The Centurion’s Faith.

Matthew 8:5-7 “And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto Him a centurion, beseeching him.

And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.

And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.”

Jesus has said He would come and heal the centurion’s servant.

And this draws a statement of faith from the centurion, which “marveled”,…..or pleased the Lord a lot.

So much so; that He speaks of it to the crowd.

Matthew 8:8-10 “The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.

For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say unto this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.”

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

Faith had taken hold in this centurion’s heart, when he heard of all that Jesus was doing, both in Capernaum, and other places.

(Capernaum was the place Jesus lived, after leaving Nazareth. It was the place He did many miracles.

Luke 4:31-32 “And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.

And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.”

Luke 4:36-37 “And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! For with authority and power he commanded the unclean spirits, and they come out.

And the fame of Him went out into every place of the country round about.”)

When this centurion heard of these things, he must have thought they were wonderful, for he loved Israel.

But, until he needed Jesus’ power for himself (for his sick servant, who was dear to him), it was just information.

Good news,…..but it had not touched him.

Then, his servant got sick, “grievously tormented”…..and ready to die.

Suddenly, those things he had heard about Jesus, were for him.

(How many times we are the same: we have heard Bible lessons for years, and they are good news, but then something happens that affects us, and “Wham”, that good news hits us where we live.

We can have this! This is real! This is for me.)

Faith, worked in our hearts, has made the information real from the first…..we believe it.

Then faith evidences that information within us, because we have a need that is only met by Christ Jesus.

The centurion also knew, by faith, that if Jesus heard of the need, He could meet it.

Faith evidenced itself and reached out to Jesus; and stated the need.

When Jesus said He would come, the centurion’s faith evidenced itself more….for he said:

“Speak the word, only”

Why?….Was he testing Jesus?

No….. he felt unworthy that Jesus should come into his house….but believed in His authority over this illness.

And why did he feel Jesus could do this? Was it just because of what he had heard?

No.

It was from his own experience. He was a voice of Rome, as a centurion (he had one hundred men under him).

Under the authority of Rome, he spoke and told men what to do. And they did it.

So he knew that Jesus, who was the voice of God, had the authority to speak, and make things happen, because He spoke for God.

He could heal, because He was the Son of God.

This was the centurion’s faith. Wow!

Matthew 8:13 “And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.”

Believe is the action of faith. And as he believed Jesus could heal by His word, only; so it was.

What of us?

We say we have faith in God.

We say we believe what Jesus has said, and done for us.

Are we using this faith with God, and having the evidence of His authority and power in our lives?

And for the lives of the people we pray for?

The Lord honors true faith in Himself.

(Not presumption, or to ask of Him, what we know is not His will).

But real faith, reaches out to Him: that He will do what He wills.

Do we have a need Jesus needs to meet?

Then ask Him, believing.

Jesus’ will was to heal the sick;…..both sin-sick and many illnesses, while He was here on earth;…..as He preached that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand.

He did this to meet the need of the people……that the chief priests and scribes had discounted….and for the most part, had abandoned.

But God never abandon’s His people. Those that come unto Him, He will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)

But it takes humbling of our hearts, to come. (As this centurion did)

John 6:40 “And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone that seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life. And I will raise him up at the last day.”

The centurion’s faith was real. He had heard. And he came, humbly to Jesus to ask that He speak a word of healing.

The centurion honored Him, and believed.

And Jesus answered him “according as his faith was”.

What is our faith doing?

Micah 6:9 “The Lord’s Voice crieth unto the city and the man of wisdom shall see Thy name:  Hear ye the rod, and Who hath appointed it.”

Notice it plainly says….”the Lord’s Voice crieth”.   There is no doubt as to Who is speaking….yet the prophet says….”hear”.

When God speaks to us, He speaks to us in things we can understand….with the knowledge of all their implications.

“Crieth” here means to accost with words….to get in front of and tell them what is on your mind.

Is there something in your life that needs to be seen to?  Is He crying out to you?

