Paul’s Practical Preaching

Paul had begun this last bit of Romans, not with more doctrine, but with the practical.

How we are to live in this world, as Christians; belonging to Christ.

In Romans 12:1-2, Paul shows that presenting your bodies to God, and refusing to be conformed to the world, will strengthen you to find and do the will of God in your life.

Romans 12:3 “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

Paul was saying that God has given every man, by His Holy Spirit, a “measure” of faith and grace.

(We can, as Peter said in 2 Peter 1:5 “…add to your faith…”. This will increase our measure, so we “grow in grace”. We learn to use what we have, by the Holy Spirit’s instruction, and are given more.)

Our “measure” is given to us; so we should not be proud that we know something, but instead, we should use that measure of faith to:

Romans 12:6-18: “…according to the grace that is given…” we are to do the work God has given us to do.

Let love be true, and not phony:….turn away from evil……love the good.

Be kind to one another,…..preferring the fellowship of believers.

Working hard to do our job, because we serve the Lord in it.

Yield to the joy of the Spirit, and be steadfast in the trials of the day.

Pray always.

Minister to the needs of others, as you are told: both spiritual and temporal.

Bless those who seek our hurt. Do not seek revenge.

Be honest. And try and live at peace with all men.

How can we do these things?

They seem impossible!

And in our own strength, they are.

But God has given, with the measure of our faith….a Leader to show us how and when to do….but also to give us the grace and inclination to do….He has given us His Holy Spirit.

We must go back to:

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

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

You see, it all starts with giving ourselves to God. It says “bodies”, here; to illustrate how we need to yield to the Holy Spirit, completely.

The Lord Jesus was given a body to come to earth and suffer and die, and be raised again…..in His body.

But the Holy Ghost, the Comforter,…..has come to earth, without a body….but instead to indwell and empower our bodies (which include our spirit, soul, and body).

Paul is saying here, that we are to “present”…..which in the Greek means to “stand by, to be at hand, to offer something intangible (our friendship, ourselves)” to God the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit will then take our offering, and work with us to perform the will of God, and to mold us into the likeness of Christ’s character.

Our hands need to be His; not doing things which they should not.

Our feet need to be His; not going places we should stay out of.

Our mouths need to be His; not saying unkind things or lying.

We could go on,……but you see the reason Paul said this.

We need to give ourselves, inside and out, to the Holy Spirit; so we are no longer under our own management….but fully yielded to Him.

But thankfully when we do: we are “transformed” (changed) in motive ,…..in the inner most thoughts and attitudes of my being.

And then given power to “prove” His Will…..by doing it, in the circumstances of my life, day by day.

How good and acceptable it is in our lives!

He wants us to get “our measure” of all we need,…..to live the life He has for us.

A life of goodness and power.

Will we present our bodies to Him?

Thorns and thistles

Luke 8:14 “And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard go forth, and are choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.”

“The Sower went out to sow his seed…”.

The seed is the Word of God…but it is the ground which it falls into we are talking about.

This Word falls in a heart full of thorns. Thorns represent the curse of the fall….or our “old man”…the old nature which is always present.

Jesus said, that these thorns were:

“cares”…..burdens of grief, fear, protection, supply.

“Riches”….a supply of money, houses, or lands….to make us independent of God….or so we think.

“Pleasure of this life”….we think of food, sex, drink, or drugs….but there is also putting our “fun times”, first.

I believe Jesus Christ is able to save to the uttermost,…. all who will come to Him. (Hebrews 7:25)

Therefore these thorns represent that which keeps us from completely giving ourselves to the Lord Jesus.

Something that claims this part of our life,…first.

Jeremiah 4:3 “For thus saith the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.”

We are to prepare our hearts to hear His Word, when we read it….when we hear it….when it is preached.

And when it is heard….because our hearts are prepared…it will bring forth fruit….not thorns.

But where did the thorns originally come from?

There were no thorns and thistles in the garden of Eden.

But when Adam and Eve fell…

Genesis 3:17-18 “And unto Adam He said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it:

cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field:”

Thorns are actually aborted branches. Both are prickly and injurious. Both can cause infections….

…..both can only be put away…..by effort.

But thorns and thistles shall it “bring forth” unto us. They just pop up….with no effort….for they are of this world….they are of the curse of sin.

We are in a world of sin….and thorns and thistles abound…..in us, by habit or temptation…

….and around us.

They often spring up before the good seed…and if we are not careful to remove or cut them down…..they will choke the new good plant.

Hebrews 6:7-8 “For the earth which drinketh in the rain which cometh oft upon if, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, recieveth blessing from God:

But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned.”

