Are we growing up?

2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen.”

Peter knew a lot about this; having denied the Lord three times, once even before a maid.

Yet he was restored, and became the first preacher of the gospel after Pentecost. Three thousand were saved that first day.(Acts 2:41)

He had grown some since he had bragged about his loyalty; and then failed Jesus so terribly.

But he knew he was not done growing; he had a lot more to learn. And so when he was old, he warned others about this very thing:

2 Peter 1:10, 12-13 “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things ye shall never fall:

Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle (body), to stir you up by putting you in remembrance:”

God’s way of revealing His will, is called Light. If we will face the truth about what we are, and how we are, Grace will be applied.

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

For He came to save His people from their sin. (Not just the guilt, although that is marvelous; but the power of that sin in our lives.)

As Christians, this is an act of our will: we confess our sin, and turn from it.

As we get obedient to the light we have, more light is given.

And with the light, is the means of obeying Him.

Hebrew 5:12 “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, not of strong meat.”

Here are the Hebrew Christians; they had been Christians first, so they should have grown in grace the most.

But instead of growing; they had stayed babes in Christ. Taking only the milk of the Word, and could not as yet understand the weightier things of His Will.

Hebrews 5:13 “For everyone that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.”

“Unskillful” here, means inexperienced. After all these years, and all that they had gone through (persecution, others joining them in belief, and even ministering to their needs when the days of famine came); yet they remained inexperienced.

How? Why?

Simply, they failed to use the Word given them as they should. They failed to meet the demands of that Word.

That Word says: believe, and obey.

Believe they did; but obey they only did partially. They trusted God would do; but expected that He would do without their cooperation. (And if you are going to get experience; doing nothing will not work.)

Every true Christian stands in need of nourishment. We must “eat” the Bread of Life which is Christ.

That involves fellowship in finding His Will, and obeying it.

We must “drink” the water of Life freely which is His Holy Spirit.

That involves yielding ourselves to His guidance and convictions.

If we are to become strong Christians, and not babes, we need to grow.

We need to use what He gives us and gain experience with Him.

(If Jesus were here on earth, and came and invited you to follow Him, would you?

But, though He is not here on earth; He is still inviting us to: Come and Follow Me into the everyday experiences of today, tomorrow, and onward. That is experience worth having.)

Hebrews 5:14 “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

We have spiritual senses, as well as natural ones.

We are to have “hearing ears” to hear what the Lord says to us. There is no audible voice; but the internal Voice which guides us.

We are to have “seeing eyes” by are eyes of faith.

We are to have the sense of “smell”. This Spiritual sense tells us if a thing is good or rotten, just like our nose does. It is discernment.

And we have “taste”. We are called to taste and see that the Lord is good. (Psalms 34:8)

That means, we are to experience His sweetness in the comfort, help, and word He gives.

It is of the Holy Spirit, as all of these are: but we are to use His enabling, and learn by the experience. This is how we grow in grace.

If we sit on the sidelines; we certainly may be Christians, but we will not grow in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and become strong, mature adults.

That is why Jesus Christ is still calling us to, “Come, and Follow Me.”

Because as we do, we learn and grow.

Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

What a wonderful and beautiful creation it was!  So much so,  that the angels (sons of God) shouted for joy!

Job 38:7 “When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy.”

Then there was chaos….and darkness.

Genesis 1:2 “And the earth was without form,  and void;  and darkness was upon the face of the deep.   And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”

Notice the punctuation….

…”the earth was without form,”   That beautiful earth was now a waste…without form and purpose.

…”and void;”   Whatever had been created on earth…was gone.

semicolon….which means a pause before considering the next important feature….

…and “darkness was upon the face of the deep”. Where once the light of God shone….now there was darkness.

We believe this chaos and darkness was brought about by the rebellion of Lucifer, the highest of the angels…when he and one third of the angels fell with him.   We believe that he was fully in charge of the earth, under God…by a special creation.

      Pride entered him…and he rose up against God’s Purpose and his place in it.

      But when he fell, he became our Adversary the devil….determined to ruin all of God’s plans and purposes…and he started with the earth.

This fall is set forth in Isaiah:

      Isaiah 14:12-14 “How art thou fallen from heaven,  O Lucifer, son of the morning!  how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

      For thou hast said in thine heart,  I will ascend unto heaven,  I will exalt my throne above the stars of God:  I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

      I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;  I will be like the most High.”

This fall was over pride. (Ezekiel 28:14-17)  “I will” the devil said….and many angels believed him…to their doom.

Being cast out of his heavenly position….he wrought chaos on the earth….trying to destroy God’s purpose for the earth….and wrapped the earth in darkness.

But, God was not done with His creation.  He does not forget His Purpose….HIs Will is established.

Isaiah 45:18 “For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens;  God Himself that formed the earth and made it;  He hath established it, He created it not in vain,  He formed it to be inhabited:  I am the Lord; and there is none else.”

