Reality, is it for you?   

Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace,  that we may obtain mercy,  and find grace to help in time of need.”

This is a real invitation to us from the Almighty God.  “Come boldly”: to obtain, or get for us, mercy and grace to help in this time of need.  Whatever that need is.

Christianity is an ideology (a body of ideas reflecting the social needs and goals of a group or people).

To a great many people, it is nothing more than that, for they have never been Born Again.   It takes the element of faith in Christ Jesus our Lord to make these things of the Bible, real to us.

               If it is only an ideology,  then we are left up to our own means and power to bring His Will to pass in our lives.   That is impossible.  

Only by God’s enabling, can we do His Will.

God’s plan for us is the fullness of the Spirit:  The Holy Spirit of power.

Matthew 6:10 “Thy kingdom come.   Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

This is how we have the fullness of the Holy Spirit.  And His kingdom must first be set up in our personal heart.

                If we are citizens of His Kingdom,  God is honored and obeyed by us.  And that can only be done as we voluntarily submit to His Rule over us, in His personal direction for our lives.

Jesus said, “ If ye love Me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)

Hebrews 4:1 “Let us therefore fear, lest,  a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.”

Every promise in the Word, and every promise given to you personally is there: ready for you to enter into it by faith.     (The Holy Spirit gives you hope: or the confident assurance that God will do what He says.  We feel it!  Hallelujah!)

There can never be true faith without obedience. 

                  Faith takes us by the hand and guides us to do,  what we believe.  

God may have given you this promise, and this…and this, but until you have these promises in your experience,  they are only promises.

                  True and Sure;  but like money in a bank, sometimes not used.  

The writer says “fear” coming short of the promises God gives us.    

                   Fear means to be alarmed!  To wake up to what you have in God’s Word, and reach out for it.

In praying, “Thy Kingdom come.” 

(And notice it is a complete sentence, all by itself.   It is not a part of God’s Will………It is God’s Will:  that His Kingdom should come to each and every child of His, and that by it,  they will enjoy communion and fellowship as they come into all that God has for them.)

We are to pray for His Kingdom to come within us, and submit to Him.  We are praying for the Power and blessing of the Holy Spirit upon the Word;  when we hear it, read it, and on the preaching of it.

We are praying that we may understand and know His Will;  and willingly do His Will. (Philippians 2:13)

We are praying that the Word of God will be spread abroad by believing ministers, and that their lives will show forth God’s praise. (Matthew 5:16)

We are praying that His Kingdom which has come within us, may go on and influence those around us.  That we might be a sanctifying influence to those we come into contact with.

This is the furthering of Christ’s Kingdom here.     It always begins with us: getting by faith what God has for us, and sharing Christ and His Word to others.

For this we should come boldly to the throne of grace,  God’s Throne, and get mercy and grace for this time,  and the next time,  and the next time….onward. 

Before

Before David fought and slew Goliath….before David became a leader and soldier….before he had to hide for his life, from Saul….before all these…

…David was a shepherd….who was called of God….to be king of God’s people, ….a man after God’s own heart.

We are going to consider that call.  It begins with Samuel, the prophet.   

         He receives Word from the Lord to stop “mourning” over the fact that God took the kingdom from Saul,…

        (Saul lost the kingship because of his disobedience…..and very important…his lack of honesty about his sin,  when he was confronted with it.    

         The kingdom was “rent” from Saul, by the Lord…..”and given it to a neighbor of thine, that is better than thou.”  1 Samuel 15:28)

1 Samuel 16:1 “And the Lord said unto Samuel,  How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel?  

         Fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite:  for I have provided Me a king among his sons.”

It was time to stop mourning over what Saul had done…..and over what God had done….

…and do what was next in God’s purpose for Samuel,  Israel, and the next king.

           (There is a time for sorrow for sin,….but then, it is to be put away and get up and go on.)

But before Samuel goes….he speaks of fear.

         (I find this unusual for Samuel.  He was a lighting-rod for God’s people when the priesthood failed….and had led the people to repentance and revival….

…..but fear is one of those sneaky sins which comes in through our reasonings….or sudden onslaught of emotion.

          Samuel felt responsible for Saul…perhaps he should have spoke to him more….perhaps, if he had spent more time with him…things could have been different.     

         Samuel was mourning (bewailed)….or “crying over spilled milk”…my grandmother would have said.   In this emotional state,  Samuel was venerable….and fear came.)

But God speaks to him and gives direction….and Samuel gets up and does as he is told.   The fear is gone…for he trusts the Lord.

So Samuel, takes a animal for sacrifice…..and goes to Bethlehem.   The elders of the town are concerned that he is there because they have done something wrong….

