The issues of our lives

Proverbs 4:23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

This is one of my husband’s favorite verses…..for it shows the importance of mastering our hearts…..by giving them to the Lord….and working to keep them there.

How many times have we “put our all” on the altar….and then shortly removed some of it.

The heart in scripture is the soul….made up of our thoughts, emotions, and will.

In our “hearts” lies all that we have become….and is the source of all that affects our life and character.

“The issues of life” are those things that count for time and eternity.

They are what we think is important….what we put first….what we guard.

(When you hear a politician, you look to see the issues he believes and stands for….

….so with a Christian. What are the issues of our life that we believe and stand for? Shouldn’t they be the Will and Way God leads?)

Now to speak of issues, we must consider…..who we are? And where are we going….and what we were brought into being for?

As Christians, we need to remember that we do not belong to this world,…..we are pilgrims and strangers here…..passing through to heaven.

So the issues of our lives must be looking forward to eternity….What would my Lord want for me, and by me?

Remember Abraham and the testimony he had before God:

Hebrews 11:8 “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whether he went.”

As born again ones, we have been called to go out of this world’s system and influence…..following the leading of Christ Jesus, (in the world but not of it)….not always knowing what is next….but following Him.

Hebrews 11:9 “By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:”

Abraham did not possess the land that God gave him,….but lived in it, giving a testimony throughout: “thou art a mighty prince among us” (Genesis 23:4-6).

We, too, should live as priests and princes of God here…..seeking the good of our fellow Christians,….and as much as we can…the good of all.

Hebrews 11:10 “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”

Here is the choice verse:

Abraham looked for a city which hath foundations…..for he knew that everything in this world was sinking sand (Matthew 7:24-27)

He looked and lived each day……by faith…..

….keeping his eye on the promises, and what he should obtain now….and then…..for his place in the inheritance he would have in eternity future.

We are called to do the same…..this world is a snare, and the influence of it corrupts and poisons our souls….

….so we are to “leave it alone”…..

Colossians 2:8, 20-22 “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ (free with Him) from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

(Touch not; taste not; handle not; which all are to perish with the using;)….

Rudiments is to fall into line with the thinking and the ranks of others, of the world.

We are not to do this….

….but what we are to do, is…..by faith…..keep our eye on the promises He has given…..for now, and eternity…….and walk each day in His Will for now.

The issues of life…..which come from our hearts….how can we rule them?

By giving….and keep giving our hearts and lives to the only One who can keep us by His faith.

Christ Jesus made us free…..free to be all that He wills us to be.

To have all that He promises….now and in eternity.

To know….by faith….the foundation beneath us is sure…..for it is Christ, Himself.

Proverbs 4:23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

To keep with all diligence means,…..above all that we guard….guard your heart for God.

Keep giving it to Him….watching over our affections and emotions….watching over our reasons and attitudes….

…and in faith live to Christ Jesus.

Jonathan

We first meet Jonathan when his father, Saul, becomes the first king of Israel.

Saul had reigned three years, when the Philistines became overbearing and impossible to stay at peace with.

So Saul called out three thousand men to be soldiers…..two thousand were with Saul, and one thousand was with Jonathan (1 Samuel 13:1-4).

Jonathan was a brave man, and one which believed in God.

He had a battle with the Philistines over a fort….and won. (Saul took the credit, but Jonathan was content in the victory, whoever got the credit.)

When the Philistines heard of this loss on their part, they gathered together to fight Israel, and it’s new king.

This was terrifying to Israel…..and many in the army deserted.

But again, Jonathan was the one who stepped up and gave a victory.

1 Samuel 14:6 “And Jonathan said unto the young man that bare his armor, Come, and let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.”

Notice Jonathan’s faith……it was an active one…..it did not just speak of God, but acted upon what he believed….

….and this encouraged others.

1 Samuel 14:7, 13, 15 “And his armor-bearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.

And Jonathan climbed up….and his armor-bearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armor-bearer slew after him.

And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling.”

The Lord honored Jonathan’s faith, and gave a victory over the enemy, in those that kept guard……and even down into the field of Philistines.

The Lord sent an earthquake to terrify the enemy, as well.

But Saul hindered the battle with the Philistines by making everyone swear not to eat! Or they would be put to death!

(When people fast for God’s good, the Lord blesses it…..but fasting just to twist God’s arm, so to speak, is worth nothing…..even hinders…as here)

But Jonathan was not there when the order was given. (1 Samuel 14:24-27)…and ate some wild honey he found in the field.

When Saul found out….he was going to kill Jonathan…..but the Israelites stepped in and stopped it.

Saul’s love of admiration became his downfall….and when he refused to obey God’s command….

….and let the people take spoils of war that were not to be saved….he lost his kingship.