And so….”And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”

    There are some Hebrew scholars that believe that instead of…”moved upon”,  it should read,… “brooded over” the face of the waters.

And so the Son of God spoke (John 1:3-4, Hebrews 1:2)…..

Genesis 1:3 “And God said,  Let there be light: and there was light.”

He did not need to speak….but by doing so, He manifested the means of bringing His Will to pass….HIs Word, and His light.

[We believe that the Adversary the devil believes that if he can defeat the purposes of God for this old earth enough….which includes the Purpose of God for each one of us….he will come to some better end,  then that which was prepared for him now.

     Matthew 25:41 “Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand,  Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:”

    Prepared for the devil and his angels….not for any man.

    For a man to end up in the Lake of Fire there must be a direct act of the will.

Whosoever will may come.   

   But if you refuse…if you won’t come,  you won’t.   And that is your will, choosing.]

As Christians, we know that on the cross,  Jesus said,  “It is finished.”   

   It was not just our penalty for sin, He finished….but the salvation…from sin’s bondage…for all who believe on Him….and for the earth. (Romans 8:21-22)

It is true, that these are not all  seen yet….but they are finished. 

The Spirit of God is still “brooding over” the darkness within the sinner….and giving him conviction of the sin.

Christ is still speaking to the hearts of man….bringing light.

   2 Corinthians 4:6 “For God, Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

And God’s Purpose is still being worked out….within us, and through us…to bring His kingdom, within us, now….and His everlasting kingdom, soon.

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

In the beginning, God….and in the middle, God….and in the end, God.   He has, is and will see His Purpose accomplished!

  The question for today is…..will we yield to Him, and stand with Him…against the wiles of the devil….being an obedient servant of God…and receive all the blessing He has for us?

Ephesians 6:10-12 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of HIs might.

   Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

   For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

“Wrestle” here is to endure the hard battles….against our pride, plans, and reasons…and surrendering to the Lord’s Purpose and place for us.

God always has a Witness to Himself….He always has a Remnant.

I have always been amazed at God’s Witness.

Even in the worst of times, He has had a sanctified witness to Himself….in the places and circumstances where they would be heard,…… if any have ears to hear,…and believe.

Samaria, the capitol of Israel, is being besieged by the king of Syria….and because no one could come in or out….there was famine:

2 Kings 6:25 “And there was a great famine in Samaria; and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass’s head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver,….”

It had gotten so bad, they were eating the dead,….boiling the flesh off, rather than starve.

The situation was hopeless….as far as sight was concerned.

But, as usual, they had forgotten God….

….but not Elisha, the prophet….for he was in the city, too.

He was gathered with the (spiritual) elders of the city….waiting upon the Lord.

(This is an amazing thing….the Lord putting Elisha in the very same circumstances…..for God could have sent him away from this place, but God had him there….gathering the spiritual of the city, to pray with him.)

Now the king, becoming angry….sent a messenger to kill Elisha….and the king followed behind….wanting to see it.

The king could have gone to Elisha, before this…..and asked him to ask God to do something….

….but instead, the king blamed Elisha….because he did not do “something” without him having to come to him and ask.

(Are we this way with God, not willing to seek Him and His Will for us?

Going through things we do not need to, because we refuse to humble ourselves?)

The king did not want to humble himself and ask….therefore Elisha waited….

(This is a sad commentary on authorities which will not seek God….

….the people suffer, while they refuse to humble themselves at God’s correction)

But now the wait was over….the king’s foot is at the door where Elisha is…..

….he is finally in the right place, even though it is for the murder of the very man he needs,….. to speak to God for the city.

But before he can carry out his will….God speaks through Elisha.

It shames the king….but it is the saving of the city.

2 Kings 7:1 “Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.”

And it happens…..just as Elisha says….

(It is an interesting story….

That very night, four lepers who are outside the city….go out to the Syrian camp….”if they die by famine, or by Syrian…what is the difference”.

But they find that the Syrians have fled,….having heard noises which they thought were an army coming against them.

They were so terrified by the noice….which God has done….that they left all their food, clothes, and loot!

The lepers tell the watchman, who tells the king, who sends to see if it is true….

…..and what God has said through Elisha, comes to pass)

2 Kings 7:16 “And the people went out and spoiled the tents of the Syrians, so a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the Lord.”

How easy it is for God to work,…..when we seek His Will!

Many years later:

When Nebuchadnezzar had come to Jerusalem and carried away captives….the best of the young men….educated, and well spoken…

….Daniel was one of these….he was called to make this Gentile king aware of God…and His claims on all people…even monarchs.

Daniel was in the palace of Babylon.

Still, there were many left in Judah.

Jeremiah was one of these….called to make God’s people, aware of God’s claims.

If they would submit….God would keep them in the land.

But if they refused…and sought out others to deliver…..then some would surely be destroyed…and the rest, carried away captive.