We are to keep our hearts and lives for God….and use every blessing from God (the rain) to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But if we are careless….then thorns and thistles (the things under the curse…sin)….will definitely spring up in our life…and they are not so easy to deal with then.

Numbers 33:55 “But if you will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.”

We must deal with all the things of our old man….of cares, riches, and pleasures of this life……because if we leave them, as the Israelites did the cursed inhabitants…they will be thorns in our side….giving us trouble, till we do.

(My brother bought a small plot of land….about fifteen acres…from a neighbor.

Now the neighbor told him to watch for Canadian thistles.

They have a very strong root….so cutting them down will not do any good….they will just spring back up…you have to keep at it.

He told my brother that he had had trouble with them, and if you let them flower….you have let them go too long….for the flowers will dry and spread them all over.

My brother used the ground for pasture for some special cows….so he did not want to spray it.

You guessed it,…..my brother saw them coming up….and was busy….and the next thing you know it they were grown and flowering.

Let me tell you how hard it was to deal with something that was almost as tall as I was…

Chopping them out, without getting “bit” by the prickly nettles….was a very hard job.)

So it is with us….if we are careless…

Proverbs 22:5 “Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.”

Froward means twisted, perverted, crooked. And how many crooked paths are put before us everyday….to lead us astray?

A little twist of the way…..what will it hurt?

But the thorns come up and the thistles grow large….before you know it.

Watch ye….is not just good advice for times of trouble….but times of prosperity….and…any time. We need Christ’s guiding hand to lead us away from thorns…..and to lead us in to His fruit of the Spirit.

Isaiah 32:11,13 “Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones…..gird sackcloth upon your loins.

Upon the land of My people shall come up thorns and briers;….”

To be careless….. is to put our desire for now….what ever it is over the will of the Lord….as though it was not that important.

The answer? To continue to receive the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 32:15-17 “Until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high….

Then judgement shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.

And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever.”

Some believe this is a prophesy concerning the giving of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost….but…

……whenever the Spirit is manifested….there is righteousness and peace…

…not thorns of self will.

Matthew 7:16 “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?”

Nothing we can do, without the Holy Spirit’s blessing will yield any good fruit.

The best that human nature can produce for God….is thorns.

Only when we continue to receive the Holy Spirit’s fullness, will we bring forth the fruits of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23)

And, of course, I would be remiss, if I did not mention the worst day for the manifesting of man’s the attitude toward God….

….. when our blessed Lord had a crown of thorns pushed into HIs head….when they mocked Him as a king…

….totally unaware that He is the King of kings.

John 19:2-3 “And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe,

And said, Hail, King of the Jews! And they smote Him with their hands.”

He bore all the curse for us.

Thorns and briers, thorns and thistles…..all are under the curse.

They spring up, unless you cut them out.

They spread out, and interfere with the good plants.

They are strong….not easily removed….unless you get them early.

But by watching,…..and receiving all the Holy Spirit has for us, we can cut out all that is “thorns”,….or of our old man……and bring forth fruit to Christ Jesus our Lord, in blessing.

Lydia

It is hard for us to realize how openly evil, the old heathen world was.

Idols….and the demons behind such worship….ruled the minds and hearts of these….they were captives of great and powerful darkness.

And jealousy for their idols….was rampant. The Romans were especially afraid of the Gospel….for it taught that the gods made by hands, were not real…

Riots, beatings, and imprisonment awaited those who came to give the good news of everlasting life through Christ.

Ephesians 2:2-3 “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”

The gospel message was not just a change….of one God for another….

….but the good news of Christ Jesus’ salvation to the world….which brought a remedy to the source of their sin…..the separation of the person from the True and Living God…

….and gave them opportunity for the establishment of an abiding and loving relationship, between Him and those who, in faith, received this word of reconciliation:

2 Corinthians 5:19-20 “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

I mention all of this, because though a few believers are named in the scriptures….yet there are many who, in the midst of persecution, were courageous in standing with Christ Jesus…and with His servants.

Acts 16:6-7 “Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the Word in Asia (Asia Minor…or where Turkey is now),

After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.”

Paul had gone out on his second missionary journey….with the goal of visiting the churches that had been started on the last journey.

Once they had done that, they felt they should branch out into some new territory….and since they had preached in part of Asia Minor by the Sea, they wanted to go up north and preach there. But they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit.

(Now, Acts is a book of the Acts of the Holy Spirit in the Believers.

If you will look, the Holy Ghost is mentioned forty-four times in the book. His power, and guidance…..His peace and joy….

…..was the reason that the Gospel was spread from the one hundred and twenty gathered to be filled with the Spirit, in Jerusalem…..to thousands later….all the way to Rome…the center of the known world.)