(although it would be years before God took it from him….so much time to repent….but he died, as he lived without God.)

Jonathan was there when Goliath came and dared Israel to fight him…..and when David did just that,…..

Jonathan recognized that David’s courage was in the Lord…..

…and loved him for it. (1 Samuel 18:3)

They were fast friends and Jonathan defended David when Saul became jealous and angry over the people’s love of David. (1 Samuel 18:8-9)

…..reminding Saul of David’s loyalty to God and him….in battle and in life.

1 Samuel 18:14 “And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the Lord was with him.”

This is what Jonathan loved about David…..his love and devotion to God….and his courage because of it.

Several years passed, where Jonathan and David worked together…..for God and Israel.

Yet Saul’s jealousy raged….till he wanted to kill David.

Jonathan came between Saul’s murderous thoughts and David, several times…..always siding with David…..because he knew the Lord delighted in David.

1 Samuel 19:4,6 “And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant…..

And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the Lord liveth, he shall not die.”

Notice that Jonathan was concerned lest the king….sin.

As I said, Jonathan was a believer in God.

Jonathan stood, so far, with the Lord and David.

But there was a day, when Jonathan had to choose between God and David, in hiding…..and Saul, in the palace, with his men.

1 Samuel 20:42 “And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, (not: I will go with you), forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever.

And he (David) arose and departed; and Jonathan went into the city.”

What a difference in their direction!

The outcast David….and the son Jonathan….

….one to caves and hiding…..the other “to the city”.

I want to mention here, that it was not the throne that came between Jonathan and God…..but time and circumstances.

Jonathan did not care that David was to be king…..he would be at his right hand as he had been with his father.

It was not praise that he sought.

But the circumstances of Jonathan’s life were what stopped him.

Jonathan had a wife, but David did too….and had to leave her.

Jonathan felt an obligation to his father,…..but did not seek God’s Will concerning it…..

….he just felt that a short time would pass, and God would remove Saul….and put David on the throne…..and David would remember their covenant….and all would be well.

But it would be years….two or three years….before that happened!

And though Jonathan never entered into any chasing of David…..he never joined him and put the weight of his status with him.

This is called settling for second best…..leaning on our own understanding…..being double-minded.

(In Psalms 12:2 it is called “double-heart”)

This is what Jonathan should have done…..and so should we, for we are all warned of this:

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

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

How could this happen to such a brave, and God fearing person, as Jonathan?

Time and circumstance.

When we expect things to happen in a certain time…..and they don’t

When the days roll by and we just stay in our habits…..without diligently seeking God’s Will….and Way of bringing that Will to pass.

(Perhaps he thought he could change Saul’s mind….how many times we have good reasons for doing the wrong thing!)

And how many times do these put hinderances between us and God’s Will, for us?

Jonathan should have left the palace…..taking his family to safety and followed David.

How much sooner would the kingdom have come to David…..because the king’s son had decided for God’s Way.

Yet Jonathan did not…..choosing to stay with his father…..and he died following him into an impossible battle:

Saul had brought his army into a valley…..surrounded by Philistines in the hills around! The army tried to flee up into mount Gilboa…..but were slaughtered.

What kind of leader brings his men under the enemy?

But Jonathan was there…..and fought bravely…..but died.

1 Samuel 31:3 “And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malachi-Shula, Saul’s sons.”

(David kept his covenant with Jonathan….and took his son into the palace with him, when he was king of Israel. 2 Samuel 9:1, 6-7, 13)

God’s Will leads us in varied and often hazardous places.

As one writer, years ago said…..”we are not called to beds of ease….but to the battlefield of life…..wherever that takes us.”

Let us keep our armor on…..and know the Lord’s Will…..and Stand with Him….wherever that takes us…however long it takes us.

Acts….of the Holy Spirit.

Some say that “the Acts” is for…..the Acts of the Apostles….or Acts of the beginning Church….

…but really, it is the Acts of the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus ascended back to heaven, He left instruction to go to Jerusalem and wait….

….the disciples were to wait for the giving of the promise of the Father….the Holy Ghost.

He was to be their internal Guide and Instructor.

Ten days later, the Holy Spirit is given on the day of Pentecost.

Acts 2:1-2, 4 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost….”

From that time onward….the Acts show the workings of the Holy Spirit within the believers.

All of the first eight chapters deals with them in Jerusalem….

…..God giving Israel a second chance to believe on Christ Jesus as the Son of God…..by the works of the Holy Spirit through the church.

And that is the amazing thing about the Holy Spirit….and the thing which infuriated the rulers….

….everyone which was saved, had the Spirit’s power….some more….some less…

….it seems like a wave of God’s presence was filling the city……and that just made them want to stop it even more…..

….for it reminded them, of their guilt in crucifying the Lord Jesus.

So they are determined to prove this Way wrong….

