A New Way

Joshua 1:1-2 “….the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying,

      Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.”

Here was a new beginning in the history of Israel…”now, therefore, arise”.   

     And isn’t it the same for us as we begin a new challenge or a deeper experience with God…we need to arise….out of the old and into the new.

Joshua 3:3-4 “And they commanded the people, saying,  When ye see the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it,  then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.

     Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure:  come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go:  for ye have not passed this way heretofore.”

Two things to mention, here.

       There was new ground to be trodden…you “have not passed this way heretofore”

       And new promises to obtain….”ye shall remove from your place and go after it”

       They were to look to the Ark of the Covenant, which represented God with them…and follow it.

       They were not to come too near it….to show honor and reverence to God.   

And this is the Way they were to go from now on…following God’s Way….and doing everything in  honor and reverence to the Lord.

For us, as well, there are always new steps to be taken in our walk with the Lord.  We have growing up into Christ to be done….

…..as well as new promises to get into our experience.

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

“wrought” here,  means toil, labor.    Do not throw away what you have labored toward in the gospel of Christ.

This is where we face the reality of our profession. And the reality that we could lose some of the reward set aside for us.

 Life is hard at times….and there are enemies around in the world.   

Paul says that there is a danger of becoming a castaway….a worthless servant.

    (We all know the term castaway…whether by circumstances of storm or being turned out because of dishonorable actions….these are set on desert islands, or in the midst of the sea.   These are not able to do anything to regain trust….they are let go.)

1 Corinthians 9:27 “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others,  I myself should be a castaway.”

This does not mean the loss of his salvation….but the loss of reward.   The loss of being of value to my Precious Lord Jesus.

And the apostle John says….it is possible to lose some of the things we have “wrought”….worked for…and not get a full reward.

How do we hear these verses?

What do they say to us?

Again,  are the things the Lord has set aside for us, of any real value to us?

Revelation 4:4, 9-11 “And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

    And when those beasts give glory and honor and thanks to Him that sat on the throne,  Who liveth for ever and ever,

    The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 

    Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.”

The glory of having a crown in that day,   will be to cast it at the feet of Jesus!

(You will remember the dream my husband had once, years ago….of dying and going to heaven!

This is his testimony about it:

       “First, the joy that I had made it!   rejoicing that I was there with Christ!

       Then, the reality of facing Jesus,….empty-handed….nothing to give Him….nothing to lay at His feet.

I wish I could describe to you the absolute despair that I felt….the absolute emptiness of it!

       To be saved, yet so as by fire.   With nothing to give Him, Who had given so much for me.”)

For all of us….wherever we are in our experience….let me exhort or awaken you to “arise and go over”.

There are new steps to take….we have not passed this way, heretofore.

We are treading new ground,  things will be different.

      We are to “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

Both require strength and courage in the face of our enemies.

Deuteronomy 33:25-27 “Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.

      There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, Who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in His excellency on the sky.

      The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and He shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say,  Destroy them.”

We are to prove all things in our personal lives….God is a faithful God of Promise.

      We are to go on and prove all things in our gifts and callings….to do what we have been called to do.   

      We are not a grand experiment…but a Purpose still getting worked out…in our everyday lives.   There is a grand end in view!

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

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

What a Lord and Savior we have!

The Elder Brother

Luke 15:25-26 “Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.

And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.”

Here is the elder brother of the Prodigal, doing what he always does….coming in from the field after seeing to the work there.

This he had done many times since his younger brother had left.

As the eldest son, he had been given the first two-thirds of the inheritance; while his younger brother had taken his one-third and left (to squander it).

But what he had not realized was, that when the Father divided his living among them (Luke 15:12)…

…..it was a legal transaction that transferred all the substance, authority, and wealth to them.

So when the younger left with his….everything (2/3 of the estate), was now his, to do what he wanted with.

The elder son was lord of the manor…..his Father was nothing more than an honored guest in his house.

(Yes, he was to honor and to see to him as long as he lived….but the place, house, money, and servants, etc. was his….with all the legal standing of this position.

He could do what he wanted with all of it.)