Paul then thought that they should go to another area….but the Holy Spirit had other plans:

Acts 16:8-9 “And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.

And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; there stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.”

Once they received the instruction…..they went immediately to Macedonia.

(Notice how many different ways the Holy Spirit was leading: from the “forbidden”…to “suffered them not”….to a vision….all to lead them on in the work.

And the Holy Spirit speaks to each of us in various ways: by the inner Voice, by the Word, by a message,….and even by circumstances we have been put into.

When He is in charge….He will let us know….and we will know.)

There was no synagogue in Philippi….and several days pass while they walk around the city, waiting for guidance and opportunity…

But when the Sabbath day comes….they go out of the city to a river….

….there Jewish women would gather for prayer.

Paul and his companions wait till they are asked to speak….

….and then they preach Christ Jesus.

This is a small door of opportunity….yet Paul does not snub it because it is small….but uses it to speak of Christ.

Acts 16:14-15 “And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of by Paul.

And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us,”

At Philippi, a woman named Lydia “attends to what Paul says.”

In other words….she really listened to the scriptures Paul quoted….and what he said about Christ.

She becomes born again….and is baptized, right there at the river….

….quite a testimony before the others gathered.

Lydia is a merchant woman.

She is a seller of purple….whether the color in dye, or the fabric already dyed….

…this would have given her a good living.

And though she has a house in Philippi, she is from Thyatira, which is in Asia….the very place they could not go!

So the very first convert in Europe, is from Asia!

And the Lord moves her heart to open her house to Paul and his companions.

They opened the way of salvation to her….and she opens her doors to them.

(remember they had been in the city several days….moving in and out of the crowds…waiting for the leading of the Spirit)

She gave them a place to pray, and a place for the new believers to meet.

(We know in Philippi, that Paul and Silas are dragged before magistrates, beaten with rods (one of three times for Paul), and placed in prison….

The reason? They would have no alliance with evil.

A demon-possessed girl is a slave of fortune tellers….she gives predictions and they are often correct.

She starts to follow Paul and his companions…and say, “These are servants of the Most High God, which show the way of salvation”

If Paul would do nothing….he would be accepting her…and the devil’s “help”.

(Remember, when evil spirits declare Jesus to be the Son of God, when He was here….He silenced them, and cast them out. Light and darkness can not abide together.)

So Paul accepts the fact of the battle with evil….for he would not let this continue…and grieve the Holy Spirit.

He commands, in Jesus name for the demon to come out….knowing full well there would be consequences.

Dragged, hurriedly judged, beaten, imprisoned….those were the consequences.

I also want to mention….Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. They could have skipped this treatment….if they had just spoken up.

But they did not refuse the persecution others might be subject to,….for Jesus sake. They identified with the believers….then, and to come….rather than Rome.

I want to mention here, that all the prisoners and the guard, after they are put in prison, would have heard Paul and Silas prayers to an invisible God….One, who they said, was with them!

Then these men sang praises!…to this God, for His Will, and Presence!

What kind of a God is this?

What a testimony!

And we know that God answered their prayers of subjection, by an earthquake….again what a testimony….

…and at the very least the guard and his family were born again.

Only when the magistrates were going to sneak them out, because they knew the mob judgement was wrong….did Paul speak up about their citizenship.

And this was to make them consider their actions for future time.)

I mention all this,…..for all this time Lydia is faithful….taking care of the other companions of Paul….for Jesus sake….even in the midst of anger and persecution.

She did not know what was going on…..or how her house would fare in all this….

….yet she remained faithful to the Lord…..and his servants.

She was from Thyatira, and she could have easily have left, to go back….away from any persecution…..but she didn’t.

She stayed and made a place for the believers.

And when Paul and Silas are released….they go to her house….and encourage the believers….for now there was a church in Lydia’s house. The Philippian church.

Acts 16:40 “And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them and departed.”

Years later Paul writes this church:

Philippians 1:1-6 “Paul…to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are a Philippi….

Grace to unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.

Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy.

For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;

Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

Christ Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, will not leave any saint….or stop working with or in any saint….till He has performed….or finished the work He started.

(If you count the named believers, from Acts through the rest of the Bible….there are slightly over one hundred, which the Holy Spirit has put in the sacred record.

Over one third of those are women…..helpers of the gospel….in the midst of persecution and trial…..Lydia was one of these.

But there were thousands more….who were faithful to Christ Jesus….that were not named here.

Yet there is a record….where every name….every deed….every faithful help is written before God.

Let us all strive to hear, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant….you have been faithful in a few things….enter into the joy of thy Lord.”)