Finally, the rulers get their chance to try and stop this wave of power by the Holy Spirit.

And it comes…..by the stoning of Stephen, the church’s first martyr.

But instead of stopping this power of the Holy Spirit…..they simply send it out, with the believers who leave the city……into Samaria….and into the world.

Peter preaches Christ to the first gentiles….and as they believe….the Holy Spirit is given to them.

Christ Jesus, by His Spirit, is fulfilling within the believers, the great commission….

….for Jesus told them it would be a ministry to all the world:

Matthew 18:18-20 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

But there was a witness there at Stephen’s stoning…..Saul, who would become Paul the apostle to the gentiles….

At first Saul is furious at these…of “this Way” (Acts 9:1-2)….but….

….God gets Saul/Paul’s attention…..knocked down by The Light……on the way to Damascus….and spoken to by The Lord Jesus Christ…..he becomes converted……acknowledging God’s Purpose and Salvation through God’s Son, Jesus Christ.

How good and gracious God is, in saving the worst sinner (his words…..1 Timothy 1:15)….and bringing him to be sent as a missionary out into the world.

Paul was diligent in his efforts, often burdened “in weakness and fear and trembling”….

1 Corinthians 2:3-5 “I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.

That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”

Paul set forth the real power of the life of Christ within us,…by the Holy Spirit.

Paul had three missionary journey’s….

……and the more he saw of these places….the more completely he realized

……there was only One power which alone could lay hold of the minds and hearts of these souls,….

……which were so filled with terrible darkness….and the sensual appetite of the times.

Philippians 2:15 “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”

Those to whom he preached were living as nothing…..slave or master…..rich or poor,….there was no meaning to life…..

…….they were nothing….going to nothing….spending their short time in searching for meaning in empty lives.

When Paul came……he set forth Christ crucified….and why God’s Son had to die….for the sins of the world….

…and His glorious resurrection….that we might have His life by the Holy Spirit, in us,…..now and for eternity.

Paul loved fervently each church that he ministered to and in, always leaving some spiritual helpers, if he could,….. to see to them and build them up.

There was Timothy, Titus,…..and Luke, who wrote Acts. There was Pricilla and Aquila….there was Apollos, a fiery preacher.

Yet in all….it is the Holy Spirit working….sending…..and preaching.

The last eight chapters, set forth Paul’s imprisonment….and subsequent trials….till at last he appeals to Caesar.

And that is where Acts ends….with Paul in Rome waiting for his trial….still preaching, still setting forth Christ crucified and risen as the Savior of the world.

Acts 28:30-31 “And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,

Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.”

(Acts shows that the salvation of the world is through individuals. Wherever these Christians went….there were converts to Christ…..and persecution to Him.

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

The gospel was shown…..in power….to Israel [How God loves Israel]…..and then outward into the world…..even to the capital of the known world at that time….Rome…..

…..all to show us….that God saves the worst sinners….in the worst places…..

…..His power and grace by the Holy Spirit, brings men and women to the Lord Jesus Christ.

At the same time, it shows that the governments of the world will refuse subjection and salvation in Christ….because the Holy Spirit demands repentance….

“…He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:…John 16:8

The only time that the governments of this world will become the Kingdom of our Lord….is at the end Revelation 11:15…Revelation 21:3-4)

The first generation of believers, set forth how the guidance of the Holy Spirit would lead.

He was in charge…..He was the power….in each believer….

…..and that is the message of Acts.

To have the power of the first church…..we must be filled with the Spirit, and we must have the devotion and obedience to the Holy Spirit, that they had….

….we must expect persecution…

….for we are never very far from it in any age….men will not hear the claims of Christ without a fight…(think of Saul/Paul)…

….but Christ is still the Victor….He is still giving His Holy Spirit in fullness to all who seek after Him.

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.”

Do you want this fullness of the Holy Spirit….

…….and the devotion and obedience to Christ, that it costs?

Hast thou Faith?

Romans 14:22 “Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which He alloweth.”

When we begin to walk by faith and not by sight; we begin to deal with those things that we “condemn” ourselves with.

Faith is the active ingredient of our Spiritual lives. It comes to us by the Holy Spirit, when we are born again; but it (usually) takes us a while to use it.

Faith tells us to trust and stand…..and our eyes tell us that what were about to do is impossible.

Faith tells us to “Get out of here, now.”…….And our eyes do not “see” anything wrong.

Faith nudges us to speak to someone about Jesus;…..we wait…but then the subject is changed, the opportunity is gone.

We learn (it is called “growing” in scripture: 2 Peter 3:18) to use the faith given in each situation of our lives;….and when we do, we come into Christian Liberty.

Our Christian Liberty should make us free to be what we ought: to be what God’s wants us to be.