Jeremiah was in Jerusalem.

And then, when Nebuchadnezzar came the second time and took the carpenters, and workman away….Ezekiel was among them….called to make God’s captive people aware of God’s claims…even in Babylon.

Ezekiel was in the work camps of Babylon.

God’s Witness was a complete one….so was the revelation to these men of the sin of Israel….

Jeremiah 2:11, 13 “Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? But My people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.

For My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water.”

After so many times of deliverance, so many times of power, so many times of God manifesting His Presence…..yet they “have forsaken Me”.

Again and again, these three,….in different places, under different circumstances….stood with God…and declared His Will.

Some believed….some refused. But they were faithful….in their place….to the people they were called to.

God always has a remnant of believers…..always has a witness…..because our God is Able.

When Christ came to earth….it was not to the Sanhedrin that the angels came….but to Shepherds,….who having heard….went to see…

….and having seen Jesus….

….went away rejoicing and “made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child” (Luke 2:17).

God always has His remnant…..

and today……that could be me….it could be you.

Are we ready to speak His word faithfully….in the place we are called….to the people we are called to?

Of One Accord

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

(Solomon’s porch was just off the main temple area. It was where the first church often met.)

“With one accord.” Here is the real power of this verse.

It means to be gathered to the Lord, Himself.

We are not come together for the preaching, or for the music, or for the company….although there is nothing wrong with good preaching, music, or fellowship of company….

….but to be of one accord….

…..Christ has to be the reason we come together.

Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them.”

Gathered together in His Name, there He is in the midst.

To be gathered together in His Name….is to be impelled of the Holy Spirit.

You are there because He has sent you there….and you want to be no where else.

(Years ago, my husband knew a man that came every Sunday,…..but confided in my husband that he would rather be home watching the games on T.V.

My husband looked at him….and told him that he might be better off if he did….for if the heart is not in the “coming”…..that coldness spills out into the life and service. [Sometime we can never really see our lostness when we are hiding in a church.]

My husband had been praying for this man, and had wondered….after all this time, why there seemed to be no spiritual growth. He tried dealing with this man….showing him the wonderful things of Christ….but…

He often said the right words….but the light of the eyes and heart did not seem to be in what he was saying.

Several years past, and this man finally stayed home. He went from one thing to another…..trying the “happiness” of the world.

There are always those….like Demas….who go along awhile….yet finally leave….”having loved this present world”.

….for they would rather leave Christ than give up their loves, or plans.)

“With one accord”

Your whole body, soul and spirit longs to be where the children of God are gathered….to be there for Christ,….and for His Purpose.

That is God’s Purpose and it becomes your Purpose.

That is to be of one accord.

The Vulgar Latin word for “accord” meant….”to be heart to heart with”.

This was the way the first church met.

All would be heart to heart with the Lord…having HIs heart’s desire for this situation.

That gave a power to the services….for the Lord’s Will being done has real practical power in it….and when it is done with all the heart….there is blessing and power.

We say they were on fire for the Lord…. the love they felt for Him overcame every fear and concern.

They were forgiven and wanted to continue in the fellowship and joy of that peace with God….and with their fellow believers.

Love in scripture is willed…..it is the willed tendency of the heart after Someone….Christ.

That love is practical….and the first place it is shown is in our obedience to Him…..heart obedience.

Acts 5:32 “And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God has given to them that obey Him.”

With His accord you are “heart to heart” with Him…..and this is what He wants….

….your heart so wrapped up in Him, that slight differences with people, or changes in circumstances, will not be a concern….or take our eyes off of Him.

This is, of course, between each believer and the Lord….but it is felt in the corporate ministry….and in the world. (Acts 4:13)

Song of Solomon 2:15 “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.”

When you take care of these little foxes…those little strifes, or desires, or hinderances in your hearts affection…..then…

…you have fellowship with Him…in a new way.

And when that fellowship continues….you will begin to know His accord,…as you are removing all that hinders this from being so.

And by many acts of the will you become heart to heart with Him…..of one accord….with the love and power that it brings.

What will you give in exchange for your soul?

Matthew 16:26 “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

We know this is the summary of Christ’s call to follow Him. (Matthew 16:24-26)

It is a call He gave all…(Luke 9:23-25)

Here, the Lord Jesus puts into perspective the choice we truly make….Him or the world.

If you had everything, and lost your soul, of what value could it be?

(Let us speak for a moment of losing our soul: it is not just going to Hell and then the Lake of Fire….although that is the end result.

No. We are in subjection, as mankind,……..to something.

We do not rule our destiny….we can not…..for circumstances, people, times and seasons, and places are all factors we can not rule.

In fact, we can not rule ourselves…..our souls, our personalities.

We can be phony….pretending to like or love things we do not….for “profit” or advantage in the world.

We can “learn” to like things….making ourselves over in the image of someone we want to be like….but we can never be them….but just us—like them.