And I, if I be lifted up

John 12:32 “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.”

Jesus is speaking about His coming death on the cross….lifted up, between earth and heaven….for whosoever will, to see and believe:

His suffering and agony, His blood, the title above His head (written in several languages) “the King of the Jews”, and His death.

In apparent defeat,…..He would come into a position to draw all men unto Him by the power of His sacrifice, and resurrection.

He was the Son of God, who died to take away the sins of the world.

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

John 3:14-15 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

“Life” is what is promised to those who turn, believing, to Christ Jesus.

John 10:10 “…..: I am come that they might have life, and they might have it more abundantly.”

As “Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness”…..this is when the children of Israel, which were bitten by the “fiery servants”;…..and were cured and “lived” by looking up to the brass serpent, Moses stuck on a pole in the middle of the camp of Israel.

(The story: Israel was nearing their journey’s end….but discouragement led them to murmur and complain.

Now to complain about the hardness of the journey, was one thing….but they said, “…our soul loatheth this light bread.”

They brought the manna, into their arguement with God’s Ways.

Manna was that heavenly bread (it was small grain which tasted of wafers made with honey Exodus 16:31)…..sent day by day for their needs.

But they complained of the Way…..then loathed the goodness of God; a very serious thing.

So God sent fiery serpents to bite the people and many of them died.

[How many times have I complained to God about something….then…things got a lot worse;……and I realized how blessed I had been, before.

How many times have I had to confess this murmuring spirit of mine.]

They confessed their sin….but there was no cure for the bites….until God told Moses:

Numbers 21:8-9 “And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that everyone that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.

And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole; and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.”

It required them to believe God, and look up to the provision He made. When they did, they were healed.

[It was a serpent of brass….taking on the form of the curse….but having no poison, no sting….which represents Christ. He took our sin on Him, though He knew no sin, that we might be the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21])

And if we believe God, and look up to Christ Jesus, we are healed from sin and it’s destructive power upon us…..and are saved.

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

Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

Eternal Life is a condition of life, began when we were born again…..and going on through this life, and all eternity, with God.

And every time we murmur or complain….and are chastened for it….we can look up and believe our blessed Lord again…..for He will heal our hearts, and minds….if we look again to Him.

Christ Jesus came to save all who will come to Him…..and believing is coming.

Will you look up to Christ, and live?

Matthew 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

As Christians, are sins are completely and eternally forgiven at the Cross of Christ,….

….yet,…..we are to ask forgiveness for our daily sins….that the fellowship between us and the Lord will be open and full.

Isaiah 59:2 “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.”

1 John 1:7, 9 “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.

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

Our sins are the great obstacle to the blessings we might receive from the Lord.

Our sins narrow the channel of blessing, so that the things the Lord wants to give us…..can not pass on to us.

Therefore, as we pray…”give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11)….

….we also need to pray….”forgive us our debts”.

The Lord wants to encourage all who pray, to go from strength to strength….

…first dealing with us about our sins, as debts.

“Debts”, as we all know are “something owed”.

We owe God our all…..as Creator, for He has given us life,….and we were made to glorify God….not to please ourselves…

….and as our Lord and Savior, for He has given us Eternal life….a life of purpose and power.

We owe God….perfect worship……..for He alone is the One worthy of our praise.

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

But we daily fail in this…..we sin, we get short tempered, we get frustrated, we say words we should not, we covet.

All these, are the sins we should bring to Christ Jesus and confess….thereby learning from them….and be saved from them.

Are we letting our debts pile up?

Full atonement for all our sins was made by Christ Jesus at the Cross. There, our guilt was canceled….the penalty of sin washed away.

But, there is a very real sense in which the sins we do not confess to God….(when we find we have failed, and commit them)…

…..are still with us, in their influence and darkness….

…..because the Lord wants us to come to the light of the truth….and tell Him about them…

…to seek pardon from them.

The wrath of God cannot abide on a Christian, but it can on the sin in a Christian’s life.

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

God is ready to forgive….but He requires us to turn toward our Lord and Savior,…. and confess our sins against Him.

Like when we ask for our daily bread,…..we need to ask forgiveness for our daily sins….

….that our conscience will know the cleansing of His forgiveness for those sins.

The effects of this kind of forgiveness is peace…..and confident access to God.

When we pray for forgiveness…..it should not be a mumbling…..but a humble acknowledgement that we have sinned.

(So many go along with the world’s estimation of sin…..little sins and big sins….when every sin is a manifestation of “I will rule myself, in this”.)

We should seek God’s mercy….for Christ’s sake….realizing that only He can righteously pardon us….and make us free from this sin.