….but Samuel assures them that his coming is peaceable.   He tells them to come to the sacrifice.

         Jesse and most of his sons, come….and Samuel “sanctifies” them….sets them aside to eat with him.

1 Samuel 16:6, 10 “And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said,  Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him.

          Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel.  And Samuel said unto Jesse,  the Lord hath not chosen these.”

Saul had been head and shoulders above the other Israelites….so looking at the tall men which were Jesse’s sons….Samuel thought that they should have been who the Lord had sent him to anoint as the next king…

But as the Lord told Samuel….

1 Samuel 16:7 “….Look not on his countenance, or on  the height of his stature;  because I have refused him:  for the Lord seeth not as man seeth;  for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”

This time, the Lord would choose a man which would love Him….

1 Samuel 16:11-12. “And Samuel said unto Jesse,  Are here all thy children?  And he said,  There remains the yet the youngest, and,  behold, he keepeth the sheep.  And Samuel said unto Jesse,  Send and fetch him:  for we will not sit down till he come hither.

            And he sent, and brought him in.  Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to.  And the Lord said,   Arise, anoint him: for this is he.”

I want to pause here and mention….that the very first description of David is shepherd…”keepeth the sheep”.

             God needed a man with a Shepherd’s heart (2 Samuel 24:17)…to do the work of leading His people…..both in battle, and back to Him, in worship.

The second description is: ruddy (meaning a young man, not shaving yet)….

…..a beautiful countenance (meaning that he was a handsome young man, strong)……

…..and goodly (this term was also used for Moses…and means one which was obedient in heart.)

As David came into the feast,  Samuel looked on him….and did not see a king….but a boy!  

        The Lord had to tell him to get up…and do what I sent you here to do!

But the Lord said….”Arise”  (Get up Samuel….stop looking for another Saul)

        “…anoint him”  (Pour the oil of anointing over his head,  and I will anoint him in his spirit….with My Holy Spirit)

        “…for this is he.”  (This is My choice….a man who knows Me,  and trusts Me  Psalm 89:20-21)

(The Lord first called David….then anointed him….giving him what he needed for the job…the Holy Spirit…..and the Lord does the same for us:  He calls us and then empowers us to do.)

1 Samuel 16:13 “Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward.  So Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.”

The next king was chosen and anointed for the job….but it would be years and many experiences….before David became officially the king of Israel…to the people.

Yet from the moment he was anointed…..he became the focal point of the next history of Israel.

       (Right after this he became the singer and soother of Saul in the court….he took care of his father’s sheep when Saul and his army went to meet the Philistines…..he took food to his brothers who were in Saul’s army….and defeated Goliath.

        He became one of the heads of Saul’s army….and slew many enemies of Israel.   As Saul’s jealousy grew, he had to run for his life…..

….but the narrative follows him….

….till at last,…..all Israel crowned him king)

2 Samuel 5:1-3 “Then came all the tribes of Israel to David….saying,  Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh…..

……thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the Lord said to thee,   Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.

…..and they anointed David king over Israel.”

        

It is amazing to me…..since they knew this….why did they take so long to make him king?! 

        But are not we the same way with Christ?

David was a type of Christ.   

       And is this said of Christ…”The Lord is My Shepherd, I shall not want”

Are we experiencing His guiding, leading, feeding?

Christ is also King….anointed of His Father for the kingdom of our hearts….and the earth.

Are we anointing Him with the oil of joy in our hearts and lives…..for we know that He has always set His heart on us….

…”before the world began”..or before times eternal (2 Timothy 1:9)

What is holding us back from setting our hearts on Him….and letting Him lead us….into all that we should be?

The means of Deliverance 

Matthew 5:21-22 “Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time,   Thou shalt not kill;  and whosoever will kill shall be in danger of the judgement:

                                 But I say unto you,  that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgement:  and whosoever will say unto his brother,  Raca (silly person), shall be in danger of the counsel:   but whosoever will say,  Thou fool,  shall be in danger of hell fire.”

Sin, self, and the World are connected.   They are our “enemies”.  For they work to lead us away from Christ and His Will.

Sin is wrong doing (we all agree here, although we may not agree with what “wrong doing” consists of).

But it is also wrong being, which includes all the inward sins of resentment, a flash of anger which never leaves the mind,  and wrong attitudes.

Jesus set this forth in the verses above.

And so sin always involves self.

Self is the term for the old nature.   

The old nature is our fallen man from Adam.   

It is our nature which claims your right to rule yourself:  your right to decide and lead yourself (morally or not),  your right to feel what you want,  your right to think what you want.

It is you, as your own lord.