1 Corinthians 6:12 “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought into the power of any.”

1 Corinthians 10:23 “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.”

Twice in the same book, Paul warns these Christians to be careful not to let what “other people” do, or social norms, to be their rule of life.

Rather, they should be fully committed to God’s Will and Way; no matter what anyone else does.

Paul gives his testimony: “I will not be brought into the power of anything; even though it might be lawful (or nothing, that would seem to be wrong).”

Paul said, “I will”, for we must will with God’s Will.

For the Christian there are certain things we know are wrong: stealing, lying, adultery, to name a few.

But for each Christian there are “convictions” of the Holy Spirit (for them) that say, “This is not for you.”

(I, years ago, when I was a teenager….was dealt with, by the Lord, to give up make up. Not because I felt that the make up was sinful; but rather for me, it was wrong to wear it….because of the attachment to the world, it suggested.

This is a conviction of the Holy Spirit to me….and I still do not wear it.)

True Spiritual Life is following the Lord Jesus wherever He leads in my life.

True liberty is freedom from the power of sin in my life.

Faith is the “sight” that makes both of these possible.

“Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before God.”

Simply, use the faith the Holy Spirit has given you, and follow the Lord Jesus into the happiness He has for you.

Don’t “allow” anything that He does not want,….though it may be hard to part with at the time……

……and joy and peace will be your heart’s companion.

And the Very God of Peace Sanctify you.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Faithful is He Who calleth you, Who also will do it.”

Now He will do this, but not against your will.

Can two walk together except they be agreed? (Amos 3:3)

To walk with God, you must be in your place. We are creatures…..created to please our Creator.

Sin has marred that beginning way…..but not our purpose.

So to walk with God, we must agree with God as to our place before Him.

We each have a place to fill.

But it is all according to God’s Will and plan. We can not fill someone else’s shoes…..nor can they, fill ours.

But once we have our place as dependent creature before God, then we can go on.

And once the creature has come to the place where they agree to be the creature before the Creator….letting Him be God of all my circumstances….

…it is then they walk as friends.

John 15:15-16 “Henceforth I call ye not servants, for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you.

Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you.”

As friends He wants us to know what He will do…..and very especially what He does through you.

He has chosen us….and ordained us….

(ordained means that He has provided everything that we need to do the job)…

…that we should “go and bring forth fruit”.

We should walk in the lives He has given us, and bring forth the fruit of peace, joy, gentleness, patience, etc.

That whatsoever we shall ask of the Father in Jesus Name, He may give it us!

All this He has done, and seeks our willing cooperation in it all.

“Now the very God of Peace sanctify you wholly”.

We can not be at odds with God in anything and know this peace. This peace in not judicial, but personal peace between us and He.

To start this sanctifying, we must start with subjection to the Holy Spirit in our spirit.

2 Peter 1:5 “And besides this giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;”

Here Peter shows the road map to fruitfulness….

…we are to add to the faith given us at new birth,….”virtue”…

Virtue is “Arte”….or force. By giving all diligence on our part, we are to yield to the force within us by the Holy Spirit.

He is there, pulling us on, pushing us out of situations, and molding us.

(Diligence is giving all earnest speed to do it.)

Through this virtue you will bring your spirit into subjection to the Holy Spirit.

These things are all brought about by acts of the Will.

And as you yield your will to the Holy Spirit, you find yourself borne along….

…as a sailing ship before the wind.

Our part is to hoist our sails….giving all diligence….to catch all of the wind of the Holy Spirit, we can…

….by listening to His Word to us…

….by yielding to His power in us…

….by being what He has molded us to be.

The Promise of Christ to my soul

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:”

I believe the whole Bible was written to the people of God.

Not to the world who will not, and can not (except the Holy Spirit convicts and enlightens) understand it.

I also believe that the whole Bible speaks of Christ…..from “In the beginning, God”…..which was Christ speaking the world into being….

….to “Behold, I come quickly…”

As HIs people, we need to find the treasures of blessing and correction,….and grow thereby.

In 1 Corinthians, Paul has just been talking to these proud Christians (proud of their gifts, although they had cliches and arguments)….

….and spoke of their calling from the world to Christ and HIs Will.

Paul puts into perspective the reality of all of us…..no matter education, personality, place, or ability…..we are really:

1 Corinthians 1:26-28 “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

But God hat chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:”

Ouch! This a list of people we do not want to be like, in this world…..

….but that is just it…

……we are not to be part of the world’s judgement any more…..we are to see as God sees.

We are to see ourselves as God sees us…..unable to understand, or lead, or do rightly…..without Him and HIs grace.

1 Corinthians 1:29 “That no flesh should glory in HIs presence.”

(That is not just in heaven…..but now, when we come before His throne of grace to pray for ourselves or others.)

This is to see ourselves as we are…..to get honest with God….not just about “them”….or about the situation….but about how we are….and think…..