We can not, at times, subdue our anger, or our affections….both fly away where they want.

But we can, as Jesus Christ said, come and let Him rule in us.

If you refuse this…..as many people mistakenly think, this liberty is bondage….then the simple answer is:

You will be ruled by the world, the flesh or the devil.

The world’s thoughts will be yours.

You will always be frustrated, because your way is not being done.

The devil will trick you into real bondage of some sort.

You have lost your soul…..and you are not in Hell, yet.

There is still hope…..you can come to Christ Jesus, and let Him bring you into His kingdom.)

Jesus asked, “Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Many things in this world, say, “Don’t worry about your soul’s well being….after all your young….or after all your intelligent….or after all you go to church.”

Matthew Henry said in his commentary on the Bible: “If your religion is worth anything, It is worth everything.”

Christ says we must lose….to gain Him.

We must “Come”……leave where you are…….and then, “Follow”.

Colossians 1:10-13 “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful unto every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness;

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.”

This is what is promised all who come to Christ….who are born again:

Being fruitful…..increasing in the knowledge of God….strengthened with all might….with joyfulness….partakers of the inheritance….delivered from the power of darkness….translated into the kingdom of His dear Son.

It is in the walk we have with Christ….bringing all that we are and have, step by step, and placing it under His control.

By a deliberate act of the will….placing all things at His disposal.

Here, Lord is my anger….I am mad and feeling it worsen….But it not just the anger….it is my resentment toward these people,…..my frustration at the lack of appreciation,….my frustration to You, even.

(By this time, when I pray, I am usually agreeing with the Lord, and giving up the feelings….they are not worth having anything come between me and Jesus.)

Now, Lord, I am sick….I am full of grief….I am weary, so weary….

What ever it is, it is….

…..and must be dealt with by bringing it all….Yes, bringing it all to Christ….to be delivered from this darkness….and no longer under the influence of the Adversary……into Light.

As Christians, we have the ability to bring ourselves into subjection, by the Holy Spirit’s power within us….by our deliberate act of our will.

(I remember talking to a man who was having some difficulties,….and he said:

“I just need more of God in my life.”

Now, I thought that sounded good….and praying for him, the Lord said to me, “What that man needs is a whole lot less of himself.”

God showed me, that He was there for that man….and His power was there for that man….but the man was not letting Him rule……

….pray for that.

And how many times the Lord has reminded me about this….for myself.)

Matthew 16:26 “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Jesus tells all who will follow Him…..it will be the world….or Me.

Which will it be?

The Lord’s Hand 

     Isaiah 59:1 “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save;  neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear:”

God is a spirit….therefore when  the scriptures describe the Lord having hands, feet, eyes, ears….they are using these to show forth the exercise of HIs power to deliver, walk, see, and hear us.  

      God’s hands is an especially lovely description of His power to keep and save us.

      (Of course the Lord Jesus has a glorified body, even now in heaven.  The description is Revelation 1:13-16   You will notice in His right hand there were seven stars…the church, down through the ages…all saved and kept in HIs right hand)

Isaiah 49:16 “Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands;…”

       The High Priest had the twelve tribes graven on the stones set in His ephod…..but the Lord Jesus, our blessed High Priest has put the names of all His children in HIs hands.   As He stands before the Father….we are there….on HIs hands….with the nail prints of the cross where He suffered and died for us.

Isaiah 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God:  I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee;  yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.”

How many things are “fearful” in this day and age.   How many things seem to drive us to be downcast, or in despair?   How many things weaken our resolve to follow the Lord through anything?

      All these things are addressed here:   

“I will”  God says, “strengthen,  help, uphold thee….with the right hand of My righteousness.”

     What cannot be accomplished or faced,  empowered by HIs righteousness?  

     We stand strong when we know we are right with God….and have peace in the day of chaos as He upholds us,  in thanksgiving to His name.    He helps us with HIs Word of direction and encouragement…

Isaiah 41:13 “For I the Lord thy God…

(Notice He multiplied His name…”the Lord” would have been sufficient;  but He adds for our help….”…thy God”…the Eternal, Almighty Sovereign One.)

…will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee,   Fear not; I will help thee.”

    Holding hands with the Lord God…Him, taking us by the hand…and leading us on.

And when things…and others are against us…we can cry, “Why withdrawest Thou Thy hand, even Thy right hand?  Pluck it out of Thy bosom.” (Psalm 74:11)

Psalm 17:7 “Shew Thy marvelous loving-kindness, O Thou that savest by Thy right hand  them which put their trust in Thee  from those that rise up against them.”

Psalm 31:15 “My times are in Thy hand:  deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.”

     His hands deliver us…..from every other hand, which might and will rise against us.  Perhaps not physically, but from their power to harm us spiritually.

(As Jesus said to Pilate, when the powerful Roman governor of Judea, said….