“The Lord’s Voice crieth unto the city….hear ye the rod, and Who hath appointed it.”

In Micah,  the two cities he prophesied to….were Samaria, the capital of Israel (the ten tribes which had separated themselves after Solomon)….and Jerusalem, the capital of Judah.

But why was he prophesying?  

Micah 1:2, 2:2,9 “Hear, all ye people; hearken, O earth, and all that herein is: and let the Lord God be witness against you,  the Lord from His Holy temple.

       And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.

      The women of My people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their children have ye taken away My glory for ever.”

      Israel, when they came into the land, was told that each man’s inheritance was to be his….past on to the next generation….forever.   

      When a man came into debt, as it might happen…..and he had to sell his inheritance….then at the end of the jubilee year…that land would go back to the man’s family.   So each man, woman and child of Israel would have an inheritance in the land God gave them.

But greed and indifference to God’s Will…had brought the land under a curse.    And where was this policy started?   In the cities….the capital cities,  which should have been following God’s plan,  foremost.

Me, Mine, Ours.    how much of this way of thinking has invaded our minds, plans, and ambitions.

 So the Lord through Micah shows them again the basic principles by which they should live:

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

Three things God required of them…to remove the curse.

1.  To do justly.  

Righteousness was to be the way of their lives….not greed.

Micah 3:11 “The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money:…”

     They were to seek the good of their family, neighbors, and nation.   Spiritual good, by encouraging and following the ways of God….and temporal good, by helping each other as they could.   There were sacrifices for accidentally hurting someone, or causing loss to them, for they were to be the people of God.

And are we not to pray and seek the good of our fellow Christians?  and the church?

Philippians 2:3-4 “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

      Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”

2. To love mercy.

Mercy here is “hesad”…or brotherly kindness.     The Lord is stressing the principles He laid down under Moses….helping each other stay close to God, and each other.   Being a family….an extended family, true….but family.

     They were to “love mercy”…..for God had been merciful unto them….and they were to be merciful unto others.   They were not to “swallow up” the inheritance of another man’s lands or houses…to simply increase their wealth or status.

And we are to:

1 Corinthians 10:31-33 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink,  or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

      Give no offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

      Even as I please all men in  all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.”

3. And they were to walk humbly with thy God.

Psalm 25:12-13 “What man is he that feareth the Lord?  him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.

     His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.”

They were to walk with God.  Following His laws and experiencing all the promises He gave them.

     It is a humble walk….for the lesson is one of dependence and seeking Him in all things.   

But pride often leads us astray….as they were led astray after wealth, position, and honor….for themselves….forgetting their God, as Moses warned them of. (Duet.30:16-18)

And we, are to:

James 4:10 “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.”

Correction from our God is necessary….for we learn not just from His Word….but by a series of lessons, and trials.

And our attitude about our corrections is everything.   The most important attitude is to see God in all that comes to us.   What is He saying to me?   What will He do for me, through this?

Micah 7:7-9 “Therefore I will look unto the Lord;  I will wait for the God of my salvation:  my God will hear me.

           Rejoice not against me,  O mine enemy:  when I fall, I shall arise;  when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.

          I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him,  until He plead my cause, and execute judgment for me:  He will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold His righteousness.”

Hear ye the rod, and Who hath appointed it.

        The rod of correction…

 (and this is the same word for “rod” in Psalm 24 “His rod and HIs staff they comfort me”.)

….must be accepted for just what it is.

The Lord would have us be His Will, and the rod of correction has His purpose in mind.

He wills….an expected end for me, us, you….will you have it of Him?

In Christ Jesus

1 Corinthians 1:30-31 “But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”

In Christ Jesus, we have all blessings. And he wants us to have them, in our circumstances, here. (Ephesians 1:3)

He has for us: wisdom.

This is special light for those times we need it. (Light in scripture is knowledge. It is showing us what is real. God turns on the light, so to speak, so we can see the truth)

Wisdom is empowering light.

Wisdom is not only seeing things as they affect ourselves, but also, as they affect others we may be responsible for, in some way. It is special light for special times.