But the elder son never saw or possessed this……..and that was because he never really knew his Father, and his goodness.

He still saw things as they had always been….a son just doing his chores.

There was no enjoyment of his inheritance….no enjoyment or fellowship between him and his Father….just the duty, somehow to gain……something…some day.

(that is the intangible “something”, because we should not do our duty for gain; but for love’s sake)

But sadly, he had everything….and never enjoyed it.

I am emphasizing this, because there are a lot of Christians the same way.

We have an inheritance…..yes, it will be complete in heaven….but, we have the earnest of that inheritance, now….in the Person of the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1:13-14)

We have “all spiritual blessings” in Christ, waiting for us to get them down here in our practical life. (Ephesians 1:3)

We have the fruit of the Spirit to enjoy….and the ability to fellowship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Do we really know this? What are we doing about it?

Or are we like the elder brother, who never really knew his Father….so did not know the enjoyment of the life he (or we) have been given.

(The Prodigal, though a mess and a failure….losing so much of his life on riotous living in the world….yet he, at least, knew his Father, and knew he would be given a place (even as a servant)…..if he returned to Him.

When he did, the Father ran out to meet him, for he had been “dead” to all the life he should have had, till he returned. Luke 15:32)

But the Father also “came out and entreated” the elder brother.

When the elder brother found out the younger was home, and the Father had killed the fatted calf for him (something that was reserved for honored guests and special occasions)….

He was angry…

Luke 15:28-30 “And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his Father out, and entreated him.

And he answering said to his Father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment; and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.”

Now you might think, having heard this….that he had good reason to be angry.

No, he did not. He could have had a party with his friends, anytime he wanted….with a kid, or the fatted calf, if he wanted.

But sadly, he did not know this.

He thought he was a servant….not a son.

He thought his inheritance rested in his merit….how hard he worked, and obedient he had been.

“I never transgressed Thy commandments….even though I grudgingly did them for merit”.

Is this obedience?…..

…….maybe to the letter….not to the heart of them.

For the heart of any commandment, or direction from the Lord is to guide you into greater enjoyment of the life of God, in you.

“I deserve better than You have given me”…

…..what?!

He did not even know or use……what the Father had given him.

“I deserve better than You have given the prodigal”….

……But, the Father said……you had it….all the time…to have and use, anytime!

No, his inheritance (and ours) rests in the fact that we are sons of God, not in our merits.

The Father had come out, and “entreated” him. He earnestly beseeched, implored, begged him to come on in, and party with them.

How this shows the desire of the Father’s heart for His sons….to have them fellowshipping with Him.

Luke 15:31 “And He said unto His son, Son, thou art ever with Me, and all that I have is thine.”

All that Christ obtained for us, in His death and resurrection, are laid up for us…..not just for the by-and-by….but for now, to own and use.

It is in Christ….but we are in Christ. (“In Whom also we have obtained an inheritance…” Ephesians 1:11)

Ephesians 1:3, 7-9, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace.

Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself: “

1 John 3:1 “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:….”

You We have our inheritance now….which is Christ in you the hope of glory…..now, and forever…

….what will we do with it?

The Fountain of Life Springing up within You

Psalm 36:9 “For with Thee is the fountain of life: in Thy light shall we see light.”

John 7:37-38 “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink.

He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

In this feast, the celebration of God’s Salvation is told under the type of water.

The priests and Levites would gather certain vessels, and in procession, take them out the water gate, to the wells outside the city.

They would be filled and carried back to the sanctuary; where they would be poured on the floor between the Brazen Altar, where the sacrifices were given; and the Holy Place where only the priests could enter.

In the temple there were steps behind the Altar, which lead to the Holy Place.

As they poured the water onto the floor they would be quoting:

Isaiah 12:2-6 “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation.

Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the well of salvation.

And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon His name, declare His doings among the people, make mention that His name is exalted.

Sing unto the Lord; for He hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.

Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.”

On the last day, the great day of the feast,……they would pour no water; but gather there in the sanctuary, and quote this passage:

looking up to God to supply the Salvation in the Holy One for them.