……then,….the Lord gives us this promise:

1 Corinthians 1:30 “But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus,…”

Here is the beginning of all blessings and help…..to be “in Christ Jesus”….born again by the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 1:30 “….Who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”

Wisdom (how much we need this!): Wisdom is personal knowledge of God in ever expanding ways.

James 3:13, 17 “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you?…..

But that wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be untreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”

The Wisdom from Christ, never puts down anyone…as though it is superior…..

…….but raises others up with…..”The Lord showed me this, I hope it helps you too.”

It brings peace…..not strife.

Righteousness: Christ applies and imputes His Righteousness to us…..and then we are to be righteous…..to work those obediences and good works that He has for us…..working out what He has worked within

Philippians 2:12-13 “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”

This is righteousness.

Sanctification: this is to be set aside to God for sacred use….in our personal, everyday lives.

It is to become holy, or complete….to fulfill the will of God in attitude, action, word, and thought….

……..and it is only done by yielding to and obeying the Holy Spirit within.

Hebrews 12:14 “Follow peace with all men,, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:”

(Notice, we can not be holy….or set aside to God, without the right attitude toward our fellow man…..to follow after the peaceful attitude that seeks the good of all men.

This is not pacifying…..but seeking their peace with God, and being at peace with them….allowing no anger, resentment, or bitterness to linger or stay, concerning them.)

Christ Jesus has this for us.

Redemption: we would think this should have been first,….but….

…..this redemption is…….to be claimed and brought to your original purpose, in the Will of God.

Christ has redeemed us……are we fulfilling in our lives that redemption?

Are we living as we should….having and proclaiming liberty to the captives of the devil and this world?

Have we known the claim of Christ Jesus on our lives…..not just at some altar…..but everyday?

This is Redemption……

…and again Christ Jesus has it for us.

The Promise of Christ Jesus to my soul is wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption…..in my life!

…my life! Think of it.

Christ Jesus knew our sin and selfishness…..yet saved us by His sacrifice.

Christ Jesus knew our pride and strife…..yet gives us all we need in HIs life.

Will we have this promise? Will we yield to the Holy Spirit within….and get the life of Christ….within us….today?

Wretchedness.

Revelation 3:17 “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:”

The Faithful and True Witness calls us this.

So let us consider the facts of the accusation:

First, to understand the term “Wretched”….it is “To be deserving strong condemnation in condition or circumstances.”

(This is the Bible’s definition…..the world has added “pitiful”…..but that is not what God thinks. We are wretched because we choose to be….for everyone there is a way of being saved from it.)

And we, Laodiceans are wretched….for we could be different.

First, we are sinners, and as such, all our righteousness is as filthy rags ( Isaiah 64:6).

True, we are saved sinners, if we are born again; but are we acting like it?

We are also the Church, but living among a world that thinks the Bible is out of date, and that Christ’s words can be ignored.

Do we agree?

Aren’t we just what, He says we are?

Now the only other place that this term wretched is used in the New Testament, is:

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

Now just what is it that Paul wants here?

He wants to be saved from himself.

Self examinations are for the most part useless; because it is calls upon self to examine self! What?!

It is:

“How could I ever do such a thing?”

“How can I change, to be a better I?”

But when you begin to see you are wretched, in the same way Paul saw, by the power of the Holy Spirit, then you also see that Christ Jesus is the only hope for deliverance.

It is not a “better” I, that I need…..it is to lose all the “I’s” in my life and exchange them for “Christ liveth in me” (Galatians 2:20)

Woe is me! Paul said.

And so does everyone who realizes that they can not deliver themselves, from themselves.

And when this happens, then we turn to the Lord to be saved from ourselves.

Romans 7:15, 22-23 “For that which I do, I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.”

Paul saw his natural man (flesh), fighting against his spiritual man; and winning a lot of times.

This is the wretchedness Paul saw in himself…….does any of it ring true to us?

Do you know anything about this, personally?

Wanting to do the will of God;….

……but finding that root of bitterness (Hebrews 12:15),……

……or that anger turn to hatred,……or finding that you are willing to do anything, but that…

……all the things which deal with covetness (the desire for something we do not have: Whether it is prestige, riches, other people in our life, different circumstances, or great ability.)

This was the sin in Paul’s life which showed to him, his “wretchedness”: it was the sin of covetousness.

(Romans 7:7)

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

Paul is saying, “I do not have the reality of His power working in my life, now.”

Paul later wrote concerning some who stayed in this position:

2 Timothy 3:7 “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Because that is the crux of the matter.

Will you stay in the same position, when you see your wretchedness?

James 1:23-24 “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.”

God in Christ has offered us so much; how much have we obtained?

How much of Christ’s deliverance from ourselves, have we sought after?

