The “I Want To” of our Christian Experience

It is a good thing to be obedient to the Word of God, by the impressions of the Holy Spirit.

It is a better thing to “I want to”, for Christ’s sake.

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

If the Holy Spirit has not yet created within you a desire for Spiritual Reality, then that is the place to start. This is the “want to”.

We are to come to Him and ask for it, to be placed within us.

It is usually a progressive desire.

We go from lost to born again, once for all.

But we are babes, needing a whole lot of care. A whole lot of His teaching us His Will and Way.

We go from rebels (yes, this is even as Christians), fighting against God because of our position in the world, our looks, our parents, our circumstances; to yielding to the Holy Spirit, where we throw down these “reasons” against God, and submit.

(2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

We go from stumbling along (because we do not want to do what He asks, or are afraid to find out what He asks), to walking with Him in fellowship.

The way forward, in all of these, is: Yielding, denying self, getting out of the way. There are a lot of terms for the same experience (and it is an experience), of giving into Christ, each time.

Proverbs 23:26 “My son give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.”

Notice it is as we give the Lord our hearts, that we will yield to His ways for us.

Now I believe that when the Bible speaks of our heart, it is speaking of our souls.

That which is uniquely us. Our personality, if you will.

I believe, it is the most precious thing in God’s sight, having sent His Beloved Son to save it.

Give Him your heart, and keep giving it; till you know He has it.

“Let” thine eyes observe my ways. Let it happen. This is an act of your will. Let it.

Stop resisting it; for whatever reason.

Now, plainly, it is the Holy Spirit that works these changes within us:

John 7:38-39 “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

(But this spake He of the Spirit, which they which believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”

If you don’t have this flowing rivers of living water in you, and through you, then it means you have blocked that flow.

That is why the Word says, “let it”.

(But let me tell you, like the water, the Holy Spirit keeps building up, and building up behind the blockage; till it is dealt with)

It is His power….and love, that molds us into Christ’s image.

Romans 8:29 “For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

As Christ is our example, we are to follow Him into the experiences of the love of God, our Father;

of doing His Will, willingly;

of trusting, to the end, on His Word to us;

and of living in the Light and warmth of His Love.

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

All of this is by the Holy Spirit working in us:

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

Peter puts us in remembrance

2 Peter 1:13-14 “Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle (body), to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;

        Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.”

All second books deal with apostasy,….with those who, though they have professed belief in Christ,…..turn away from Him, and go back to the world.

        Peter’s second book begins by reminding these persecuted Jewish Christians (“those that have obtained like precious faith with us”)…..of the provision God, through Christ, has given them…and not only provision….but satisfaction!   In a world that hates us, we need so desperately to know this satisfaction…this contentment…this peace and joy, in Christ.

2 Peter 1:3-4 “…HIs divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness,  through the knowledge of HIm that hath called us to glory and virtue:

        Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises:  that by these  ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

(“Divine” is a choice adjective here.  “Divine power”,  “divine nature”    Peter could have said,  “godly”….but chose  instead to turn our eyes completely away from what we acquire…to what God has given us!)

Peter is saying that God gave us HIs power for…all things….that have to do with His life …through the knowledge of Christ Jesus.   

Our real protection from the evil of the times,….is our further development of His divine life within us.   He has provided a much better life….for He gives us all we need to go through the circumstances of the present….to stand in the things we have in Christ…and enjoy them….but it is a growth in grace.

       (for our battle is not always outwardly,….but in our inward joy and courage to do, speak, and go through the trials that the world,  in evil, brings us.   

        As Christians, we need to learn that because we have faith, then difficulties are not a hindrance to that faith,….but the exercising of it….to grow in faith.)

And HIs promises to us….work more satisfaction within us….for we keep pressing forward to fulfill them….in us and for us.  We learn of Christ, about Christ,…while walking all the while with Christ Jesus.

2 Peter 1:5-7 “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 

        And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

        And to godliness brotherly-kindness; and to brotherly-kindness charity (love).”

Here is the difference between the most strong Christians, and the weakest….”giving all diligence”.

        No matter where you are in your Christian experience,  if you will give all diligence….you will gain.

Our promises should not make us idle…but they will, if we have real faith…encourage us to gain virtue.   Virtue is the force, by the Holy Spirit, within us which gives courage and decision for Christ.  

       In faith, we gain the courage to go on….no matter what.

And in this, we gain more knowledge…the experiential  knowledge of what Christ will do for the people who give themselves over to Him.   