Proverbs 3:21-23 “My son, let them not depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:

So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.”

Christ has for us: righteousness.

This is, of course, His righteousness imparted to us; giving us a right standing before God.

He also works within us righteousness which is obedience to His Will. This is good protection in this world, against the tricks of the devil.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

That the man of God may be perfect (living up to the light that he has been given in the Word), throughly furnished unto all good works.”

Christ has for us: sanctification.

This is when we set ourselves aside to God in thought, word, and deed, for sacred use, in our everyday living.

We deny ourselves, and yield to the Holy Spirit within us, and be obedient.

Jude 1 “Jude the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:”

1 Corinthians 1:2 “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified by Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.”

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

All the Godhead is at work in our sanctification.

The Father chose it for us.

The Son, through His merits, won it for us.

And the Holy Spirit works it within us, everyday. It is His power within us to enable us to work it out.

Christ has for us: redemption.

This is a wonderfully complete word. For it means…”completely brought out from, by the ransomed price being paid.” (Hallelujah! What a Savior we have.)

It speaks of now,…..for we are His purchased possession;……never to have to be in bondage to anything or anyone, again.

Colossians 1:14 “In Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”

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

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

And He works His redemption within us, being faithful to us.

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.”

(Blameless is an interesting word: it does not mean sinless…..nor does it only mean, that the sins we commit are forgiven by Him….they all are.

But it means that the sins we commit were not “meant to”.

Did we mean to lie? Then the sin, and it’s consequences are blameworthy. We did, what we knew should not be done….but we did it; putting our interests first.

But God brings us to the point in our lives, where we do not sin, willfully.

Yes, we will always sin….either in error, or speaking out of turn [Colossians 4:6], or anger [Ephesians 4:26]….but these are trips, not denying self,….and not willful sin against our loving Lord.)

This redemption speaks, also, of the coming transformation of our spirit, soul, and body, to heaven forever.

1 Corinthians 15:42-43 “So also is the resurrection from the dead. It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption:

It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power:”

In Christ Jesus, we have, and will have, all these things.

Are we getting them into us?

To Walk Before God

Psalm 56:13 “For Thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?”

To “walk”, we need to have the ability to walk,…..and we need to have a way or path to walk in.

All this is stated here:

“For Thou hast delivered my soul from death…”

This is what Jesus Christ did on His Cross, for us, who receive Him as Lord and Savior.

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:”

And since He has saved us, He has surely given us the “way” to walk, and the ability (grace) to walk with Him.

“Wilt not Thou deliver my feet from falling”

This is what the Holy Spirit does in us, practically, as we deny ourselves, and seek His Will.

We are delivered in the circumstances of our lives from sin , self, the world, and the devil.

Jude 24 “Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.”

3 John 4 “I have no greater joy then to hear that my children walk in truth.”

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

Ephesians 5:2 “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.”

All of this is: “That I may walk before God in the light of the living”.

This is not heaven, but here on earth.

To go about our everyday life, walking with the sensible knowledge that:

Our Heavenly Father is working out His Will…..in us and for us.

Our Lord Jesus is interceding for us,…..that we may obtain all the promises He has for us.

And the Holy Spirit is enabling us,….now; moment by moment, with His love, joy, and grace.

We truly live, as we use the grace given, and walk with Him.

Jeremiah 5:22 “Fear ye not Me? Saith the Lord: will ye not tremble at My presence,

which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it:

and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?”

For several days, as I am looking for other verses….I keep turning past this one..

My husband and I have never preached on it….

….and it seems odd to have it “stick out”….

…….for Jeremiah is full of this type of conversation between the Lord and his faithful prophet, about Jerusalem and Judah.

Jeremiah, God’s prophet, is seen many times….shaking his head in disbelief….at the stubbornness of Judah and Jerusalem to hear the truth……to turn again to the Lord….to mend their ways.

How many times in this book does Jeremiah prophesy against his own people because of their failure to honor the Lord God,…..Who had chosen, called, led and blessed them so many times?