1 Corinthians 3:3 “For ye are yet carnal:  for whereas there is among you envying, and strife,  and divisions,  are ye not carnal, and walk as men? (The natural man)”

And so we see, the old nature is always open to the influence of the World around us: and the wiles of the devil. 

Ephesians 6:10-11 “Finally,  my brethren,  be strong in the Lord,  and in the power of his might.  

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

The World’s influence comes, as we walk in it everyday.  

(When the Bible speaks of the World,  it is talking of the “spirit of the times”.   

It does not mean the birds, trees, etc.    

But the attitudes, and the rage,  of the times we live in)

As Christians, we are to be in the World,  but not of it.

John 17:14-16 “I have given them thy word:  and the world hath hated them;  because they are not of the world; even as I am not of the world.

                           I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world,  but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

                           They are not of the world,  even as I am not of the world. “

The World’s system wants no part of Jesus Christ as Lord.

They may accept or praise Him as a holy man,   a great teacher,  or a good guy;…..but they will not submit and yield to Him as Lord.

1 John 2:15-17 “Love not the world,  neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world,  the love of the Father is not in him.

                            For all that is in the world,  the lust of the flesh,  the lust of the eyes,  and the pride of life,  is not of the Father,  but of the world.

                            And the world passeth away,  and the lusts thereof:  but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.”

These are formidable foes.    But we are not left to ourselves, thank God,  but are enabled to live and work in the World, as it is, by the enabling of the Holy Spirit within.

1 John 4:4 “Ye are of God,  little children,  and have overcome them:  because greater is He that is in you,  than he that is in the world.”

To overcome is to still be standing with God, when the battle against the influence of the World for today, is over.  

(How many of us hear horrible swearing,  filthy suggestions,  dirty jokes,  hatred filled speeches).   

It is to still be hanging on to God’s Word.  To still be looking to Christ, for everything.

It is deliverance in the situation, as well as out of it.

It is to be energized within, given strength and comfort.  

It is to know what to do, here and now.  (not just for next week, or next year)

1 John 5:4-5 “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world:  and this is the victory that overcometh the world,  even our faith.

                         Who is he that overcometh the world,  but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”

And how does faith give us victory?

Faith centers our life around Christ Jesus.   And if He is the center,  all other things must take their rightful place.  

Faith receives the Word of God, and by the Holy Spirit places within us the power to do it. (Grace is the unmerited favor of power)

         Faith makes us aware that we are not alone in this fight;  on the contrary, we are made to know  His presence in a real way.  

(Remember Elisha’s servant’s eyes being opened to see who was for them, 2 Kings 6:12-17)

We have a powerful friend.

Romans 8:37 “Nay,  in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” 

        God’s grace is provided through the Holy Spirit, that we may do the task at hand.

It is power we receive in our spirits, our souls (our mind, heart, and will), and our bodies.

It comes as light for our walk, so we will not stumble, or be tripped up….

……and ability….whether in our ears to hear, our strength to do, or our minds to understand.

Overcoming should be our everyday experience.  

It usually isn’t.     We fail to hear.  Or we give in to self.

But Christ Jesus has supplied all we need to overcome;  we must yield to Him in the situation we are in.

          1 John 3:22 “And whatsoever we ask,  we receive of him,  because we keep his commandments,  and do those things which are pleasing in his sight.”

1 Corinthians 10:13-14 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:  but God is faithful,  who will not suffer you to be tempted above which ye are able;  but will with the temptation also make a way to escape,  that ye may be able to bear it.

           Wherefore my dearly beloved,  flee from idolatry.”

The means of deliverance for any Christian is yielding to the Holy Spirit within.

Receiving and using the grace given, in the situation.

Reading His Word, letting it give us all He has for us in it. ( all the promises, and commandments)

Overcoming by faith in Him.

Walking in His Light.

He made it again. 

Jeremiah 18:3-4 “Then I went down to the potter’s house,  and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.   

        And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hands of the potter:  so he made it again another vessel,  as seemed good to the potter to make it.”

This is Jeremiah, learning the lesson for Israel…..God could still use Israel….even after their rebellion and idolatry…

….if,   they would return to Him and let Him make them again….another vessel, as seemed Him good.

And what was that?   

God had allowed Nebuchadnezzar to come and put them under tribute to him, for their sin and iniquities.

But….

….if they would turn from their evil,  and follow the law….

…even though they would have to pay tribute,…they would be able to stay in the land God gave them…..in peace….under their own olive trees and vineyards…with their families.

But,  if they rebelled against this second chance…..they would be destroyed….the city of David and the temple burnt….and their children taken away as slaves or starved.

God was speaking bluntly…..and giving them hope….