This time, on this last day…the great day……Jesus stepped out of the crowd…to the stairs behind them and in fulfillment of prophesy,….

He cried:

“If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

Here was exactly what they were quoting about. Here was the Messiah, the Savior.

What would they do with Him?

John 7:40-43 “Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.

Others said, This is the Christ. Some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?

Hath not the scriptures said, that Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?

So there was a division among the people because of him.”

They talked about Him, but none made the decision that He had offered.

He gave them Light to see that He was indeed the Savior, who had been promised.

He spoke plainly to them and gave them the offer of Life; real, flowing, powerful life; like the water.

This He would supply by His Holy Spirit, within His believers.

John 7:39 “But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.”

They saw light, and knew the power of His Word, and life; but refused to yield to that truth.

John 7:45-46 “Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees: and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?

The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.”

God’s Light has been shown to you; He is indeed the Savior, Christ Jesus.

What will you do with the Life He has offered you?

Are you continuing to receive all of His life within you?

Will you come to Him, and receive it;…..receive Him?

John 1:12 “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.”

Jeremiah 23:29 “Is not My word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?”

a fire.

a hammer.

this should cover all that we encounter….for ourselves and others.

a fire, consuming all the dross of our old nature…(Zechariah 13:9)

a hammer, breaking all the rocks of our inbred rebellion.  (Jeremiah 5:3)

This is the Word of God.   

Our hearts are naturally full of other things…like the dross intermixed with silver or gold.

    Malachi 3:2-3 “But who may abide the day of HIs coming?  And who shall stand when He appeareth?  For He is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap:

    And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver:…”

God can purify our hearts…from all other desires and loves.

Our hearts are naturally as stone…hard and almost impenetrable.

    Zechariah 7:12 “Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in His spirit by the former prophets:…”

But God can give us a “heart of flesh”.

     Ezekiel 11:19-20 “And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new Spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh:

     That they may walk in My statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.”

(There have been times, I have felt unappreciated or distressed by others reactions….when I can feel my heart hardening.   It seems to say, “I won’t care.  I will just do what I must…and leave the rest.”   

     When this has happened….I try and stop right away…and ask for a heart of flesh….not of stone.    He often works to show us our hardness…and HIs mercy.  

     Or shows us, from the Word how He was treated, without cause….and the many times He gave good words, and good works….no matter His approval.      His Word softens my heart….keeps me focused on Him, and HIs pleasure for me.   Praise God for His abundant mercy.)

And as He works in us….He can work, through His Word to any and all others….no matter how “hard”  they seem.

Isaiah 55:11 “So shall My Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth:  it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” 

Prosper here means to “push forward”….God’s Word does that.   He sees an end in view, and pushes forward to see it done.

First it pushes forward…in our hearts.   (I love this verse…for it explains the immediate…and the delayed “push” in our hearts by His Word…spoken, read, heard.)

       Isaiah 55:10 “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater.”

The rain is sometimes gentle and soaking….and sometimes hard and furious, causing dry places to overrun….so the Word of God waters the heart….and brings forth buds and fruit.

The snow, sits on the frozen ground….and though it seems to do nothing, at first….then it melts, usually slowly…and soaks into the thawed ground….our hearts.

This rain, and this snow is the Word of God, used by the Holy Spirit….and it softens our hearts and leads them to receive His Word and Will.

Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”

     And faith sees God….and moves the heart to reach out for Christ…receiving Him and HIs Word. 

How important for all of us to know the Word of God….to be able to speak about His Word to others!

And for preachers, and teachers:

1 Corinthians 1:21, 23-25 “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by (worldly) wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

     But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and to the Greeks foolishness;

     But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks,  Christ the power of God, and the wisdsom of God.

     Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

God’s Wisdom ordained that preaching Christ and His Word is the way to save others. 

     “Is not My Word like a fire? Saith the  Lord;   and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?”

Is there something in us that has become intertwined in “things”…and needs to be purified?

Is there something in us that has become hardened, just a little, in dealing with others, or with God, HImself?