Jeremiah 5:1 “Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgement (does honest dealing), that seeketh the truth (who wants to know what is really My Word); and I will pardon it (Jerusalem).”

The very place of the temple….and it’s sacrifices….is also the very place where the fear of the Lord was refused.

Jeremiah 5:23-24 “But this people hath a revolting and rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.

Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain,…”

For that reason, they were always running after some other gods to fear, instead of the Lord God.

Jeremiah 5:3 “O Lord, are not Thine eyes upon the truth?

Thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved;

Thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction:

they have made their faces harder than a rock;

they have refused to return.”

Just what is….”the fear of the Lord”?

We can probably all think of the verse:

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom….” (Proverbs 1:7)

We know this means to reverence Him….it is not “I am afraid”…..but rather a concern for anything in my life that will dishonor our God, because of His great love to us….and our love to Him.

In other words, the fear of the Lord comes from worship and love.

And why does He want us to fear Him?

Because when we fear the Lord, we do not fear others…

Reverence and awe of God, puts us into our rightful position before Him…..and before others.

We are not afraid of speaking the truth, for we fear God….not man.

Proverbs 14:26-27 “In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge.

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.”

Psalm 31:19-20 “Oh how great is Thy goodness, which Thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee; which Thou hast wrought for them that trust in Thee before the sons of men!

Thou shalt hide them in secret of Thy presence from the pride of man: Thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.”

Because those that fear Him are ever before His eyes….He has promised to….

Psalm 34:7-9 “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.

O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.

O fear the Lord, ye His saints: for there is no want to them that fear Him.”

Because in the end…..all knowledge,…

…..all our searching for place and honor,……and every delight we can have in this world……

……in the end….it will only matter if we feared the Lord.

Everything else will fade, wrinkle, and be blown away.

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

(This was from one of the richest men on earth….Solomon.)

To fear the Lord is to obey Him with diligence……desiring nothing that will injure HIs honor………it is to bring all that is our life,……and place it, in His capable hands and leave it there….

…for there our treasure is….with Him.

…for He is the Lord of all.

Jeremiah 5:22 “Fear ye not Me? Saith the Lord; will ye not tremble at My presence….”

Jeremiah 7:28 “But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the Lord their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth.”

Isaiah 57:11 “And of whom hast thou be afraid of or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered Me, nor laid it to thy heart? Have not I held My peace even of old, and thou fearest Me not?”

(I must admit to being afraid these last few months….not of corona virus….

….and not of the political scene (altho sometimes it makes me sad)….

….but of the terrible lack of……the desire to see and hear the truth in our country.

No, I am not talking of my “truth”…..or the “truth” someone else speaks…..but the real Truth…..which is God, and His Word.

In all the chaos of life…..what or Who do we look to? Who or what do we believe? Who or what do we trust in?)

God is truth. How much have we been seeking Him?

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

Nothing places the Truth squarely in front of us more than the fear of the Lord.

He is the truth.

He does not change…..His faithfulness is eternal….His Word is everlasting….His Power is untouchable.

Jeremiah 5:22 “Fear ye Me not? Saith the Lord: will ye not tremble at My presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?”

In scripture, the sea is often a picture of the chaos of humanity….both in a good sense and bad: (Isaiah 57:20-21, Isaiah 60:5)….

….seemingly placid on top……it can be in turmoil underneath.

Warm at the surface, when warmed by the sun…..it is freezing cold, beneath.

Yet the sea is at the bidding of God….always.

Storm, wind, tide, and tidal wave…..all obey the fiat of the Master’s Voice and Will.

A patch of sand keeps the waves, except when He bids it pass over it….and then it returns submissively, into it’s place, afterward.

Again, the fear of the Lord is our reverence of Him….it is not “I am afraid”…..but rather a concern for anything in my life that will dishonor our God, because of His great love to us….and our love to Him.

And when we fear Him…..He places peace within, which is like the cleft of the Rock…..the storm may roar around, but we are safe in Him….in His Truth, and grace.