We are as Christ says:

Revelation 3:16 “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold or hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.”

Our lukewarmness, is our lack of zeal.

We set so little store by the things God has given us; the things we are called to do.

They are just not that important.

Maybe we think…….”We don’t really count for much; God does not really care about my obedience.”

This is lukewarmness in our Spiritual Life. We are sick….and we do not even know it.

And Jesus Christ, the Faithful and True Witness, says we make Him sick because of this. (I will spue thee out of My mouth.)

So what do we need to do?

We need to see in honesty, our condition before the Lord; like Paul did.

We are what He testifies to: wretched. Sad, but true.

But what are we going to do about it?

We can:

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

This is how we repent:

We turn from our ways, our thoughts and our feelings…..and yield….give in to the Holy Spirit….in all our ways, thoughts, and feelings.

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

Romans 8:13 “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”

Being lukewarm, and wretched…….or repentance, and being boiling hot towards God, and getting His life.

Which will we do?

Touch not, taste not, handle not

Colossians 2:21 “(touch not; taste not; handle not:

Colossians is an epistle written to a mostly Gentile church that stresses Christ…His glory and authority.

(Only once is the Spirit mentioned in this book…..when speaking of their love to Paul. Col. 1:8)

Paul speaks again and again of Christ…

…”Who is before all things and by Him all things consist….that in all things He might have the preeminence.” (Col. 1:17-18)

For this church was being influenced by a philosophy of “will-worship”….to puff up their supposed intelligence.

Colossians 2:8 “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”

Therefore, Paul places before them, what Christ is, and has done, and what He has for His church…..(what better to look to, than Christ!)

Col. 1:27-28 “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.”

….and so he stresses, “wisdom and spiritual understanding” from God….and knowing God’s Will.

Colossians 1:9 “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to

pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His Will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding:”

Christ Jesus was to be the Object of their understanding and their love:

Colossians 2:9-10 “For in Him (Christ) dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power:”

(The other day, I was “considering” some things….my word for worrying and letting my thoughts wander about them….

And the Lord said, “Touch not, taste not, handle not.”

Very simply, I was to stop wasting time on these thoughts….of what ifs…or perhaps….

….who knows where they would have led….and simply get about what I needed to do. What the Lord wanted me to do then.)

When we think of “touch not, taste not, handle not”….we think of boundaries….those lines of demarcation, which separate.

And that is what we are to do….be separated to God….from the world….and even from our own reasonings and self-emotions.

We are bound for something better, than to be “bogged down” with the things of our circumstances by thought or affections.

Touch not: this is to reach out in our thoughts as well as words and actions and see whether we want to get involved…as though you reach your hand out to take it.

Taste not: that is, we take something into ourselves….whether someone else’s attitude or rules….and think about following them…we just taste.

Handle not: this is the action itself….following after something other than the Lord’s Will.

Those things we are not to do…..so what are we to do?

We are to follow Christ,….it is God’s Will that we are to seek…”and whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.” (Col. 3:17)

Colossians 3:1-2 “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

Colossians 3:12-16 “Put on therefore, as the elect (chosen) of God, holy (separate) and beloved:

Bowels of mercies, kindness (feel compassion for others, for sinners are dying everyday.)

Humbleness of mind, meekness (don’t seek the accolades of the world, but see things in honesty)

Longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

And above all these things…put on charity (love), which is the bond of perfectness (the glue that will hold you to Christ and to the church).

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

(This is sometimes a hard one, for it means we work at giving up our worry and fretting about…and let the peace of Christ steady us)

Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teachings and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

The last two verses say….”let”….which means that Christ is ready and willing to give us His peace and Word…..let us, let go of everything else and take a hold on Him.

Jeremiah in the pit

Psalm 40:2 “He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon  a rock, and established my goings.”

I have claimed this verse many times….for what is a pit?   What is the miry clay?….for us as Christians?

       First, the pit is a dark place,  a place where our spirits are down, depressed…where we feel alone, unable to do anything about the situation.   

       But at least in a pit, we could get some foothold and look up….but in this pit is mire…..miry clay.   So everytime we think we can get a foothold….we slip, and sink again.   (been there, done that.  It seems as if there is no hope)

      Second,  it is real.  Many people think that depression and deep sadness is only in our heads.    Much of the stress and strain of life we overcome by the power of the Holy Spirit within….but there are times,  it gets to be “too much”.   This is a real situation that the devil’s wiles and malice, has placed us in….and there is no way out….without help.    

      That is why the verse says….”He brought me up”.    God is our joy….even in sorrow…and yes, even in depression.   He lifts us, and sets us upon HImself.   It is not our ability….it is not our smiling in the face of danger….it is not our trust, even….it is Himself, our Deliverer and Rock.   