Let His Word soak into your ears and hearts…

    Ephesians 5:25-26 “…as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it;

    That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of the water by the Word,”

….read, pray over, and let it cleanse your hearts and minds….(sometimes memories, sometimes idle thoughts, sometimes vengeful thoughts)…let His Word to you,   be the invigorating of your affections and diligence for Christ.

And then…

1 Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

Let this mind be in you.

We often ask the question…..”How can I be more spiritual? How can I bear the trials that I am going through?”

Well, the Philippians were a church born in persecution….yet knew joy.

Philippians 2:1-2 “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”

“Consolation” means anything from comfort and solace….to exhortation. It is anything spiritually or emotionally that gives us what we need…..

…..Christ sends us His consolation in many ways.

A word of encouragement…..a call to a friend to see how they are doing…..a passage of scripture….”a hug “(I call them) from the Holy Spirit saying, I am here with you, in this.

Christ had sought them out…..He had sent Paul to them, to give them the good news of Salvation.

Christ had shown them His love by saving them and giving them the fellowship of the Spirit.

Christ had shown them mercy, and grown the church even under persecution….giving them a testimony in all the city.

Now, Paul says…..don’t become easily offended with others…..or seek a “position” in the church…..but seek to serve in the place you are….

…for Paul knew, that often when our testimony is strong….the devil seeks to get us by “strife, or vain glory”.

Instead, he says…..look to Christ…

…if we do that, we can look on others without judgement….rejoicing in any growth of grace each makes.

Philippians 2:5-8 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus;

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God;

But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto the death, even the death of the cross.”

“Let this mind be in you….me”

Here is the way we are to think about our path or way before us,….no matter how it is:

Christ Jesus came from the highest glory…..through His own Will and self-denial…

….moved by love of His Father’s Will, and for the love of His own, that He would save.

He came to the lowest depths….every step, giving up something….

….He humbled Himself.

He gave up the outward manifestation of His glory and power….He became man, submitting to His Father’s Will in everything.

(He who could feed 5000, waited by a well for His disciples to bring back some food, and asked a Samaritan woman to give His some water)

In everything He kept the goal in view….to honor His Father, and His law….and save all who would come to Him.

In His self-denial, He stooped to death…..even the death of the cross.

The death of the cross was not just a horrible, painful way to die,….but shameful…..outside the city….mocked, spit upon, cursed,…

…..all that went on, while the strength, and life slowly left Him…

….and it showed man’s rejection of Him and God….

….until the mass of our putrid sin was placed upon Him….but He still went on in self-denial….till all was accomplished

He did this…..He humbled Himself….He became obedient to death…..even the death of the cross.

And we are to think the same way….to follow His steps….for the love of God and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Self-denial needs to be our constant companion.

But that was not the end:

Philippians 2:9-11 “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name.

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Because Christ fulfilled His Work….God….(can you hear the trumpets blowing in heaven?)….”highly exalted Him”.

Highly is to raise to the highest position….above all others. (Matthew 28:18, Revelation 3:21)

Here the Father manifests Christ’s Victory over all opposition…..raising Him…not just from death, but to a place in His Throne…with all power and authority….

….releasing His grace to flow out to the redeemed!

And commanding that at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess that He is Lord….

….all for the glory of God.

(As Christians, born again ones, we will bow and confess here in our lives that Jesus is Lord…..our Lord and Savior.

As the lost, they will bow and confess that Jesus is Lord, at the White Throne Judgement….and then be cast into the Lake of Fire.

Their knees will bow…..knowing then Who they rejected here…that Jesus is the Lord and Savior with the power that could have saved them….

….and their tongues will confess it…..their will be no delight….only terror, knowing they refused to receive and confess Him here.)

What is the reason Paul states these truths?

Life is hard…..Christianity is harder. The consolation, that Christ chose them, each of them…..by the preaching of the gospel and the ministry of the Word….

….should yield unity and one accord with each other.

And the example of Christ’s humbling Himself….should yield submission and love…in all circumstances that they are….and will, go through.

To what lengths Christ came that I, a rebellious and wicked sinner might come to Him!

The glory of Christ and the Father is assured….have we entered into our part of it, by bowing to Christ? And confessing in life….His Lordship?