….if they obeyed:

Jeremiah 25:5-6 “…Turn ye again now everyone from his evil way,  and from the evil of your doings,  and dwell in the land that the Lord hath given unto you and to your fathers forever and ever.

        And go not after other gods to serve them,  and to worship them,  and provoke Me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt.”

Second chances from the Lord,…to be molded into a vessel unto honor….useful to the Lord,…..are a bounty and a blessing.   

What are we doing with ours?

Perhaps you have failed in the purpose for which you were sent…or called to someone, or someplace,  or to some time?

But let me tell you…..God has a second chance for any who come to Him in repentance and obedience.

The great call of Israel was to be a nation under God….with Him as their King.

Yet,….when they failed….time and time again,….

….He sent prophets and priests….He sent messages of love and correction…

…and finally,  before the captivity…..

…He sent a final word:

“Return….obey….and I will give you a second chance at being My people.

It will not be with the great and grand promises that I gave your fathers….

….that will come under the Messiah, My Son…

….but you can still be a blessing….still get my blessing…

…will you have this second chance….this forming of the Potter’s hands….of Me?”

And He says the same to us…..His people….now, to any that have failed,  or gone away from Him….

Hebrews 12:12-13 “Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down,  and feeble knees;  

        And make straight paths for your feet,  lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.”

            

“Lift up the hands which hang down”…..go and do what the Lord says….get up….here and now……and do it.

“And feeble knees”….have you stopped praying?  Have stopped seeking His Word?…start again.

“And make straight paths for your feet”….if you know you have done wrong….correct it….go to the Lord and set it right….and get back in His Way for you.  

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

Work at your relationships with others….and with the Lord.

“Holiness” here is sanctification….to be set aside in all we are,  to the Lord.

His Purpose for us is to manifest His glory….His light and love.

And He gives us a second chance to do just that…..He gave Peter, who denied Him, that second chance….and so many more down through the ages…

….and, if we return to Him….He will do the same for us.

True North

Acts 9:4-6 “And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?
And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.”

We are all acquainted with Saul’s conversion…..he was going on in his own way….seeking to destroy those that follow Christ…
…when he was brought face to face with such Light, that it knocked him to the ground.

In that Light, he saw….and when the Light said…”I am Jesus”,…
…Saul knew that Jesus Christ, Whom he had been fighting against, was the Son of God.

“What will You have me to do?” Not, what should I do now….but the personal relationship of servant to Lord…..”what will You have me to do?”.

Saul had discovered True North…..the Way to be lead through the rest of his life.
Jesus Christ was Lord….and for Saul/Paul,….from that time forward, Jesus was the One to be preached and spoken of. (1 Cor. 1:21-23)

Have we found True North for our lives? Have we submitted to the Light of Christ’s Lordship?
For to make Christ Jesus Lord of our lives, requires submission to Him in everything.

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

If we follow on to know the Lord….He will show Himself to us as Light. Light to be submitted to. The morning light onward to the light of high noon (or the perfect day Prov. 4:18).

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

The morning cloud and the early dew promise much for the crops…..but deliver little.
They give no lasting benefit. They dry up and disappear quickly….
….so are the changes of Ephraim and Judah.
They show much promise….like things are really going to be different.
But the changes “dry-up”….and they just do not make any lasting change.

Hosea 6:5 “Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth.”

(Let me say here….Light makes manifest. Light will either bring us to see clearly and repent….or will get us to see clearly and refuse the truth, plunging us into darkness, and anger)

God sought to restore them to fellowship with Him through the prophets showing them their sin,…and the consequences of that sin.
“Come, and let us return unto the Lord:…” (Hosea 6:1)

He required that they return to Him…..
…..but they sought to “include” Him and His worship, but not love and obey Him. The changes were never lasting, because they were not of the heart.

Hosea 6:6 “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”
Here we see externalism….where you could bring your sacrifice to God with all the form and ritual…..and your heart not be in it at all.

There were certain love-offerings and offerings of worship that meant nothing,….if their heart was not in the giving.

God desired mercy…..this speaks of covenantal affection…. love for both God and their fellow men.

(We as Christians, can never be truly right with God, worshipping in spirit and truth,…
…and at odds with our brothers and sisters in Christ….or anyone.
As Peter says…..after godliness is brotherly kindness. 2 Peter 1:7)

True North on the compass of our lives is to have Christ Jesus, Lord.

And that comes with the Light of truth….our truth before God. How we really are, and what our hearts love.

But when we see….then we can choose Him,…we can say, “Lord what will You have me to do?”
And, blessed sight!….we can continue to choose Him…..following hard after Him, into the light of the blessing of right relationships….with Him and with our brothers and sisters in Christ….and everyone else.

If we choose Christ Jesus…..He will certainly give us the Light we need….and the grace to use it.