And He does it, because of our “crying unto HIm”:

      Psalm 40:1 “I waited patiently for the Lord;  and He inclined unto me,  and heard my cry.”

Our prayers….our cries for help….are not blown about by the wind….but taken as petitions before our Lord.    He sometimes waits to see if we will hold on to HIm…or become bitter against HIs time….but He hears. (1 John 5:14-15)

Jeremiah was in the siege at Jerusalem.  God could have saved Jeremiah…and sent him out of the city beforehand….but his work was there….his message was to the people of Jerusalem.

        How many messages he had given to the inhabitants there!   Warning them, and beseeching them to hear the Word of the Lord.  (“The word of the Lord” is recorded 52 times in this book!)

(Jeremiah warned them again and again,  not to fight against the chastening of the Lord.   Nebuchadrezzer was there because the Lord would use him to awaken Judah to their sins, and so they could repent.  (Jer. 22:3-5)

       If they would submit to God’s chastening….and remember the good works they were to do of justice, and brotherly kindness….then God would allow them to remain in Judah…the land God gave them.

      But if they listened to those who stood up and promised “peace, peace” when there was no peace…..they would be led away captive to a foreign land.  (Jer. 14:13-14)…captives of those foreign people and their gods.

      Jeremiah 8:11 “For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying,  Peace, peace;  when there is no peace.”)

Jeremiah was there.  Yet after years of speaking, and writing the word of the Lord….and this word being rejected…or perverted….he sought to leave Jerusalem, so he would not see the destruction that the Lord said would come upon his people….whom he loved.   (Jer.37:12)  He was going into Benjamin.

(Jeremiah is called the weeping prophet for he speaks of crying….even day and night, for his people. 

Jeremiah 9:1 “Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people.”

Lamentations 2:19  “Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord:  lift up thy hands toward Him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street.”)

But he is accused, falsely, of going out to join the Babylonians….then he was beaten, and taken to prison (Jer. 37:15)

The king sent and talked with him…..but he was a weak and spineless man….letting the princes take over the punishment of Jeremiah….though he, as king, knew he was a prophet of God.

And here we enter the pit.   (For it is never what people know…..but what people do that counts with God.)

Jeremiah 38:6 “Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah….that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords.   And in the dungeon there was no water,  but mire:  so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.”

This was not just prison….but a horrible pit, a cistern…full of mire….mud or sewage.   Jeremiah would die if he was not gotten out quickly.

Jeremiah was not guilty….he was, in fact, a blessing to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.   He prayed for and sought their true peace….in submitting to the chastening of the Lord.  

       (And how do we treat people….pastors, or others, who speak the sometimes harsh truth to us?)

Now I want to mention here, again the verse in Psalms….

“He brought me up also out of an horrible pit”.   God brought Jeremiah up.   

       It was not that this cistern was deep….certainly it was….but that the mire in it made any sort of standing impossible.   Every time he took a step,  he slipped in it.   Every time he stood still, it seemed to envelope him and strangle any hope of getting out! So he cried unto the Lord.

Lamentations 3:53-56 “They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me.

Waters flowed over mine head;  then I said,  I am cut off.

      I called upon Thy Name, O Lord, out of the low dungeon.   Thou hast heard my voice:…”

But God, through the working of a Gentile, worked in the very king that had forsaken Jeremiah to the princes….and he was “brought up”.

Jeremiah 38:7-10 “Now when Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon;….

      Ebed-melech…spake to the king, saying,

      My lord the king,  these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet,….and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is:…

      Then the king commanded….take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die.”

God saved Jeremiah….from the pit….from the mire…and brought him up, with tender care….through this man.

      (And how much could our words and actions keep other Christians from the malice and slander of others!)

Jeremiah 38:12-13 “And Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah,  Put now these old cast clouts and rotten rags under things armholes under the cords.  And Jeremiah did so.

     So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon….”

For the rest of the siege, at least two to three years,  Jeremiah remained there…in prison,  but in safety.

And so I want to contrast these two men who heard Jeremiah…and their very different actions (again it is not what we say, but what we do that matters)….

…Zedekiah, the king….and Ebed-melech, the Ethiopian:

Zedekiah the king heard Jeremiah personally, several times … .hearing from the Lord exactly what he should do to save Jerusalem…and he, and his family.

       Jeremiah 38:17-18 “Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah,   Thus saith the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel;  If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon’s princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire;  and thou shalt live, and thine house:

       But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon’s princes,  then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand.”

Think of it!    Deliverance from famine, captivity, and burning the city down…for the whole city!  The king and his family would not die, although in subjection to the king of Babylon!   

     (Now we think of deliverance as victory over our enemies….riding triumphantly over the circumstances.    But God said, be in subjection to the king of Babylon….learn to be in subjection to Me….and live.   For this is true life….to be in submission to the Lord and HIs  laws.)