       That leads to self-restraint or temperance….which is not biting our tongues….but the grace of letting God work things out….His Way….within us, and without us.   

        If we see the government of God,….if by faith, we know that He has everything in His hands for us….we will become patient.

       And the truth, by the Holy Spirit works on us to deliver us from lies.   It makes us stand, under Him,….and show Who has rule within us.

       If He rules,  we will never forsake our brothers and sisters in Christ….but by kindness speak and obey the Lord in duty to them.

And “love” or charity is last here, ….because this is what God is.    Our character is to be formed around truth and love.   This is not turning a blind eye to sin…..for if we love God we will keep HIs commandments.

       But it is the confident assurance that God has us completely…spirit soul and body….and in every moment…He is present.

       And as this love is developed in my character,…I, too, am present in every situation, seeking Christ’s Will and Way.

2 Peter 1:13 “Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle (body), to stir you up by you you in remembrance;”

       (“stir you up”…you know when things begin to cook…if you do not “stir them up”….the bottom can begin to stick,  and burn.   When it is stirred, it keeps  things cooking evenly…and completes the dish.

       The things that we often let go for a time….can cause us to become stuck….and not finish the work we have been given to do.   And we often do not know what will be a sticking point for us.    We must remember the Lord’s promises…and be stirred up, not letting things slide…but in diligence go on with Him.)

And Peter says…remember the Lord’s coming again… in glory and power.

       And he  tells them of the Mount of  Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8)

…there Jesus was transfigured…or seen in His majesty!   

2 Peter 1:16-18 “…but we were eyewitnesses of His Majesty.

       For He received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the excellent glory,   This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

       And this voice which came from heaven we heard,  when we were with HIm in the holy mount.”

       (First, they saw HIs face did shine as the sun…and HIs clothes as white as light!

He was the coming blessing on HIs people…the only way of blessing (Numbers 6:24-27)

Psalm 67:1 “God be merciful unto us, and bless us;  and cause HIs face to shine upon us; Selah.”

       It is only as He shines HIs light, that we are out of the darkness of sin, and into HIs blessing of Salvation.

      Next, a cloud overshadowed them.  Here was the cloud that led Israel in the wilderness…that sat on the Tabernacle in glory.   Though it came upon Solomon’s Temple….that cloud of glory left the Temple, because of their refusal of His Word, through the prophets (Ezekiel 10:18-19).   

But here was the cloud….

     ….and a Voice, which announced “This is My Beloved Son.”

      This glorious Majesty rested on Christ….

…they saw it and heard it.    

      Yet He came down from the mount and finished HIs Work of Salvation for us.

 The Light left Jesus face….but it shone in HIs Words and Works…and was in the hearts of His disciples.

      This same light  is in our hearts now…growing brighter as we grow in grace….waiting HIs return.

Christ the King will come again….with all the brightness and power…and honor and majesty…

……and we are reminded, in the light of HIs coming again….of what He has given us.

And what He requires from HIs servants….which is diligence.

A woman’s kindness, repaid….double.

Matthew 10:41-42 “He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.

And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily, I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.”

Elisha is a prophet to Israel. He and his servant went around the country, and held meetings with God’s followers…..teaching about God, and His commandments.

There were not that many, in comparison to the whole population of Israel…..for most followed the example of their kings, and worshipped golden calves.

Those that follow Elisha’s teachings are called the sons of the prophets.

Elisha and his servant, were making a circuit…..when:

2 Kings 4:8-10 “And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed Shunem, where was a great woman; and she contrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.

And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.

Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.”

Here, a wealthy woman, sees Elisha going on his rounds….and goes out and asks him to come and eat with them.

This happened every time he went by, and so the woman talked to her husband, saying, that they should build Elisha a little room, so he could stop and rest there, when he traveled by.

This was a great kindness…..not all regarded the prophet with kindness.

Elisha was grateful….and wanted to thank her….so he asked if she wanted to be spoken for, to someone important…

….this could be quite an advantage to her farm…to her livelihood.

But she was content to live where she was, with her own people…..she was happy in the circumstances….she did not need more.

“What then is to done for her?”(2 Kings 4:14)

Elisha’s servant remarked that she had no child…..no heir.

So Elisha called and told her that God would give her a child.

2 Kings 4:16-17 “And he (Elisha) said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid.

And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.”

Now, she had not asked Elisha for anything….