But there is more to this petition:

“…forgive us our debts,…..as we forgive our debtors.”

If we are born again, and He is our Lord….then the character of mercy found in the Lord Jesus……

….has been planted in us by His Holy Spirit…..

…in other words….we can be merciful.

If we have a drop of God’s mercy….we can forgive those who offend and hurt us…..because we can readily remember how He has forgiven us.

(And the Lord has already told us that there will always be offenses [Matthew 18:7]……and those who seek to hurt, or slander, or exclude us….for His sake.)

We need to pray for God to remove all bitterness and the desire for revenge [so prevalent in our times]….from our hearts and tongues!

Hebrews 12:14–15 “Follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;”

To fail of the grace of God, is to not use it at the time….to let the hurt, anger, or other thoughts….take hold on our heart.

Holiness is to be set aside to God…..imagine having every thought set aside to God….every spark of anger…..every wound of spirit, soul and body….set aside to God.

Well….by the Holy Spirit’s working, it can happen. Usually it happens little by little….dealing with this hurt, or anger [and the reason behind it].

But, as we stay with this….God will indeed remove all bitterness….we no longer bear any malice toward those who have wronged us.

And bitterness here means “piercing”…..it is like a horrible taste in your mouth….only it is in your heart….turning everything sweet into acid.

That is what bitterness does…..

….let us, by the Holy Spirit’s help….remove it!

And be free in the mercy God gives us….and we give others.

Obedience

Obedience will not save us…..but once we are born again…..obedience is the road on which we walk with God

Genesis 2:16-17 “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest therefore thou shalt surely die.”

And the Lord God commanded…..this was different than the walk in the garden in fellowship that the Lord had done with Adam….

Adam’s Lord God…was commanding obedience….it was the one virtue of Paradise….the one condition of man’s abiding there.

God had planted a garden, and placed Adam there….to dress and keep it. Every herb and plant, and the animals that came there….all were under the authority of Adam…..

….because God had given it to him….and for no other reason.

All was from the Lord God….to bless the man and woman….with everything they could want and need.

The one condition…..and the only one….was that they do not eat of the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil….

…that they obey this command….but they disobeyed, and sinned.

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

To be obedient for the glory of the Lord was man’s original Purpose. He was to honor the Lord, and obey HIs God….

…but Adam sinned.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God (reverence Him), and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

“The conclusion of the whole matter”

Let us hear the end of everything concerning all our life here.

“Fear God”….Yield in Awe of the Eternal, Covenant God by Whose Purpose we are….remembering He has a Purpose for us.

“And keep His commandments”….hold them fast, not just in our memories….but in our hearts….to do them.

“For this is the whole duty of man.”….for to do HIs commandments is the whole arrangement of our lives…..

….that is why we are here, now….

…that is the reason we have been given the ability and strength that we have been….

….His Purpose…HIs arrangement for our lives…to be for His glory.

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

I was not a happenstance….a mistake.

You were not a happenstance….a mistake.

The Lord God saw you, when He created Adam….desiring your blessing.

When Adam sinned, and you became a sinner through our first father….God did not forget you….

….He then saw you, born again, in Christ Jesus….working out your blessing…in Him.

That blessing is obedience.

(It is not just that we get a blessing by obedience…though that is true. But obedience is a blessing. That I can please my Lord and Savior,….by living in His power….what a blessing!)

Today we receive the privilege to have the Holy Spirit work through us….giving us guidance, understanding (light), ability, and strength….of mind, heart and will….

….”for it is God who worketh in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure”.(Philippians 2:13)

We are called to that obedience, where we “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12)

Which simply means we do His commandments to us (which are our salvation in the practical day by day walk)….yielding to that reverence of God…not sure of ourselves, but always confident in Him.

One day that blessing of obedience will give way to the glory of praise and obedience in heaven. Amen.

Obedience is the one thing that decides our destiny…..it is the one thing needful.

For the lost, obedience seems a burden….they want to do “their own thing”….have “freedom”….

…..but that simply means they are still eating of the Tree of the knowledge of good…and evil.

They eat it…taking it into themselves and their lives….but never getting the devil’s promise of “freedom”….for evil is great bondage.

The devil’s promise….”Ye shall not surely die:…for in the day ye eat (take it into their lives)…, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4-5)

But they did die….all mankind, because of sin, dies….both spiritually and physically….

….unless you receive the new life in Christ Jesus. (John 6:40)

But when you are born again…..Christ Jesus gives you Eternal life:

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

And obedience is the road in which we walk with God.

In our obedience, we side with God….walking through this world in our everyday lives….receiving the blessing of His Presence, His Spirit, His joy and peace….His life.