Behold, I am at the Door 

Revelation 3:20 “Behold I stand at the door,  and knock: if any man hear my voice,  and open the door,  I will come into him,  and will sup with him, and he with me.”

What door is He at?

He is at the Church door.  In the second and third chapters of Revelation,  we have the letters Jesus Christ wrote through John to the churches.

They were a cross section of the church of that period;  and of all the church ages.

He speaks very personally with each: telling each age what needs to be changed,  what He praises them for,  and what He promises those that overcome through these changes.

When He comes to the Laodicean Church, it is not their actions that He corrects;  but their seeing and hearing. 

They don’t see what they truly are,  and they are not hearing Him as they should; for He stands outside the door, knocking.

His Voice is calling to those who will hear inside.

But what are they?  They are lukewarm Christians.

First, let me say,  that though it is the church door Jesus is standing and knocking at;    it is to “any man” (man or woman, boy or girl), that He speaks to.    

For it is His Voice which is heard, within.

This fact, that we are within the Church, is important.

He is not calling, in this way, to the lost in the world.

He is calling to those in the Church; to those who should recognize His Voice. (John 10:4)

What should they do to open the door?

To “open the door”,  or to answer His call, in this Laodicean Age, is not an answer of words (even at some altar, though it may start there),  but an answer of a life open to and receptive to Him.

In this age, we have mostly forgotten Christ as Lord.(As “A Lord”,  yes.   But as our Lord, no.)

For the Lordship of Christ is mostly thought of as:  One day He will be Lord of All.

Of course that is true,  because He is Lord of all, now. (Matthew 28:18)

But when we speak of Christ as Lord,  we mean that He is our Lord.  That He commands and we will do,  that He can do what He will with His own;  meaning me.

It is a surrender of the whole man, active, to Christ.   All our faculties are brought into subjection to Him.

So to open to Christ is to give our life to Him,  a once done act.   

And live our lives to Him, receiving every word He says, because we receive Him…and have fellowship with Him.

(Have you received Christ?  Has He a place in your life?   

You may say,  He is in my heart.    How much of your heart does He have?   

For your heart signifies your life:  your thoughts,  feelings and affections,  and actions.)

He is standing.

And when He stands,  He is ready to do for that individual who will hear Him.

Ready to come in and impart power,   power within us and power through us;    and to have that fellowship which is the backbone of power.

Daniel 11:32b “…but the people that do know their God shall be strong,  and do exploits.”

We can do nothing without Him.  The real power of life is Christ’s life within our lives.

His fellowship, then is paramount. 

It is the “sup with” us, that speaks of the kind of fellowship.  For in Bible times, you could never eat with an enemy.  

If someone came into your house, and you fed them, they were worthy of your best,  both in food and conversation.

If we are not fellowshipping with Him,  we are lukewarm.  

We think we are just warm enough to get by,  He can’t possibly refuse our prayers, our service,  our activities.   

We are warm.  We are O.K. 

But that is not the way God sees it. (Revelation 3:15-17)

And He sees everything.

(There used to be a children’s song “Be careful little eyes, what you see.   Be careful little feet, where you go.   Be careful little mouth, what you say….For the Father up above is looking down in love,  so be careful little eyes, feet, mouth”

Children were trained to know God saw them every where……what they did,  what they said,  what they saw;    and that He loved them,  so they should stay close to Him.

It has been stressed of late, that we might be scaring our children, by such language.

No, no, no.

Where love is, there is no fear.    

1 John 4:16-18 “And we have known and believed the love that God hath for us.   God is love:  and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him.

                            Herein is our love made perfect,  that we may have boldness in the day of judgement:  because as He is,  so are we in this world.

                            There is no fear in God;  but perfect love casteth out fear:  because fear hath torment.  He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

Caution is a good thing.    A little preparation, is better than a lot of sorrow, especially where our children are concerned.

To know they are being seen,  yes, if they are going to get themselves into trouble, is good.

But to know they are being seen when anything is going on.   God loves them.  He knows,  He sees.

If they are Christians,  this is powerful stuff,  for God is powerful for them,  as well as in them.)

He is standing at the door of the Church, and His voice is calling us to “open to Me”.

If any person will:

First,  hear His Voice.  

Second,  Open your life to the Lord Jesus Christ.

You might say you did this when you were born again.

Yes, you should have received Him then (John 1:12).    But have you somewhere shut the door to part of your life?

Or let other affections rule your life?

For those who realize they are lukewarm;  His call to come, is for you.

Come,  and open your life to Him, completely.

Think of the doors in your life you have shut to Him, and bring them to Him,  and open them to Him.

Remember His love to you, and talk to Him about it.  And keep talking.  