         John 19:10-11 “Then saith Pilate unto Him (Jesus), Speakest Thou not unto me? knowest Thou not that I have power to crucify Thee, and have power to release Thee?

         Jesus answered (and the answer is the same for each of us),  Thou couldest have no power at all against Me, except it were given thee from above:  therefore he that delivered Me unto thee hath the greater sin.”

         We are in the Father’s hands….and what comes to us….comes through His hands.)

God’s hands hold the universe….and rules it (Isaiah 40:12)

          Isaiah 48;13 “Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and My right hand hath spanned the heavens:  when I call unto them they stand up together.”

(The Lord of hosts, as stated in the beginning of this chapter in Isaiah [Isaiah 40:2],  means the Lord over all the hosts….whether of heaven…angels….or the hosts on earth….bees, hornets, animals, blight, plague.   All are under His Sovereign control….and as the Lord of hosts, He uses them for our protection.  [Exodus 23:28, Job 38:22])

HIs wonderful hands also correct us….like a father to a child…that we may learn thereby. (Psalm 39:10)

      Isaiah 1:25 “And I will turn My hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin.”

      And when we learn our lesson…

      Psalm 37:24 “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with HIs hand.”

      His hand is under us, bearing us up.

And when we come to die….

Psalm 31:5 “Into Thine hand I commit my spirit:  Thou hast redeemed me,  O Lord God of truth.”

The Lord Jesus said…

     John 10:28 “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.”

     We are completely, eternally safe in Jesus’ hand.

Ten times (by my count) Jesus reached out,  and touched to heal.  The first being a leper, one of the worst deseases (Matthew 8:3)…..

….and the last being the ear of the high priest’s servant…come to arrest Him…when Peter tried to defend Jesus with a sword in the garden (Luke 22:50-51).

The Lord’s hand is a discription of His keeping, guiding, correcting,….holding us up….and comforting us. 

We may know that we are safe in His hands….and go through all that is ahead…with Him.

The Rich Ruler

Mark 10:17 “And when He(Jesus) was gone forth into the way, there came one running and kneeled to Him, and asked Him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”

Here is a man seeking eternal life (In Luke 18:18 he is called a ruler). And he comes to the right place: to Jesus….and he calls Him a name of respect for His work…….”Good Master”.

But…..respect for Him is not enough if this man really wants eternal life…….so Jesus first points this young man to God.

Mark 10:18 “And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou Me good? There is none good but one, that is, God.”

He was showing this seeker that eternal life, does not come through following a certain set of rules.

But eternal life comes by receiving, and following Him. Through the Son of God, Who was right before him.

If He was good, and none was good but God: then He was God (which He was).

But since this rich ruler was asking what he should do, Jesus also stresses…..what He always points to…….honoring God’s Word.

God’s Word has been given to guide men to God and His life.

Jesus was drawing out of this man what his heart was really like, for it is only as we see our real need, that it can be met.

Mark 10:19 “Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honor thy father and thy mother.”

Jesus quotes the second half of the Ten Commandments. The part that deals with our relations with people.

(The first half deals with honoring God, and not worshipping idols, not taking the Lord’s name in vain, and the Sabbath rest, to honor God’s works)

Mark 10:20 “And he answered and said unto Him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.”

This young man falls short of getting what Jesus is really telling him. Standing right before him was God’s Way of Salvation, in His Son; yet this ruler is intent on finding something to do.

“I have kept them all. Yet I know, I do not have eternal life by doing what I am doing. So, what more can I do. What don’t I have?”

Instead of asking, “what more can I do?”…….he should have been asking, “Can I come after You? For only You can lead me into eternal life.”

Mark 10:21 “Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”

Jesus loved him. Jesus could look into every heart and He knew that this man really wanted Eternal life.

But Jesus also saw the problem. He had given this man the part of the law which dealt with people, for a reason.

The problem was: his riches and possessions.

They had his heart all tied up. Nothing could get in, he was so full of them.

So the answer was: give away to other people your possessions. Free up your heart from the grip of them, and come and follow Me.

This man had followed the Law: he had not taken from any one, whether by false accusation, or theft. He had not committed adultery. He had honored his father and mother.

But he was very rich—he had “great possessions”.

Let me make this point very plain……..Jesus was not bargaining with this man.

He was telling him what hindered his heart from finding eternal life.

Mark 10:22 “And he (the ruler) was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.”

Whether this man ever did what Jesus said,……or whether he let eternal life go, to hang onto his riches;…….he went away.

He turned from the Person Who was the answer; and went away; for his possessions actually possessed him.

Mark 10:23-25 “And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto His disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

And the disciples were astonished at His words, but Jesus answereth them again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”

Jesus is saying,……that it is very hard for people who have “trusted” in other things,……to let go of them,……and “Come and take up the cross, and follow Me”.

It is Jesus that saves,……not Jesus and…

But you have to let go of what you are hanging on to,….to take hold on Christ.