This is true freedom….for it is freedom from sin, and self, and the world.

It is freedom to do what we ought, in love to the One Who arranges all things in our lives for a blessing, as we yield to HIm.

Rain

Hosea 6:3 “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.”

Christ Jesus, when He comes to us by the influence of the Holy Spirit, is like a shower of rain, to a dry and thirsty ground.

When we are without Jesus in our lives, our hearts are hard, and nothing seems to soften them or make an impression on them.

(We may feel many emotions….which come and go….bring thoughts to lift or depress…..but our hearts are not softened by them….only used like a sponge….fluid in and out….never becoming the fruitful garden full of beauty and usefulness to the Lord.)

When we are born again….the Holy Spirit comes within us…..like a gentle rain, He softens us…..to feel the impressions of the Word of God for our lives.

But when we fall into sin after becoming Christians,(and sadly this can happen)…..we can again become “hardened”.

So we need to turn to Him again, and pray for showers of His mercy and grace to come to us, and soften our hearts in repentance, and cleansing in His blood.

Wherever Christ comes, the rain of the Holy Spirit and of grace, comes to our souls;…..and we are turned into a well watered land.

Fruitful and beautiful, for we drink Him in;…..and by His Spirit’s influence, we are changed little by little, into His character.

As rain is a free gift of God to the earth……to poor and rich alike, the rain falls.

So Christ is offered to all who will receive Him.

The rain is most necessary to all the parts of the plants: roots, trunk, branches, leaves, and blossom.

So Christ is necessary to every part of us: our understanding, our will, our emotions, and our memories.

He strengthens us in good things, and enlivens us as we grow.

He increases our peace, and love for Him and others.

He preserves us within, by His Spirit; and without, by HIs Word.

As rain sometimes comes amid thunderstorms, as well as the gentle warm rain; so Christ comes to us to warn us, as well as to encourage us.

As rain satisfies the dry earth, so Christ comes and satisfies us.

He gives us the fruit of His Spirit within us.

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

Psalm 16:11 “Thou wilt show me the path of life: in Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.”

If we follow on to know the Lord,…..He will come unto us as the rain, the former and latter rain, upon the dryness of our souls.

Are We Like the Morning Cloud?

Hosea 6:4-6 “O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? For your goodness is as a morning cloud, as early dew it goeth away.

Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain by the words of My mouth: for thy judgements are as the light that goeth forth.

For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”

The morning cloud promises much. “Maybe there will be the rain we need.”

But the day gets hot and the morning clouds go away.

The early dew evaporates as soon as there is a little sun.

Both look good, but give no lasting benefit.

So were the “revivals” and changes of Ephraim and Judah.

God would send a prophet to preach repentance to them; to restore them to His fellowship and blessing.

But though they would often “repent” when God was chastening them; yet as soon as that was removed, they would resume their idol worship.

We all know what an idol is: it is a fabricated god. We worship it. It is what we put into first place in our lives.

Worship is worthyship: counting God, or whatever, worthy of ourselves. (Our time, our awe, our confidence.)

Worship comes from the Hebrew “to fall down before”.

Sadly, though Israel saw miracle after miracle in deliverances, and blessing; yet they kept choosing to put their confidence in stones, and wood; rather than the Living God. (Jeremiah 10:10-11)

(If you really want to see God’s thoughts about the idols, read: Isaiah 44:15-17. One part of the tree, warms the man, another he bakes bread with, and the rest he fashions into a god! God is laughing at their devotion to stocks!)

Many even came and brought sacrifices to the Lord; and then went out and offered sacrifices to idols.

God said, “If your heart was not in the sacrifice you offer Me. It is nothing……

I desired mercy and not sacrifice.”

The Lord wanted them to obey Him….with their hearts….then the sacrifice they brought would really be looking forward to the great sacrifice, Christ Jesus.

He wanted them to give mercy….had not He given them mercy many times?

This is what He wanted for them:

For Israel to know Him,……to get their hearts right with Him,…and their brothers.

He has always wanted this: for His people to know Him.

To “see” Him as He is: the Almighty God, who rules the heavens and the earth; and yet loves us.

And with this love, He seeks fellowship with us.

So God says:

Hosea 5:15 “I will go and return to My place (heaven), till they acknowledge their offense, and seek My face: in their affliction they will seek Me early.”

When God leaves us (though not really, but in our feelings)……when we quench the Spirit by unbelief, disobedience, or seeking some other way to do His Will;…….then He will wait to see if His absence makes us “wake up” to our need of Him.

The prophet Hosea calls to his people “to return”

Hosea 6:1 “Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up.”

The call to everyone who has gone away from God is always: “return”.