He is Standing ;  Ready to do, for you.

The First Principle,  Obedience.

Acts 8:1,4-5 “…And at that time there was a great persecution against the Church which was at Jerusalem;  and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria,  except the apostles.

Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.

Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria,  and preached Christ unto them.”

Jesus had told them to be witnesses to Him in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

Until the persecution, they had concentrated their activities in Jerusalem.  

But now they were forced to flee;  and so began the spread of the gospel throughout the world.

Philip was one of the deacons appointed to see to the daily needs of the Church. (Acts 6:3-6)

But now he goes down to Samaria, to preach of Christ.

Acts 8:6-8 “And the people with one accord gave heed unto the things which Philip spake,  hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

             For unclean spirits crying with loud voice,  came out of many that were possessed with them:  and many taken with palsies,  and that were lame,  were healed.

             And there was great joy in that city. “

Here was a real Awakening.  There was great joy in that city.   Surely there would be, since Jesus Christ has come into the hearts and lives of the citizens.

Acts 8:12 “But when they believed Philip   preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God,  and the name of Jesus Christ,  they were baptized both men and women.”

Soon after this, Peter and John came from Jerusalem, to help Philip, after they heard that Samaria received the word of God.

In the midst of this Awakening, though,  Philip is told to leave there and go down to Gaza, which is desert.

Acts 8:26 “And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip saying,   Arise,  and go toward the south,  unto the way which goeth down to Jerusalem to Gaza,  which is desert.”

And what was his reaction to this?   Did he argue and say,……”Lord, I am in a great revival here.   I can’t leave now.” 

No.

Acts 8:27-29 “And he arose and went:     (That is Obedience)

                And behold a man of Ethiopia,  a eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians,  who had a charge of all her treasure,  and had come to Jerusalem to worship,

was returning,  and sitting in his chariot read Isaiah the prophet.

                Then the Spirit said unto Philip,   Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.”

The Holy Spirit tells Philip,   Go near, and speak to this man. 

And Philip runs!  

And is given the opportunity to speak of Jesus Christ.

Acts 8:30-34 “And Philip ran thither to him,  and heard him read the prophet Isaiah,  and said,    Understandest thou what thou readest?

                 And he said,    How can I,  except some man should guide me?   And he desired Philip that he should come up and sit  with him.

The place of the Scripture which he read was this,

        He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;  

        and like a lamb dumb before his Shearer,  so opened not his mouth:

        In his humiliation his judgement was taken away:  

        and who shall declare His generation?   

        For his life is taken from the earth.

And the eunuch answered Philip,  and said,   I pray thee,  of whom speaketh the prophet this?  Of himself,  or of some other man?”

This eunuch had been to Jerusalem, to worship.  Even though he had been there at the time of Pentecost;……he was untouched by all that was going on there.

(Remember, Pentecost was when the Holy Spirit was given:  “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  

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

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost,…

Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together….

Then Peter said unto them,  Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and Ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”  Acts 2:1-2,4,6,38)

And now, this eunuch was returning home, not knowing of the invitation Peter gave to all who gathered around them.   He was looking to the Scriptures, but without understanding.

He felt that this particular scripture he was reading was important…..but how it was…..he was not sure.

And Philip, using that very Scripture, spoke to him,  of Jesus:  Who He was, and what He had done, for the saving of the soul.

Acts 8:35 “Then Philip opened his mouth,  and began at the same Scripture,  and preached unto him Jesus.”

Obedience is the first principle of all of God’s Principles.   

It Honors God, because it is for the Lord.

His Presence is with the one doing it, in a real way.

He honors the one doing it.

He blesses the obedience, whether it is seen at the time or not.

(Obedience in the Greek means “willingly doing what you are told”.

You can do, because you have to,  or to gain something.

But Obedience is the willing heart doing,  to please our Lord Jesus Christ.)

Acts 8:36-38 “As they went on their way,  they came unto a certain water:  and the eunuch said,   See,  here is water,  what doth hinder me to be baptized?

                And Philip said,   If thou believest with all thy heart,  thou mayest.   And he answered and said,  I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

                And he commanded the chariot to stand still:  and they went down into the water,  both Philip and the eunuch,  and he baptized him.”

Philip was obedient, and the eunuch was obedient, and the eunuch went on his way rejoicing.

Acts 8:39 “And when they were come up out of the water,  the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip,  that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.”

(Some people say that this is how the Christian Church in Ethiopia was started.)

To know about Jesus, is good.   

But to truly know Him, is joy.

There was joy in Samaria,……and with the eunuch, because of Philip’s obedience.

The first principle is Obedience.  