“Who then can be saved?” His disciples asked.

Mark 10:27 “And Jesus looking upon them saith, With man it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.”

Again Jesus points to God,…..and God’s only Way of Salvation in His Son, Jesus Christ.

God knows every heart…..and how to free every heart from all that would keep it from eternal life….but we must come to Christ.

I hope this rich ruler came back and received eternal life by Jesus Christ; but the answer is the same today for everyone who seeks true life:

“Come unto the Lord Jesus for eternal life…….and take up your cross, and follow Him.”

For only in Him is eternal life….and eternal life is a condition of life now…and on, throughout eternity with Christ Jesus the Lord.

John 17:3 “And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast sent.”

When God says “all”…..He means “all”

Matthew 22:37 “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”

Deuteronomy 11:1 “Therefore thou shalt love the Lord thy God, and keep His charge, and His statues, and His judgements, and His commandments, alway.”

When the Bible speaks of love….it is speaking of a willed tendency and action of the heart toward something.

Love in the Bible is not just emotion….no, it is followed by action…which moves us closer to the Person loved.

We are to love the Lord our God with all our heart….we are to open our hearts to Him, and return the love He gives us.

1 John 4:19 “We love Him, because He first loved us.”

We are to love the Lord our God with all our soul, or will….willingly obeying everything He Wills for us.

We are to love the Lord our God with all our mind….thinking as He does about things…

1 John 2:15 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him.”

When we do not do “all” for God, we get hurt, and so do others.

The example I am going to use is a very Godly king,…..this is an example of denying ourselves in some things….yet not in others….to our hurt.

Jehoshaphat came to power, and “sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in His commandments,”.

He took away the “high places and most of the groves”, which were places of great wickedness, that Judah had made (1 Kings 14:22-23)….following the worship of people around them…

….”for a long season”….My people….”hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.” (2 Chronicles 15:3)

Then he sent princes, Levites, and priests out among the cities of Judah:

2 Chronicles 17:9 “And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the Lord with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.”

Judah was coming back to God.

Because of Jehoshaphat’s diligence and obedience, the Lord blessed him.

2 Chronicles 17:10 “And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war with Jehoshaphat.”

But Jehoshaphat had a weakness….he believed the two nations, Judah and Israel, were brothers (which they were,…yet God had separated them)…

…..and so, when he was at rest and the law was being taught….thinking everything was established in the Lord….

…..he allowed his first born son to marry the king of Israel’s daughter (2 Kings 8:18)…which was Jezebel’s daughter….

….not good.

(How did this happen? Jezebel was a schemer….seeing Jehoshaphat’s wealth and prosperity….she would have wanted to get her hands on it….or ruin it for Judah.)

This was terrible for the son, who began to follow the “ways” of Israel, which were idolatry…..instead of the way of the Lord…

Terrible for Jehoshaphat, for it turned blessing into judgement….for both himself and his kingdom.

2 Chronicles 19:2-3 “And….the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? Therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord.

Nevertheless, there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God.”

You see, there is never a time when we can sit down and say…..”I have done all….I have accomplished all….I do not have to be watchful for evil, any more.”

This son, that Jehoshaphat allowed to marry into Jezebel’s family, became king….and was a wicked one….turning all Judah back to idolatry.

2 Chronicles 21:5-6, 11 “Jehoram (Jehoshaphat’s son) was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.

And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord.

Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto.”

So much good, ruined…..because Jehoshaphat had not done “all” for the Lord.

Instead he had allowed what he thought was a good idea, to corrupt his godliness.

And that ruined the blessing God had for him, his family, and his nation.

His son was ruined,….and he, in turned ruined God’s people for years….with the wicked influence and direction, of Jezebel’s daughter.

Mark 12: 30 “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”

When God says “all”….He means “all”.

We are to watch ourselves….”Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” Jude 21

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

…and for others. Jude 22-23 “And of some have compassion, making a difference:

And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”

If Jehoshaphat had done “all”……his son would not have married into one of the most wicked families….nor been turned to wickedness….which led to his ruin.

Let us watch….and love the Lord our God first….and with “all”.

Philip

There are two prominent Phillips in the New Testament.   One Phillip was the deacon chosen out of the church newly formed in Jerusalem after the day of Pentecost.  

     And the other is the Apostle named Phillip.  

It is he, I wish to speak of here.

Philip was first a follower of Jesus,….then a disciple,…then chosen by the Lord as an apostle. (Luke 6:13-16)

Jesus had been baptized of John, when the Holy Spirit came upon Him.   This is when John the Baptist gave the witness that Jesus is the Son of God.   

On a day not far after, Jesus went into Galilee….

John 1:43 “The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him,   Follow Me.”

Philip was from Bethsaida,  where Peter and Andrew were from,  who had also followed the Lord.

        (I love the way Phillip acts here, right after coming to Jesus.  With devotion to the Lord,…and with courage,  he goes and finds a friend,  Nathanael….and tells him emphatically…that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah.)