The soul winner’s heart

Psalm 126:5-6 “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

       He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”

The soul winner’s spirit and heart are from our Lord, in that we are so identified with Him, that He can love the lost, and reveal Himself to them,….through us.

His call is always that we follow Him out into the fields…white, already to harvest.

John 4:35-36 “Say not ye,  There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest?  Behold, I say unto you,  Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields;  for they are white already to harvest.

       And he that reapeth recieveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal:  that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may  rejoice together.”

You can hear the emotion of the Lord Jesus, here, for He came to seek and to save that which was lost. 

      HIs meat was to do the Will of Him that sent Him….and salvation was the reason He was sent.  His desire that men and women should be saved from their sin, was immense.

John 4:34 “Jesus saith unto them (his disciples),  My meat is to do the Will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work.”

Jesus had been worn out on HIs walk through Samaria….and so He had set by this well, while his disciples went to get food for Him.  But now, having seen the first fruits of harvest in this woman of Samaria….He was focused on the Father’s work….the salvation of souls.

Harvest time is a very busy time.   You need to get the crops in before they are overipe (white) and fall to the ground.    

       So is spiritual harvest time.   We need to deal with those that are seeking,  or convicted…now…rather than wait.

In a Samaritan village….the Lord deals with one woman, who believes on Him (John 4:29)….and then an abundance is given Him….in a place,  most unlikely.

John 4:39, 41 “And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on Him for the saying of the woman, which testified,   He told me all that ever I did.

       And many more believed because of His own word;”

Our testimony, and the testimony of others about Christ may draw someone to Him….”Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.”

        But then that one will hear from Christ themselves by the Holy Spirit in HIs Word.   

They will come to Him and believe…”because of His own word”…to them.

The sower and the reaper are both necessary.   One sows the Word….and  rejoices in the opportunity to share Christ with others.

       One reaps where the Word is sown….and brings another into the kingdom of Christ…that one being born again.

Psalm 126:5-6 ” They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

        He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”

In this, we, as Paul, fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ….those that Christ suffered and died for.

It is Christ in you, the hope of glory, making demands on their lives…through you.

Colosians 1:24 “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body’s sake, which is the church:”

…and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ…that He might bring another son to glory, for His Body’s sake, which is the church.

This we are to do….”sow in tears”.    Soul winning will cost us something.  We are responsible to pray over all who we speak to…..seeking the Lord’s good for them.   

      Yet it also says….”shall reap in joy.”   

What joy there is, when one is born again! (Luke 15:6-7)

Romans 10:13-15 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

      How then shall they call on  Him in whom they have not believed?  and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?  and how shall they hear without a preacher?

      And how shall they preach,  except they be sent?  as it is written,    How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

Each one who hears the Lord…through preaching, witness, or written word….is given a call to….”Come unto Me and be saved.”

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

John 6:47 “Verily, verily, I say unto you,  He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.”

Romans 10:9-10,13 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

       For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Of what spirit are you?

Hebrews 5:13-14 “For everyone that uses milk is unskillful in the Word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

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

As Christians, we are to learn to discern, for ourselves what we feel….and whither it is of the Holy Spirit,….or of the unholy spirit,….or if this is just us, leading us into this situation.

We are to learn to discern both good and evil.

The Lord showed this, when He was here….the angry spirit:

Jesus was going to Jerusalem….it was the end of His ministry…and shortly He would be arrested and crucified.

On the way there, they came to a Samaritan village….where they were going to rest and get food…..but they “did not receive Him”.

Luke 9:54-56 “And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt Thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elijah did?

But He turned and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

For the Son of Man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.”

Jesus said, “What manner of spirit are ye? You are going to ask me to destroy? Because of a slight? An insult?

This is not what I came to do…..for I came not to destroy but to save!”

We are to know what manner of spirit we are….so we can speak and act as the Lord wants.