Return to God, and return to His way for you.

He will heal us; and will restore (bind us up).

Korah…and his sons.

Numbers 16:1-3 “Now Korah,….the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram…the sons of Reuben,  took men:

       And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly…men of renown:

       And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them,   Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them:  wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?”

Now we all know the story of Korah (he is spoken of in 2 Peter and in Jude concerning rebellion and apostasy):

He and his friends decided that Moses and Aaron were setting themselves above the people.   They said,  “Hadn’t God said they were all holy?”

(Actually, He had said to be holy….Leviticus 19:2)

     “So why was only Moses’ word to be followed,…..and Aaron chosen for the priesthood?   We, too, should be able to come before God…like them!”   

(“And do what we think is right, instead of listening to Moses”….is really what they wanted)

It was sad, because Korah…the leader….was a Levite.   He had a particular ministry with the Tabernacle….for they were to bear the holy things in the travels of the children of Israel (Numbers 4:3-4,15)…

….but as is so often….he was not satisfied with the work or place the Lord had given him.

(Our innate rebellion is against God’s Creative Authority….

Romans 9:20  “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God?  Shall the thing formed say to HIm that formed it,  Why hast Thou made me thus?”

How much is said in this!  If we will but bow to the Creator and HIs Will for us….peace instead of conflict within….a settled rest instead of contentious dissatisfaction!)

So the rebellion spread…and among some of the great princes of the congregation.   (And how easy it is, when anger and jealousy are around, to feel the same…and get involved in those things!)

Numbers 16:5 “And he (Moses) spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying,  Even tomorrow the Lord will shew who are His, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto Him: even him whom He hath chosen will He cause to come near unto Him.”

Moses spake unto Korah, and those gathered with him….and he sent unto Dathan and Abiram to come and hear what the Lord says, to them as well….

Numbers 16:12 “And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram,….which said,  We will not come up:”

So the next day…

Numbers 16:19 “And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the Tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the congregation.”

The rebellion has gained hearers….the whole congregation comes….

The Lord appears…and suggests that He will consume the whole congregation, if Moses and Aaron will get away from them! 

      But Moses and Aaron fall on their faces and cry for mercy for the congregation! 

 (How different an attitude than those gathered against them!)

God will speak to spare the congregation…..but will not spare the ones who have started this rebellion….for you see, it was never really about Moses and Aaron…..it was always really against the Lord and His Ways.

Numbers 16:25-27 “And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram;  and the elders of Israel followed him.

        And he spake unto the congregation, saying,  Depart, I pray you from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.

       So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah,  Dathan, and Abiram,  on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood in the door of the their tents,…”

Now I want to explain….repentance has been suggested by Moses all the way along.

      First, he chides Korah for seeking a position that God did not intend for him.

      Then, he calls Dathan and Abiram up to the Tabernacle to stand with the others of their rebellion….(this might have saved their families)

      Finally,  he warns all who are standing about….undecided about who to follow….to get away from these “wicked men”.            “Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.”

God’s mercy often speaks again and again….but then when warnings are unheeded….(and in this case, even mocked)….then chastening and judgment for those who continue in flagrant wickedness will come.

Moses then announces that…

….”If these men die a normal death….God hath not sent him.   But if the Lord make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up….and they go down quick into the pit;  then ye shall understand that these men….have provoked the Lord.”

Numbers 16:31-33 “And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words,  that the ground clave asunder that was under them:

     And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.

     They,…went down alive into the pit,…and they perished from among the congregation.”

(Shortly after this all the rods of the princes of the tribes…and Aaron’s rod was brought before the Ark, overnight….each with their name written upon them.

      Only Aaron’s rod budded,…and blossoms….and yielded almonds! (Numbers 17:7-9)

      God chose to not judge those still troubled with the contamination of Korah’s jealousy…..but to use a sign of blessing…to encourage them to receive His Word, and submit to HIs Will.

Aaron was not chosen because he was a superior man….or more holy than the others.

      Aaron was chosen…..by God, for HIs own purpose…

 [as we all are…2 Timothy 1:9 “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling,  not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,”]

…and He does not rule by popular demand….but by His Will and Word.)

But this message was….Korah, and his sons….

….so let us consider his sons.     

It is true, that some of Korah’s sons perished in the sin of their father…..sad but true that where we lead, even in sin….our children often follow.

But it is equally true that some “gat away” from these wicked men….and perished not.

Numbers 26:11 “Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not.”

1 Chronicles 6:31-37 “And these are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of the Lord, after that the Ark had rest…..they ministered before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of the congregation with singing….