John 1:45-46 “Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him,   We have found Him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write,  Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

       And Nathanael said unto him,   Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?   

Philip saith unto him,  Come and see.”

I also love how Philip dealt with the mocking tone of Nathanael….”Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?”.

      (And how many mockers and scorners of the Lord Jesus, and His Word are around us today?)

But Philip simply does not argue….or try and prove anything….he simply says….”Come and see” for yourself.   Philip might not even have known that Jesus was born in Bethlehem…but he knew Jesus was the Christ….and he would let Nathanael,….without coercion….find that out too.

       Nathanael came and did, indeed, hear and believe in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. (John 1:48-49)

And all because of Philip.

      We, too, must bring all those we deal with the same way….they must come and see Jesus as the Son of God, the Savior, for themselves.   

      This does not eliminate our responsibility in dealing with their questions….for a fair answer to a fair question is not wrong….but striving over words to no profit, is useless.  (2 Timothy 2:14)

The next time we hear of Philip, after the Lord chose him as one of HIs apostles…was again in seeing to others…

John 6:3,5 “And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with His disciples.

      When Jesus then lifted up HIs eyes, and saw a great company come unto Him, He saith unto Philip,   Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?”

It is interesting that Jesus asks Philip….for He knows hearts.  He knew Philip’s heart for others.   But He asks Philip, so He could lead him into a more dependent way of looking at all people….dependent, that is, on Him.

John 6:5b-7 “…Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

      And this He said to prove him: for He Himself knew what He would do.

      Philip answered Him,  Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them,  that every one of them may take a little.”

Notice that Philip gets right to work to figure how much would be needed. 

     You can almost see him considering…how many there were…men, women, and children, and how much they eat. He knows they do not have that much….and he does not hide this from the Lord. 

     All good so far…..but he does not go further and ask the Lord what to do.   And this is what the Lord is trying to teach him.    

“Philip, see the problem…but then, as you consider what is needed…. ask Me for the answer!”

     But then, here, Jesus takes what is there….a lad’s lunch of two fish and five barley loaves….and  fed five thousand. (John 6:11-12)

The next time we see Philip is right after the Triumphal entry into Jerusalem before the Passover. 

      Many people had come for the feast….and among them were certain Greeks who wanted to see Jesus. (John 12:20-22)

      They came to Philip, who was of Galilee….and asked him to take them to see Him.

Not sure whether that would be right…..he goes and tells Andrew.    And they both go tell Jesus about these men.

Let me say here,  that the Lord has shown us the ministry of Philip….serving people and leading them to the Lord.

      But let me also say….we do not learn complete dependence on the Lord all at once….or with just one lesson.    Philip wanted to take them to the Lord….yet hesitated, because (I believe) they were Greeks.   

      So he sought the counsel of Andrew….still not completely going to the Lord for everything….but then they both went to Jesus about them….

….which begins a most amazing speech….one of the last Jesus has before the crowds of people that followed HIm.

He spoke about Who He was,  why He was here,…and the choice of all who would really follow Him.  (John 12:23-50)

“If you follow Me, you will lose your life in this world….but receive honor of My Father, God.”

     In the middle of the speech….

“Then came there a Voice from heaven, saying,  I have both glorified it (My name), and will glorify it again.” (John 12:28)

      How much the Lord showed to those who would really hear Him!

Jesus continued, for this would be the last time He would speak to the crowds.

“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me….

      While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.   These things spake Jesus, and departed…

…but before He left…He cried,  He that believeth on Me, believeth…on Him that sent Me.

      For I have not spoken of My self; but the Father which sent me,  He gave Me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

      And I know that His commandment is life everlasting:  whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto Me, so I speak.”  (John 12:32,36,44,49-50)

What a testimony in front of all the people gathered,  to see Him….

….to believe and follow Him,…was to see and believe on God, the Father in heaven.

Philip followed on….and after the Last Supper…

…Jesus again speaks of His death….and they are all becoming sad.   

Where are you going?  Why can’t we come too? 

Jesus carefully lifts their eyes to see, by HIs Words, what  He has prepared for His leaving them.

      He speaks again, of the Father…”Ye believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 14:1).   I will go, but I will come again.

“Philip saith unto Him,  Lord shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.”

Because Jesus was leaving….Philip sadly tries to say….”It is Ok….just show us the Father and we will be able to get by, while we wait for you.”

But Philip missed the point…Jesus had showed them the Father….because the Father was in Jesus.    Every Word He spoke was the Father’s.   Every work He did, the Father did, as well.

John 14:9 “Jesus saith unto him,  Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me Philip?  he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then,  Shew us the Father?

      Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me?  the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works.”

Philip….and all of us need to understand….that though Jesus was on earth, walking around….God was with Him.     And it will be the same with us….and it would be the same with Philip…and them all.