There is the proud and haughty spirit:

James 4:6 “But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

Pride was what brought Lucifer to be the devil….pride came and making him rebel at his place….”I will be like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:12-15)

Pride was one of the first sins the devil tempted Eve with….”Ye shall be as gods…knowing just like God!” (Genesis 3:4-6)

And we are often tempted the same way…..

“Why should you always be yielding to God? This isn’t so bad, just do it…..for yourself! After all, you deserve to have what you want…sometimes!”

If we listen….(and we might not even want what is being offered, that much)….we might think….we are owed this!

This is pride.

But He gives more grace. Grace is the unmerited favor of power….

…….and against pride, the Holy Spirit in our spirit, will give more grace….if we will humble ourselves….

…..which simply means, that we take our proper place in this situation, and let the Lord lead us….not the devil, the world, or ourselves.

An unforgiving spirit:

Jesus told this parable….to Peter’s question, “how many times should I forgive my brother?”

There was a man who owed his lord a lot of money…..

So he was brought before him, and the payment was demanded.

But this man could not pay….so he threw himself down and begged for patience.

The lord thought…..but then forgave the man all his debt!

Thank you, thank you.

But then the man went out…..and as he left, forgiven….he sees a man who owes him a little money.

What does he do? He grabs the man and demands payment!

But the man, also, has no money to pay….and begs for patience.

Unlike the lord, this man does not forgive…..but sends this man to prison for the little money he is owed.

Sad, though this is…..the lord who forgave the debt of the first man, found out….and brought him back in…..and treated him like he treated the other man.

Matthew 18:35 “So likewise shall My Heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses.”

We must through the power of the Holy Spirit, forgive from our hearts,….and know we have forgiven.

There is the spirit of faithlessness and unbelief:

Though the children of Israel had been redeemed from Egypt, and had seen the miraculous crossing at the Red Sea, yet….

….time and time again, they refused to believe God.

Finally, they just lost the privileges and inheritance that God had saved them for…….. “they do alway err in their heart; and they have not known My ways.”

Hebrews 3:18-19 “And to whom sware He that they should not enter into HIs rest, but to them that believed not?

So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”

The spirit of faithlessness and unbelief can only be cured by Obedience to the Lord!

The last is a broken spirit….which the Lord loves:

Psalm 51:17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.” (Isaiah 57:15)

When God calls us to “brake” our spirit’s….He is calling us to repent of our willful disobedience…..

…..to come to Him, with sadness for having treated our Lord with contempt….and dishonoring Him.

He is calling us to surrender….

….this is an old fashioned term….that means giving up fighting with God…..and coming into peace with God’s Will and Way.

As Christians, we are to be able to discern good and evil…..and the Holy Spirit is the Discerner in us……yield to Him…and know where you stand.

Make Room For Christ, by Repentance

Luke 3:2-6 “…the word of God came unto John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

And he came into all the country about Jordon, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;

As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;

And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

Baptism was done to proselytes (Gentiles who wanted to be admitted into the worship of God). Then they could go into the Temple. (There was a court of the Gentiles)

But here, John the Baptist comes to Israel, God’s chosen people; and preaches repentance from their sins, as he was told to do…..by baptism.

Prepare yourselves: for the Lord is coming.

If you want to be in the kingdom of God, prepare your hearts by repentance, and bring forth fruit in your life that shows that you have repented.

Luke 3:8-9 “Bring forth therefore fruits of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the tree: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn (cut) down, and cast into the fire.”

“Prepare ye the way of the Lord.” But how? Bring all who would hear, to the place that they know that the Christ is coming to set all things in order…..

Malachi 4:4-6 “Remember ye the law of Moses my servant….

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:

And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”

“To turn the hearts”…..that is repentance. To remember who we are….the called of the Lord,….and what should be first….in our lives.

Luke 3:10-11 “And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?

He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.”

These were simple things which were written in the Law. But the poor state of most of the people, had caused them to think only of themselves.

Luke 3:12-13 “Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?

And he said unto them, Exact no more then that which is appointed you.”

Publicans were tax collectors, and were most often cheats.

They demanded extra taxes to be paid, and kept the extra. The people could not say anything about it, for they were under the authority of Rome.