A Certain Disciple

Acts 9:10 “And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.”

In the world….prestige and success is everything. Who you know….or “hang around with” is valued.

But God looks on the heart….and places each of us in our place….to do good there.

So let us look at this certain disciple that the Lord spoke to.

First, Ananias knew the Lord’s Voice. He was a believer and follower of Christ Jesus….and he knew when the Lord spoke to him.

Second, Ananias answered the Lord right away….he did not hesitate, afraid of what the Lord would ask….but said…..”I am here, Lord”…denoting that he was willing to do what his Lord said.

Ananias was a certain disciple….it does not even say the leader of the church in Damascus.

He was not one of great training, or knowledge or experience;….just a certain disciple, that obeyed the Lord.

What follows is a great lesson for each of us as how to have a conversation with the Lord….about direction.

We often think of instant obedience….without question or thought. But God looks on the heart….willingness to obey, leads to submission of reasons and attitudes….and final obedience. I will do what I am told, no matter what happens.

When we come here….we are ready.

(Acts 9:11-14)

“And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus; for behold he prayeth,…

Then Ananias answered, Lord I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to Thy saints at Jerusalem: and here he hath authority….to bind all that call on Thy name.”

Though Ananias was willing to do what the Lord said, that did not stop him from asking for more assurance that this was God’s Will.

“For he had heard by many of this man”….

How many times what we hear about something, affects what we hear from the Lord.

Saul had indeed come to Damascus “for evil”….to destroy everyone who proclaimed Christ as Lord….”who called on Thy name.”….

….but….

….The Lord had changed everything…..

…..for He had appeared to Saul on the road to Damascus, and struck down his plans….making him see the truth.

Christ Jesus was the Son of God….He did die for our sins….He was risen, and was speaking to him.

Saul had bowed to Christ….saying, “Lord what would Thou have me to do?”

Now the Lord would use His disciple to teach Saul how important each believer was to the Lord…..

…for Saul’s instruction would come simply through a fellow believer….a brother in Christ…..obedient to Jesus.

What a lesson!

(What can be accomplished by our simple obedience, we may never know!)

(In Paul’s letters to the churches….he used the term “brethren” over seventy times! We are all part of the family of God, in Christ Jesus. What a lesson was taught for Saul, from the very first.)

Acts 9:15-16 “But the Lord said unto him (Ananias), Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

Ananias, was sent to Saul , the mighty persecutor….who became Paul the mighty Apostle….mightily persecuted…suffering many things for Christ’s sake….and he was told this, from the beginning.

Here, Saul heard the first prayer of a fellow believer for him….”Brother Saul,”

(Hallelujah! The Lord hath gotten Him the victory! And we can say the same Hallelujah! When any becomes a brother or sister in Christ.)

…the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way….hath sent me, that thou mightiest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.”

Saul was healed, filled with the Holy Spirit because Ananias went and prayed…..and then Saul was baptized….and preached Christ, that He is the Son of God….

…which began his ministry of Apostleship.

And Ananias, a certain disciple at Damascus, was the instrument to show Saul the way to begin….and will receive a part of Paul’s reward for all he did.

Many times later, in his letters, Paul asks for prayer from his fellow believers for him (Ephesians 6:19)…..how important prayer is Paul learned from a certain disciple!

How many are waiting to hear a word from us?

We may think we are no one of importance….or maybe think that the Word you have been given, or the prayers you have been told to have, should be done by someone else….more experienced.

Then learn the lesson of blinded Saul….and a certain disciple. When God choses you to speak or pray….

…talk to God about it….then be obedient.

….the blessing is waiting for both you and them.

Remember and Return

Isaiah 44:21-23. “Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art My servant: I have formed thee; thou art My servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of Me.

I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.

Sing, O ye heavens; for the Lord hath done it: Shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified Himself in Israel.”

Transgressions are our moral revolt against God’s government….we will not be in subjection to His laws.

Sin is the decision to rule ourselves….to put ourselves over God,….however the thought, attitude or action….we are going to be in charge.

(Romans 14:23 “……for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”)

Our transgressions and sins, block the Light of God from us, as clouds…..thick clouds block the sun, and sky.