      God will be with us….Christ Jesus will be with us….through the indwelling Holy Spirit.   And every word we say, and every work we do,….can be guided by His Spirit.

Jesus continues:

John 14:19-21 “Yet a little while, and the world seeth Me no more; but ye see Me:  because I live, ye shall live also.

      At that day ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 

      He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.”

Though Philip did not understand all this…..yet every step from here to Jesus being taken and crucified….and raised from the dead…..and seen again in the upper room (John 20:19-20)….Philip followed the Lord.

Philip saw Jesus ascended up to heaven…and followed right into the filling of the Holy Ghost and the work the Lord led him in,  on the day of Pentecost.. (Acts 1:4, 12-13, 2:1-4)…telling others of Jesus Christ, the Son of God….who was crucified for our sins, and raised the third day….and ascended into heaven for us.  

According to tradition….Philip is supposed to have been preaching in Greece, and under the persecution of the Roman emperor Domitian, he and Nathanael were arrested and were going to be put to death.

        Philip and Nathanael (Bartholomew as he is called in Matthew 10:2-4)…both men were to be crucified upside-down.   Philip preached from his cross,  As a result of Philip’s preaching the crowd released Bartholomew from his cross, but Philip insisted that they not release him and he died there.

As Christians, in this day and age….our future is only safe in Christ Jesus. He is our Savior, Lord, and King. And we are never alone….for He is always with us.

“..If any man will..; or Whosoever will…”

Let us talk of Jesus’ invitation: “If any man will…”

Have you ever come to the submitting of your will, to God’s revealed will?

It is stated by our Lord Jesus to His disciples: If any man will.

He says there is a choice involved. It is not something that is forced upon us. No, Jesus said, If any man will; therefore you can say “no” to the act of bringing your will into conformity to God’s will.

And those who are born again, are the ones who can make that choice in reality; for they are the only ones who are enabled to know and do God’s will.

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

Jesus said:

Matthew 16:24-25 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.

For whosoever will save his life will lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.”

Here, in Matthew, Jesus is talking to his disciples. He states the requirements for discipleship.

“If” they were going to be His disciples, then they must choose (for it is always a choice) to deny their self-lives, and follow Him into every circumstance (some very unpleasant) that He leads them in.

The cross is the individual’s choice to give up to Christ, in that moment (this can not be done once for all), his “rights”, or plans, or attitudes, etc.(You get the idea).

You see Jesus was telling them that to be His disciples in this world, was not an easy path leading to accolades, and position.

(Remember, that is why the Chief Priests and Pharisees plotted to kill Jesus, they did not want to give up their “place”.

John 11: 47-48 “Then gathered the chief priests and Pharisees a counsel, and said, What do we? For this man doeth many miracles.

If we let Him thus alone, all men will believe on Him; and the Romans shall come and take away our place and nation.”)

No, to be His disciple, was a path which would lead to greater knowledge and communion with Him.

If that was what they wanted, (plainly to walk a little way with Christ, is to want to know Him more), then they would be blessed in that knowledge, with joy, peace, love, etc.

It would be an exciting and blessed path, but only if you love Jesus Christ.

If you want the world and Heaven, too. You will never be a true disciple of Christ.

If you want to follow Christ wherever that leads, you are choosing discipleship.

A disciple is one who has voluntarily placed himself under the discipline of his Master.

For us, our Master is Jesus Christ, who not only commands, but takes us by the hand and leads, helps, strengthens, encourages, and empowers for what He leads us into.

The same is stated in Mark. (only here He is talking to all the people that were following Him, as well)

Mark 8:34-35 “And when He had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever will lose his life for My sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.”

Luke 9:23-24 “And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever will lose his life for My sake, the same shall save it.”

The life we lose is our life in ourselves.

You know that the life inside of you is often very different than the one you show to everyone.

You may look happy and carefree to people; while there are depressing thoughts, or anger and resentment inside.

Your desires may rule your heart and mind, but you continue to try and show everyone that you are in control.

If you are in these situations, and you are a Christian; Christ has made provision for you for true liberty….If any man will.

Revelation 22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will let him take the water of life freely.”

There are a lot of “And”s here. That is because Christ is stressing that He has not left them without a means of everything they need.

First, it is to “Come”.

No problem can be solved if you stay away from Christ.

Second, it is to hear Christ words, or the Bible. If you are not reading, because you say you can not understand it; then say “come, and explain it to me”. And He will.

Third, it is to recognize your “thirst”. In what is your desire? Just get honest here, He knows anyway.

But if you can, say it out loud, alone with God, you will be amazed how much you “see”, when you willingly come and admit your need.

Fourth, it is to take, freely. But it is to take of the water of life. That is the refreshing communion of the Holy Spirit within, bubbling up into true life; Christ’s life within you, and the power for you, that He brings.

This happens, when you come to Christ. The invitation is “if any man will”, or “whosoever will”….

Will you?