Luke 3:14 “And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.”

Again, these would have been things which were written in the Law. Things which they should have already been doing.

But everyone had stopped paying any attention to God’s Word: going, instead, after their own way, or the way of the times (everyone else is doing it, so I can too.).

The “valleys to be filled”, were those who had given up: depressed, despondent; they were to be given joy in the Lord.

The mountains and hills to be “brought low”, were the proud and rich, with the attitude of piling up riches, to gain power or influence. Not caring about their responsibility in caring for their brethren. They were to come to a new understanding about mercy. (Matthew 9:11-13)

The “crooked” were the flagrant sinners; those who everyone knew to be sinners.

They were to be saved and “sin no more”. (John 8:11)

The “rough ways” were the practices of the scribes and Pharisees, which instructed the people in the traditions; yet did not practice them, themselves.

All needed repentance. To change their hearts and lives. To live according to the Word they had already received. To make room for Christ.

Isaiah said, “…make straight in the desert a highway for our God….And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh see it together ; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” (Isaiah 40:3-5)

A highway is a road built up; set up above the ground around. It is a road that all can see, for it is higher than the fields and streams.

John the Baptist came building up a way that all could see and follow.

It would be straight;….and all who would repent and come,….could walk in it.

Isaiah 35:8 “And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called the way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.”

“Wayfaring men” are those whose whole lives are moving from one thing to another. Yet even though they are just passing by, they will know God’s Will for them.

John the Baptist came preaching and baptizing all who wanted to have the reality of true worship of the Lord.

The people who knew they were not right, and wanted to be. Maybe they were called the “down-and-out”……

Maybe they were so far from God, they thought they would never be able to come back…..

But John preached to all: and whosoever will, may come.

Then Jesus came.

“And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

John 1:29 “The next day John seeing Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!”

Matthew 3:16-17 “And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lightening upon Him:

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

He was the Son of God, having come to take away the sins of the world.

And when He had done that by the sacrifice of Himself, and after His resurrection:…..the message to all His disciples was:

Matthew 28:19-20 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

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

“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.”

May I ask you: what will we do with His Word?

The Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s

Song of Solomon 1:1 “The Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s”

Solomon wrote 1005 songs (1 Kings 4:32)….

But this book, the Song of Solomon…..is the Song of Songs, because it pictures the intimate relationship between the Lord and the seeking believer.

Song of Solomon 1:2-3 “Let Him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth: for Thy love is better than wine.

Because of the savour of Thy good ointments Thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love Thee.”

Here is the desire for that intimate, personal relationship with Christ Jesus.

She asks, for His kisses which would show to her His personal love to her.

Do we want this?

She is saved, and knows the Lord…..but has felt that there is more to knowing Him, then she has…..

….therefore she asks for the “kisses of Thy mouth”.

No one can kiss two persons at the same time, so this is what she asks for. That expression of HIs personal love for her…..which is not possessed by another.

(Every Israelite had their own land, their own possession…..yet all were in the Promised Land.

So, too, with each Christian, with their own needs and personality…..God loves all His believers,….yet He gives each their own possession of Him….their own “kisses of His mouth” to experience….if they want.)

She is saying, “I know Your love, it is better than all that I have ever had….”the wine” of the world.

And the Holy Spirit has shown me that nothing can compare to Your personal love……so I want to know You more.”

Do we want to know the Lord in a more personal way? Do we want our possession in Christ Jesus?

He has a Name so sweet that it draws her to Him.

“Savour of Thy good ointments” means that the sweet scent of Christ, seen in His Name, has blown abroad. No one has this, like Christ. No one shares the same sweetness to our souls.

(When Aaron was consecrated as High Priest, he was anointed with oil [Exodus 29:7]. The anointing oil was made of myrrh, cinnamon, calamus, cassia, and olive oil [Exodus 30:23-25]. The scent would have been noticeable….and no one else could use this particular composition….it was holy, for the Tabernacle and priests.)