For Jesus said,  “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15)

Don’t come short, when it comes to God’s Promises

Hebrews 4:1 “Let us therefore fear,  lest,  a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.”

Have you ever tried to reach up or out to something and it is just out of reach?

This is the way many of us think about the promises of God.   They are great and we want them;…..but they seem just out of reach.

But God never intends His Word to be seen, and not used.   He intends us to have what He promises us.

           Faith reaches out and gets what God has for us.

Every promise in the Word, and every promise given to you personally,  is nothing until entered into by faith.

And there can never be completed faith,  without obedience.

Promises are only promises,  until we have them.

First,  we apprehend them by faith.   

That is,  you see that God has this for you, personally,  and you reach out…..believing…..to His Word.

When you do, you should have the hope (remember hope is the confident expectation that God will do what He says) of these promises by the assurance of the Holy Spirit within.

Second, you apprehend these promises, by obedience.    You live them.

            I have had the Lord tell me to walk like I had what He said….to, in fact, use the Word, and the grace given.   Stop waiting for a “sign”…..just use it.

Sometimes there are conditions to the promises the Lord gives,  like the seed on the ground:

one, a hard walking path—no receiving there.  

Others on rocks and thorns,  which received by faith,  but never put it to use.

The last, the good ground, which was tilled and received it by faith,  (it says it “keeps” it)… put it to use.   Some thirty-fold, some sixty-fold,  some an hundred-fold.

(Mark 14:14-20)

Without the element of faith, there is nothing.  

For faith makes the things of God,  real to us, so that we can apprehend them.

(Apprehend here means that we have them in hand.   They are ours.

Like a felon is apprehended…only when they have him….not when they are just looking for him.)

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,  the evidence of things not seen.”

It is a true substance.  It exists within you by the Holy Spirit.

It gives us the proof within us,  to use the word God gives us.  In other words,  you know it. 

Faith is what is within us that reaches out to God in times of trouble, in praise, for help, for comfort, and for fellowship.

Hebrews 4:2 “For unto us was the gospel preached,  as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them,  not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.”

Let us not lose what He promises, by not believing Him….or thinking that they are out of reach…

But let us gain all that He has for us to have, through the Holy Spirit, apprehending His promises, which He wants to give.

Let us “keep” His promises to us, and gain one hundred-fold for Christ Jesus,……..in believing obedience to His Word.

If we walk in the Light

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.”

This is a personal, private, and powerful cleansing.

A child of God,   walking in the Light, confesses his sin the moment he sees it, honestly before God.

A child of God, walking in the shadows of life,  says,  “Oh, I can explain that away;  that is because of this reason,…..or that person,…..or some other thing,  that I am doing that.”

Like when a child says,  “It just got broke”……not,  “Sorry, I broke it.”

When once the Light breaks into our hearts and minds,  the conviction of sin of any sort,  comes;  and I then, have a choice.

Cover my sin…….or confess it to the Lord.

Proverbs 28:13 “He that covereth his sin shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

The difference is the submission of the heart to Christ.

We many accept His  Lordship in a general manner….

But He is not Lord,  where obedience is left out. 

Light makes manifest.    

Song of Solomon 4:6 ” Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and the hill of frankincense.”

When there are shadows between you and the Lord;  then there is the influence of the Adversary and the sin that was once there.

      Shadows are not substance;  that has been dealt with by confession, but the influence of them is there, casting a shadow. 

(Why did I do that?   How could I be so stupid!      Look at what I’ve lost by my sin!     What are people thinking about me now?   All these and more, makes shadows.)

      Until the day break, and that perfect day of nothing between,  to separate you from your Lord.   Light makes even the shadows flee away.

Proverbs 4:18 “But the path of the just is as a shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”

      That “perfect day”  is the high noon of your experience with Jesus Christ…there is nothing between to cast shadows.

When the dawn breaks;  light comes!  But that light manifests places of darkness because of this thing and that thing which needs to be dealt with in our lives.

     (We are what we are, by a series of choices we have made.  And through the circumstances we have been brought up in;  or the pain of the moment.)

As the sun rises on the day, less and less shadows appear, because the light is “taking over” the day.  

     (As we let Christ “take over” in our lives, we are given the knowledge and ability to do His will in our times.)

When the sun gets to high noon, all things are clear and bright.   

     That is the experience the Lord wants for each of us.   Things clear and bright in His Light.

No darkness.   No shadows.  Nothing to separate us from the love of God.

God is Light.  He manifests clearly what is in our lives, if we will with Him, and come to the light.

Jude 21 “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

But the final thing is: our choice.   

     What we choose to do with what we have:  Live in the Light He has shown us,  or hide among the shadows. 