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.”

Both are “blotted out” by the Lord….they are erased from the books of our works.

How? Why?

“…for I have redeemed thee.”

The whole creation has cause to praise and sing in joy….for the Lord has redeemed His people….from the bondage of sin…to liberty.

The greatest work in the world….is the establishing of the kingdom of God….

The definition for redeemed in scripture, here is:

To buy back: when a rich relative, as kinsman…….would buy the poor relatives property, life and the life of his family, when he is in debt…..and give them back to him.

The Lord is saying that He sees them in the debt of their sins,…and has paid their debt….to free them….as their kinsman.

It does not say….past sins….or just the future sins….but “thy transgressions”…”thy sins”.

This is beautiful…..after all Jacob and Israel had done…..turning from Him, to idols…..yet….He still considers His covenant, and treats them as a near kinsman…..paying their debt….and redeeming them from their transgressions and sin.

(All of our sins have been put away by Christ Jesus….through HIs precious blood.

1 Peter 1:18-19 “For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition by your fathers;

But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot:”)

But here, He calls, “remember these…..and return unto Me”.

Remember the clouds upon your heart and life…..remember what the sins brought you……

….and then remember that you are My servant…

…and return.

To return from your transgressions and sins…..to return to Me.

For when we turn to God, we turn away from everything that displeases Him.

This is a call to return to Him….to fellowship with their Redeemer…..

….and the call is the same to us….

Isaiah 48:17-18 “For thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the Way that thou shouldest go.

O that thou hadst hearkened to My commandments! Then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:”

Imagine it!….

Peace like a river flowing through us in all our situations!

And our righteousness (right living before Him) as the waves of the sea…some higher, some smaller, yet all moving at His Will!

Is the Lord calling us to remember and return?

Have we let the world taint our thoughts of true freedom?

We need to get our heads out of the sand of this shifting world….and remember our Redeemer….and return.

For the closer we are to Him….and away from sin….the more freedom we have.

Freedom to be all, He meant us to be….freedom to enjoy the true life….bubbling up and flowing over….into joy and peace…..bearing the fruits of righteousness, and courage.

Isaiah 45:22-24 “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is no one else.

I have sworn by Myself, the Word is gone out of My mouth in righteousness and shall not return, that unto Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

Surely they shall say, In the Lord there is righteousness and strength: even to Him shall men come,

and all that are incensed against Him shall be ashamed.”

God is God…..He has not changed….He has redeemed all Who will come to Him and receive Him as Lord and Savior.

Remember and Return.

Take us the Foxes

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

The Song of Solomon shows the personal relationship between the Lord Jesus and the believer (seen as the maiden).

He had, at the beginning of the second chapter, called to her to “come away”.

Song of Solomon 2:8, 10 “The voice of my beloved! Behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.

My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.”

He was calling her to come away from the enclosure she had stayed in. She had come into His banqueting house in the first chapter (Oh, the joy when we first believe, and know our sins forgiven), and had wanted to stay.

But, the Lord Jesus always calls us on to new and better things; though they may prove harder things.

This He does now. “Come away”, He says.

But it is not just to some thing: no, it is always “Come away with Me”.

But He did not just call; He also showed Himself to her, though He was on the outside of the wall which separated them, and she was inside, still. (Song of Solomon 2:9)

He had come, in power, leaping on the mountains of difficult things in life; and skipping on the hills of little problems which come up.

He was showing her that to “come away” with Him, was to go along in the path He chose, and since He would be with her;……His power would be as well.

Then He ends the call, for she had hesitated, and hesitation is always the enemy of obedience. It causes us to check and see if there is another way; or another time.

So then He says, “Take us the foxes.”

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

The Lord Jesus is saying to His beloved believer: Let us work at those things which cause you to hesitate. Those things which hinder you from bearing fruit.

They are “little” foxes; which come in through the fence anywhere, and eat the tender blossoms of grapes.

(Big foxes often are kept out my fences. If they get in they will eat on the fruit of the grapes, but the little foxes nip in the bud, whole clusters of grapes in one single bite, because it is still in the blossom stage.)