It is His Name….Jesus—Savior….that is so sweet. The “good ointment” of that Name….has been “poured forth”…and we remember Him voluntarily, out of love for us and His Father’s Will…..being sacrificed, in death for us.

“The virgins love Thee”. The virgins here are the church….they love Him, they love HIs name and what it means to them….what He has done for them.

How do we feel about His precious name? How do we feel when His Name is taken in vain?

(Remember, at the Name of Jesus every knee shall bow!

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.”

There are many names for the Lord Jesus,….mighty names….but it is not at any one of them that every knee shall bow….

….but at the name of Jesus.

It is the name of His humanity….of HIs humility….

…but at the very sounding of His name….every knee will bow.)

This Name, Jesus, is truly precious. It means Savior (Matthew 1:21)…and the scent of His Person, coming forth to save me,…us….from our sins, that we might be forever with Him…..

….has been sent into every nation, tongue, people…

….how does it effect us?

Song of Solomon 1:4 “Draw me,…”.

This is the cry of her heart…..

“Draw me, we will run after Thee: the king hath brought me into HIs chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in Thee, we will remember Thy love more than wine: the upright love Thee.”

For a king to permit his hand, or his garment, to be kissed….was considered a great honor….

…but that the King of kings should kiss me with the kisses of His mouth….would be the greatest honor.

That the King should permit me audience into His chambers or pavilion, where only trusted friends are able to come (Esther 4:11, 5:2)…..boldly before His throne (Hebrews 4:16)…is wonderful….

…”we will be glad (inward) and rejoice (outward)….in Thee….we will remember Thy love more than wine.”

Again I ask: Do we?

Is our desire for a more personal….and a more complete relationship with Christ?

O the unsearchable riches of Christ! Wealth that can never be told;

Riches exhaustless of mercy and grace, Precious, more precious than gold!

O the unsearchable riches of Christ! Who’s shall their greatness declare!

Jewels whose luster our lives may adorn, Pearls that the poorest may wear.

O the unsearchable riches of Christ! Freely, how freely they flow;

Making the souls of the faithful and true, Happy wherever they go.

O the unsearchable riches of Christ! Who would not gladly endure…

Trials, afflictions, and crosses on earth, Riches like these to secure!

Missing the Mark

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

We are all sinners. Sinners by chance, and by choice.

To sin means to “miss the mark”…..we have missed the mark for the purpose of God for our lives.

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

God has a purpose for each of us…..not just a work or ministry….but real meaning for our days, here…..personally.

I have found that one day can be just like another….one week like last week….and so on; until time has passed, and we look back, wondering what we have accomplished….

One day, we will go before the Lord Jesus, as we are……and then our work that we have accomplished toward being conformed to His image (character), will be rewarded.

Sin is our desire to rule ourselves….to have the final say, in the way things are going to go, in our lives.

To say who will be in our lives,……and their importance.

To say or decide our place….

….when in reality, the only decision left man, after choosing sin……is “whosoever will, may come” (Revelation 22:17)….to Christ, or not.

It started with the temptation of the devil, “…and ye shall be as gods…”.

When in reality, they became like the beasts of the field….relying more on “instinct”, then on faith.

(Running away from God when they knew they were naked, instead of toward Him for forgiveness; which faith would have lead them to do.)

The purpose of God for us is to know Him, Whom to know aright is to have eternal life:

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

We have death through sin…

Ephesians 2:1 “And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;”

But in Christ Jesus, we are offered eternal life…..which is a condition of life, here and now, as well as in heaven, for ever.

Are we living in the privileges of that Eternal life?

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:”

We can “abide” in Him, again……we can become…..in His Purpose…..all He wanted for us at the beginning…..the glory, the place with Him, the Will of the Almighty, worked in us and through us forever.

John 17:23 “I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be perfect in One; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me.”

Let’s stop missing the mark for our lives…..today, tonight, tomorrow….and on through the rest of this year…and this next year,….until we stand in His Presence.

Let us seek His Pleasure….determination for us…..Let Him rule in us.