This should be the blessing of our life, that the Almighty God, who loves me, sees, and will help me by His light and love.

Let us walk in the Light.

The Wedding Supper of the Lamb

Revelation 19:7 “Let us be glad and rejoice,  and give honor to Him:  for the marriage of the Lamb is come,  and  His wife hath made herself ready.”

This is the marriage between Christ and His church.  It will be at the end of the Tribulation Period,  and the guests will be those of Israel which will be brought in to belief in Christ, during this period.

Matthew 22:2 “The Kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king,  which made a marriage for his son.”

The Gospel of Matthew is written especially to the Jew…..showing that Christ was the King of the Jews.

But first,  they rejected His forerunner,  John the Baptist,  then they rejected Him.

He had come in to Jerusalem….presenting Himself as their Messiah should….”Tell ye the daughter of Zion,  Behold thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.”  (Matthew 21:5, Zechariah 9:9)

Now, in this parable, you see Jesus speaking to those who were even at that time rejecting Him….so it is not surprising that Jesus speaks of the kingdom of heaven.

The kingdom of heaven speaks of this present Church age….we are His heavenly citizens….and not that kingdom which is yet to come.

Matthew 22:3 “And sent forth His servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding:  and they would not come.”

It was common in those days,  to send two invitations: 

The first was sent weeks before the time, so that all would set aside that special time for the Supper.

The second was given, when the king would send a servant to each one, to escort them to the Supper.

And there are two calls to the Gospel….

….the general call which goes out to everyone.  Many hear and in curiosity, agree….in principal to a Savior….but never are born again,  or experience any real change in their lives…

….most of these,  are like those invited to this Supper….they agree at first, but then reject the life…..acting as though Christ can not satisfy….

…..when it actually,  they have never come and really had His life. 

And the effectual call which is heard by the elect who are born again, and go on to a complete salvation.

For it makes demands on our life, and effects a real change in our life.

Matthew 22:4-5 “Again, He sent forth other servants, saying,  Tell them which are bidden,   Behold, I have prepared my dinner:  my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready:  come unto the marriage.

            But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:”

You will notice that all these reasons are personal reasons….personal choices.

Not…”I am sick and can not come”……But…

…. I choose to go, and do this….rather than come to Your call.

We receive Christ Jesus, personally…..or reject Him personally.

Matthew 22:6 “And the remnant took His servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.”

This the Pharisees and rulers did to Jesus….and to the church after the giving of the Spirit.

But it is also what we can expect….from those who refuse to honor the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 4:12-14)

Matthew 22:7 “But when the King heard thereof,  He was wroth: and He sent forth His armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.”

Surely this happened to Jerusalem under Titus, when the city was destroyed….but it will also happen when each person who has rejected Christ will stand before God,….have his life reviewed….and then they will be cast into the Lake of fire…….. for rejecting Christ Jesus,  Who offered salvation to them, through Himself.

Matthew 22:8-10 “Then saith He to His servants,  The wedding is ready,  but they which were bidden were not worthy.

         Go ye Therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.”

Finally, the guests to honor the King’s Son are assembled….

….how?

From the highways….those that pass by.

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 shall be for those:  the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not error therein.”

Matthew 22:11-13 “And when the King came in to see the guests,  He saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

          And He saith unto him,  Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

          Then said the King to the servants,  Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; they shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

When you had an audience with a king, a proper garment was provided, so that the man would be without excuse….for he had refused it.

This “wedding garment” is, no doubt, the righteousness of Christ imputed to all who receive Him by faith.

This man rejected that righteousness of Christ….seeking to serve God with his own righteousness….”for all our righteousness is a filthy rags”….

….and therefore,  was himself rejected.

“He was speechless” (Romans 3:19-20)

The outer darkness!  We often picture Hell or the Lake of fire all lit up…..but it is darkness itself…..as Jude says, “…the blackness of darkness forever.” (Jude 13)

Imagine torment (there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth)… in complete darkness…forever.

There will yet be the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.

And the church, which is His Bride….will be there….and it will be grand and glorious.

Revelation 19:6-8 “….Alleluia:  for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

Let us be glad and rejoice,  and give honor to Him:  for the marriage of the Lamb is come,  and his wife hath made herself ready.

        And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen,  clean and white:  for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.”

“Righteousness of saints” is righteous acts…acts of obediences to Christ.

How would we appear if we were called tonight?

What would we look like for Eternity?

The days draw close….when time for change will be over…all will be settled for time and eternity.

Now is the compelling time….the time to go out into the highways and  “bid them to the marriage”.

What will we do with our opportunity for service?

Will you speak for the King?

Will you pass that tract?

Will you invite them to “sup” with Him? (Revelation 3:20)