But if these “little foxes” are not seen to; then there will be very little fruit….if any.

So Jesus says “Let us see to them, together”.

These “little foxes” are the natural way we do things. Instead of relying on the Holy Spirit, we “think things out” and come to a “conclusion”.

We often do them, by choice, automatically.

They are the natural us, and it takes effort to set them aside, and seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance and help.

Instead of seeking for joy and peace, we look for “happiness”.

(Joy comes from knowing the Presence of God in my life, and it does not rely on circumstances. Joy is just as strong in bad times, as in good.)

Happiness comes from without. It is the feeling we get from the things….circumstances and people….which happen to us. There is nothing “wrong” with it, but it makes us look to what is for me, or us….now.

And when we get “happy”…..it usually makes us want….more happiness.

Instead of following close to Christ, we rely on the experience we had Sunday, yesterday, even this morning. Those experiences are good, but not when Christ is calling you on to what is next.

Real fruit comes from the Holy Spirit within. There is the fruit of the Spirit, in our lives:

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.”

And there is the fruit of a Christian, which is another Christian; for we are all called as witnesses of Christ Jesus:

Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

But to bring forth the fruit of the Spirit, we need to “take us the foxes, the little foxes, which spoil the vines.”

Christ is calling all His people to a more personal relationship with Him:

“Come away with Me.

Let us take care of these things which hinder, in our life together.”

What a way lies before us: Come with Me, and let us tackle these mountains of difficulties, and hills of troubles….with Me, says Jesus.

The Way of the Righteous

Psalm 1:6 “For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”

Surely the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous…for it is HIs Way.  It is a matter of being right-wise with God.

Proverbs 11:30 “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.”

As Christians, the light we use in our own lives,  affects others.   

      (As my daughter says often….”We are harbor lights….showing the Way to Christ.   Or we are warning lights…pushing people away from Christ”.)

First, let us define “righteous”.  It means to be and do  right,  to be clean in God’s sight… it means to be innocent.

None is righteous in themselves….no, not one. (Romans 3:10)

For all who come to Christ Jesus by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9)….Christ’s blood and sacrifice cleanses us from our sin….and makes us positively righteous in God’s eyes.

This is our standing…which is in Christ Jesus.

But there is a righteousness which we are to be and do in this world…which has to do with our state.

Therefore, when it comes to being righteous….God  has to be our example….He must show us all that we should do…

…..but also He has to give us the grace or enabling to do.   Our part is to yield to what He shows us….including the Way we should go… and obey.

Hebrews 4:13 “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”

If we would only come to the full realization that this is true….we would acquire the full faculty of honesty in our souls.

God sees all.   

And He would have everyone of His own to come to Him knowing that He has seen,  does see, and will see all….where we are concerned.

Hebrews 4:12 “For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Praise God for His Word!   It divides!  

     It separates between soul (what we feel or think) and spirit (what the Holy Spirit shows us).

     It separates between joints (the workings of things, which we often see) and marrow (which is the real meat of the matter…the reason we do what we do).

     And after it separates for us, so that we can see…..it gives us discernment of our thoughts about things….and our intentions…which are not just our plans…but our desires.

     How many examples of what we are going through are in His Word?

     How many of His people have failed….yet been lifted up from that failure to grander heights of knowledge of Him?

Proverbs 4:18 (ASV) “But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”

This is the path of all who have been born again.   We have light!   We have the means to get more light.

And  if we are not getting greater light…then…it is time to consider at what we stumble.

Proverbs 4:19 “The way of the wicked is as darkness:  they know not at what they stumble.”   

Because we have some light….even the gray light of dawn….we should know at what we stumble.   We should know what we have been tripped up in….and we can be enabled by the Holy Spirit to set things right.

Righteousness is imparted to us, because we are born again….we are in Christ Jesus.

Righteousness is grown in us, because the Holy Spirit is teaching and empowering us to be conformed to Christ Jesus’ in character.

By His righteousness we are accepted before God the Father.   

By the righteousness we do, in yielding to the Holy Spirit, we show Christ to the world.   

