   So he came to Jesus,….for though he did not know certain things….yet he knew Jesus was sent from God….and He would have answers for him.

Nicodemus got his answers….and went on to receive His Word,  and follow Christ Jesus.

What of us? If we know we lack anything…..where should we turn for answers, but to Christ Jesus? And then follow on after Him, yielding to His Spirit.

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James 1:5

The Power of God in our Lives

Colossians 1:27-29 “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you the hope of glory:

Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

Whereunto I also labor, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily.”

God’s original plan for man was stated in…

Genesis 1:26 “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion

over the fish of the sea,

and over the fowl of the air,

and over the cattle,

and over all the earth,

and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”

Image and Dominion….this is what God wanted for man originally (though lost by Adam’s sin);…..

……and what, through Christ, we can have now.

As we gain the image of Christ’s character in our lives…

….we gain dominion over our self-life,….and overcome in our outward life.

Romans 8:29 “For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

We will have about as much Dominion in our circumstances as we have the Image of God in our lives.

Paul knew this power in His life…..and the results of that power for his own personal experiences,…..and in His ministry to others:

(Colossians 1:29) “……..striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily.”

And the secret of this power is:

1Thessalonians 5:19 “Quench not the Spirit.”

The Williams Version says, “Stifle not the Spirit”.

Don’t choke off the impressions of the Holy Spirit within you; but yield to them.

We can never know the power of the Holy Spirit while we choose to “stifle” Him.

And how can we stop doing that?

Well, the Lord showed me this, when I asked this question for myself….”The answer is right up there….right above it.”

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

This is so simple, and yet so very hard to do….to really give thanks to God for this situation….these people…this very hardship.

Not in words….but in heart joy.

This requires us to deny ourselves….and trust the Lord that He knows best, and……as I said…

…this is sometimes hard.

Now if we want the power of God in our lives? Then we must learn to “give thanks…in everything.”

And that means I am to give thanks….for everything.

This is a real step, in the accomplishing of the Lord’s Purpose for my life….for all that comes to me,…..comes by permission of the Lord,……and is part of the total experience of my life, with Him.

I can not be what I ought in the Purpose of God, for the future, unless I pass through these things of today.

Remember, that Paul said the Holy Spirit “worketh in him mightily”….and he stresses to the churches he writes, the importance of thanksgiving.

If you want to have the Holy Spirit working in you…mightily…..deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow the Lord Jesus…..

…..and come to the place where you give thanks to God for everything…..

Romans 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

Ephesians 5:18, 20 “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”

Philippians 4:4, 6 “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

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

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.”

Here is one of the secrets of the power of God for us…..

….heart thanksgiving….to God, in everything…..for everything.