….Heman a singer,…the son of Korah,”

These sons of Korah, the rebel….took Moses words and heard aright.    They ran from the sin of their father….and went into the land of promise  (1 Chronicles 6:33-37)

Many generations later …. they became the “sons of Korah”  you read of in the Psalms 42, 44, 45-49, 84-85,87…singers of God’s praise in the Tabernacle and Temple!

How much we,…. like the sons of Korah,….who have been delivered from going down into the pit…by the Word of warning to us….

…..should become singers….praising God before others.   

Korah rebelled and refused the extended mercy for repentance…..

….but his sons…ran from his sin, when warned….and became a legacy of praise to God.

Be Strong in the Lord

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

His might.”

Paul tell these Ephesians that each one of them, which are seated in Christ in the heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6), and still walking in this world….

….. must now also take a stand against the wiles, or tricks of the Devil.

In order to do that, Paul tells them that they must be empowered, or enabled in the force of the Lord’s might.

The original word means to be “constantly empowered”.

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

Put on, Paul exhorts them, the whole armor of God.

While God has provided this, the individual Christian has the responsibility of putting it on.

We must consciously appropriate the power the Lord Jesus Christ makes available to us.

This armor is not so many imaginary pieces you put on; but it the truth of what that piece pictures.

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

We must put it on, so we can stand in the evil day; that day of trouble for us.

Ephesians 6:14 “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;”

Paul says the Christians foundation piece is the Truth. It is to know that we are saved, first. Then a growing knowledge of the Scriptures and how they apply to life; our life.

God wants us to have defensive armor against the wiles of the Adversary.

A soldier does not put on his armor after going into battle, but in preparation for the battle.

The belt of truth must be secure, or everything else will fall off.

It is given to us, we must put it on; but it is God’s armor, it is not of ourselves.

Connected to the truth, is the Breastplate of Righteousness. This is, of course, Christ’s Righteousness. We are covered with the very righteousness of Christ.

But there is a little more to it than that.

If you want the protection of the breastplate, over the heart, that you must live righteously. You must practice righteousness.

Your life must be clean, there must not be hidden sin, or unholy thinking tolerated.

They must be confessed and forsaken.

God wants to empower. He wants us to be protected by His Truth and Righteousness. And He wants us to live in that truth and in obedience to His righteous commands.

Then we will have the sure footing of peace.

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

There is peace of mind for every Christian. And we need it, for we are to walk, and resist our Adversary, the Devil.

He will knock us off balance and have us down before we know it, by worry, tension, and fear.

But the sure footing of the Gospel of Peace, given by the God of all peace, will keep us standing.

He has given us His promises to use. We need to use them.

He wants to guard or garrison you about with His Peace (Philippians 4:7).

As we stand, we will need the extra protection of the the Shield of Faith.

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

The Adversary is always trying to get inside our head, or heart with some accusation.

(Many of which are true.)

But the fiery darts can be put out by lifting up our faith in God and His Word.

Did we sin? Yes, but it is confessed and I have forsaken it.

This is removing the ground of accusation.

(Some of the fiery darts are: “Why you big phony, you don’t really believe that!”

“You witness for Christ? Are you kidding? You’re the biggest sinner around!”

“You don’t want to deal with that person; they will make fun of you, or make trouble for you.”

“No really saved person would think such a thought as that.”)

Which leads us to the armor for our heads:

Ephesians 6:17 “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

We need to think saved.

Simply trust that the Holy Spirit, which has borne witness in our spirits that we are a child of God (Romans 8:16); does not make mistakes.

If we are saved, will wrong thoughts present themselves to our mind? Yes, but it is what we do with them that makes the difference.

If you allow wrong thoughts (anger, lust, greed)…to stay in your mind, contemplate them,….

…..then they will have wrong effects upon your walk; and you will not be able to stand against the Adversary.

Confess the sin, and forsake it. Remove wrong thoughts as soon as possible, and seek that power of God to overcome them.

To stand against the wiles of the Devil, which is all defensive, so far; we must have an offensive weapon. And that is the Sword of the Spirit.

This is the Word of God. (This is not throwing the Bible at him.)

This is a “saying” of the Bible. Something given you as a promise, or right at the time when the Adversary is attacking you.

And this is by the Holy Spirit; and by saying it, in your mind, or out loud; the power of God, the Holy Spirit will be at work, right then.

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

The Sword of the Spirit and prayer are a Christian’s offensive weapons.

As James said:

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

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

Submit yourselves to God…say “yes” to God’s will.

Resist the Devil….say “no” to the anger, resentment, or the suggestions that come.

Draw nigh unto God…use prayer; All-prayer…every kind of prayer to bring down the help you need, now.