2 Timothy 2:19 “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal,  The Lord knoweth them that are His.   And,   Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

God’s Word always separates. 

    ( As the angels told Lot  when taking him by the hand out of Sodom….

Genesis 19:17 “And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said,  Escape for thy life;  look not behind thee,…”)

We are to depart from iniquity….get out from it.   Escape….look not behind us.

The Lord’s eyes are always toward the righteous….ready to encourage, strengthen, and enable.  

     Let us:  turn our eyes upon Jesus…and grow in light.

Psalm 25:15 “Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord; for He shall pluck my feet out of the net.”

We are without excuse…

Excuse here, has to do with our giving our account of ourselves before God, one day.

Psalm 19:1-3 “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handywork.

Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

There is no speech nor language, where their voice in not heard.”

It is not just “glory” that the heavens show….but the glory of God….for the orbit of moon, and the stars….the clouds and rain….and the sun….are all under His control…in regular and orderly ways.

They declare it to all mankind.

We were created, to stand on our feet….to look up and see all that creation manifests…..

….yet….

…..if men will not see….eventually, blindness will set in, to the very things in front of them. (2 Corinthians 4:4)

I mention all these, because I was struck by something in Romans:

Romans 1:20-21 “For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse:

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; and became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

Vain imaginations and darkened hearts begin with unthankfulness to God.

How much we let into our hearts, when we stop being grateful to God….

…..for that is what thanksgiving is:…..manifesting in word and deed, our gratefulness to God….for what He is….and what we have from Him.

It clearly says that they “knew” about God: His power and His Godhead.

But they refused that truth, not wanting to be thankful to Him.

They wanted to measure their stature by other men, and creatures….instead of looking up to the Lord…….and bowing in subjection to His Will….so they looked out to other creatures….and made idols of them.

Eve refused to be thankful for every other tree to eat from, but one….and became tricked by the devil into doubting God’s goodness…and sinned. (Genesis 3:2-6)

Cain knew from the shedding of blood to clothe his parents (Genesis 3:21), that he could not come before the altar of God without a sacrifice of blood…..

….but he refused to be grateful for the instruction….

……and chose to come before God in his own merits….not in subjection and thanksgiving. (Genesis 4:3)

…..then he refused to be grateful for the correction about his sacrifice……God giving him a second chance…..God told him, if he would only bring the right sacrifice….he would be accepted, like Abel…..

….But he was not grateful….

….and he became angry and became the first murderer (Genesis 4:8)

The children of Israel first praised God, after the deliverance of the Red Sea….

…then murmured. Twenty-two times it says that they complained….and murmured against God, Moses, and the circumstances.

“Murmur” literally means to stop….to be obstinate, to complain. To halt a forward movement (either spiritually or physically) till I get what I want.

These are examples of some who refused to be thankful and submit to God….

…but what about now….what about us?

Certainly, as Christians, we are without excuse before God for our words (Matthew 12:37)…and what we do with them…..for we have the Holy Spirit within us…

We are told:

Hebrews 13:5 “….be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

Our contentment should be in God….and our thanksgiving for all He gives us, should be in praise to Him.

We know God: as Savior, as Creator, as Lord, as King,….

…the more we know…the more He becomes what we need……the more we should give Him thanks.

(Twenty-three times, according to my count, Paul gives thanks, to God for something….or exhorts the churches he writes to, to give thanks.)

1 Thessalonians 5:18-19 “In everything give thanks: for this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Quench not the Spirit.”

Colossians 3:16-17 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts in the Lord.

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.”

(Often my husband, as we were going places for our ministry, would burst out in song…..a hymn,…..or the Hallelujah Chorus…..one of his favorites….and we would all join in.

Thankfully, we were traveling down the road….and not in the middle of a lot of people….although my husband’s voice is pretty good….

……..but as we sang, I would always feel more of the Lord’s presence with us.

It is amazing how a genuine praise, opens up our hearts to Him!)

Let us not grow “blind” to God’s mercy and goodness to us (2 Peter 1:9)……in good times, or under trials…..

…..but let us use these times to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of Him Who is worthy to be praised….in everything.