Yet he refused….”I am afraid”….and for the next two years….he could have obeyed God’s Word and lived….and spared Jerusalem….but…again,  he refused, and many paid the price for his disobedience.

Ebed-melech was an Ethiopian, yet he believed Jeremiah and God…and because he did, he risked his life to save Jeremiah…and was rewarded for his obedience to his faith in God.

      Jeremiah 39:15-18 “Now the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah,…

Go and speak to Ebed-melech…saying….Behold, I will bring My words upon this city for evil and not for good;….

      But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the Lord: and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid.

      For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee (into his own keeping):   because thou hast put thy trust in Me, saith the Lord.”

Both men, who heard Jeremiah in his most desperate need, were “afraid”….yet one refused the good word of deliverance,  and lived in fear….the king dying at the hands of the king of Babylon.

     And one, Ebed-melech….fearful,  but he spoke up and acted, because he trusted in God….and was given his life and freedom.

God sees our fears, and troubles….and He,  as the Lord of hosts…will act for our good, if we will learn to submit to HIs corrections….and His Word and live.

    He has real freedom for us….real life.    Let us do as Jeremiah says:

Lamentations 3:40-41 “Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.

    Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.”

The Path before us

Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

This is one of God’s eternal decrees…the way any who are saved, are saved.

And the why we are saved:

“For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus….unto good works.”

Are we performing these good works?

There is a course set before each of us.

2 Timothy 4:6-7 “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”

Paul says he has finished his course….his race on earth is just about over….and he is looking toward “his departure”.

(I love the term he used here. He does not say “death”…although that is the means of his departure. He does not say “martyrdom”…although that is what happened, he had his head taken off.

He says “departure”….as though he was waiting at a train station….for Paul says that this ending here is just a means to transport him to his heavenly home.)

We also have a course set before us….will we, as Paul, finish it…ready to be offered, ready to go?

2 Timothy 1:9 (ASV) “Who saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own Purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus, before times eternal.”

According to His own Purpose and grace. His Purpose. His grace.

But….given to us in times eternal.

God, seeing us….made a Way in His Eternal Purpose, for us. He set aside the grace we would need to see that Purpose done…..in eternity past, when He Willed to create the earth.

It is all of His grace.

Which is the unmerited favor of power….or the ability to do.

Paul knew that power or ability in his life…for his course.

2 Corinthians 9:24-26 “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:”

We all should run, looking forward to obtaining the prize from Christ (there are two):

The prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus [Philippians 3:14] which is in this life….and what a prize it is! To be to the praise and honor of our Lord Jesus Christ in whatever we are called to do!

And the prize of the crowns we receive in heaven for the love we’ve had for Christ. Which will be our privilege and pleasure to throw down before His throne in that day! [Revelation 4:10-11]. As Paul said, “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.” [2 Timothy 4:8]

Paul knew this grace….this ability to do….and so can we.

So in the path before us….we must recognize that there are those we are accountable for…to God.

Not that we can save them; but….to make them aware that God has plans for their lives.

Ezekiel 3:18 “When I say unto the wicked, thou shalt surely die; and thou gives him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.”

We are to warn! [it means we are to gleam….to enlighten by caution].

“There’s a call comes ringing o’re the restless wave…Send the Light!, Send the Light! There are souls to rescue, their are souls to save….Send the Light, Send the Light!

Send the Light, the blessed gospel Light; let it shine from shore to shore!

Send the Light, the blessed gospel light; Let it shine, forevermore.”

And we are to speak….which is to tell what Jesus has done for us….and thereby warn them of the coming danger. For we too, were sinners…saved by grace.

But if we will not speak to warn….or will not give out the Light….then “his blood will I require at thine hand.”

Some may ask, What right has God to do that? Every right.

“Cannot I do what I will with My own?” (Matthew 20:15)

We are all His by right of Creation. And for those who are born again….we are His by the double right of redemption.

We are redeemed for a Purpose….and that Purpose, set in order for us in eternity past, includes “good works,….that we should walk therein.”

One of those good works that we should walk therein….is to warn both the wicked and the righteous.

Ezekiel 3:20 “Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.”

We must come to see that we are standing before God even here. It is not a matter of personal worthiness, because we never are worthy.

But it is a matter of the Purpose of God that I am to fulfill….the course I am to run.

And the honor we are to give to Jesus Christ, Who came as the Light of the World…and saved us.

We are not responsible for their turning….but for the warning.

Paul knew, in that Roman jail, that he was about to move out of the Purpose of God for himself…..here on earth;…

…and move on to the Purpose of God for himself in the Presence of God.

We, too, have that course….that path we are to follow. It has been laid out for us…..here….with grace till the end….

…..and in grace, we will “depart”… to be before Him, there, in heaven.