…..she felt blessed that he was stopping by, for she knew him to be a man of God.

(Godly, Bible believing ministers or friends….are a blessing we should all cherish.)

But God gave her a son…..a blessing she could hardly believe!

Years pass, and the boy is old enough to go out in the field to see his father work there….

As he goes, he is pained in his head….”My head, my head!”

His father sends him back into the house with a laborer, to his Mother.

She holds him, all morning,…..perhaps praying, reminding God of His giving him to her…..

….but at noon, he dies.

Now, with the death of a loved one…..there is loss, great loss….

But this woman, had faith in God,….and knew immediately she had to act.

By Elisha’s word to her….she had been given a promise…..now she needed to hear his word again….to complete the original promise,….that she would have him……even though her son, now, was dead.

Faith is seeing God, in what He is, what He has done, and what His Word says….

…..and what we “see” is Someone who knows everything, and has provided for everything…..before we are aware we need anything.

So she took her son and placed him in the room she had set aside for Elisha….and got a servant to lead her to mount Carmel, where Elisha was having meetings.

Coming to him, she throws herself down and holds on to his feet….saying, “Did I not tell you not to lie to me!”

He knows then it is about the child….and learns that he has died.

He sends his servant ahead with his rod to lay it on the boy.

A man’s staff or rod, was a symbol of his work….and Elisha was a prophet of God….who spoke God’s Word……the rod symbolized that.

(Now we may think this strange…..why did not Elisha just pray for him?

Why did he have to leave his ministry at Carmel, and travel to the boy to heal him? Many times in the Bible…..a principle is shown only by action.

Remember Jesus telling the ten lepers to go and show themselves to the priests…..and it was in their going…..that they were healed. Luke 17:13-15)

Nothing happens until….

2 Kings 4:32, 34. “And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed.

And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm.”

Elisha, himself, comes and….places himself over the child….identifying with the death of the child….

(Jesus saw we were dead in trespasses and sin….and came…..identifying with our death of sin….”becoming sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him”

His sacrificial death was the ransom paid….)

But what Elisha did at first, is not enough to revive the boy…to make him alive again.

Nor is Christ’s death enough for us….without His resurrection.

His death takes away our sin, once for all…..but His resurrection gives us His life, His power to live…..

….both are required for us to have His life in us.

2 Kings 4:35-37 “Then he(Elisha) returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.

And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son.

Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.”

Life….Eternal life, is what God gives in Christ Jesus.

Christ has stretched Himself across the whole of our sin…..the sins of the mouth, the sins of the eyes, the sins of our hands,…..

…..the whole of our sin is covered by Him on the cross.

And then Christ stretched Himself completely across our life….all our plans, all our thoughts and ways,….

….the whole of our life….spirit, soul, and body….is completely saved….and we are given His life in us…..eternal, powerful, peaceful, joyful, useful life.

This woman was repaid for her kindness to God’s prophet….double:

Once in giving her a son…..and once in restoring her son to her.

If we are Christians…..we too, have noticed Christ….seen him as the Holy Son of God….

….and we have given Him a room, a place in our hearts and lives….

…..and when He has given us promises….blessings….we praise Him….

…then troubles come…..in whatever form….and seem to bring death…

….but faith sees God….His might, and His Word…and goes to Christ.

It must be Him that revives and restores. It is His life…..in us, and for us…that makes the miracle….for He is our life.

Have we learned this yet? He is our life….

He will leave whatever….and whoever….and deal with us…..if we will but go to Him….

…..with Christ, all our blessings are double:

They are for us…..that we may be a blessing to others…..showing His life through us.

A woman’s kindness, repaid….double.

Matthew 10:41-42 “He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.

And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily, I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.”

Elisha is a prophet to Israel. He and his servant went around the country, and held meetings with God’s followers…..teaching about God, and His commandments.

There were not that many, in comparison to the whole population of Israel…..for most followed the example of their kings, and worshipped golden calves.

Those that follow Elisha’s teachings are called the sons of the prophets.

Elisha and his servant, were making a circuit…..when:

2 Kings 4:8-10 “And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed Shunem, where was a great woman; and she contrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.

And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.

Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.”

Here, a wealthy woman, sees Elisha going on his rounds….and goes out and asks him to come and eat with them.

This happened every time he went by, and so the woman talked to her husband, saying, that they should build Elisha a little room, so he could stop and rest there, when he traveled by.

This was a great kindness…..not all regarded the prophet with kindness.

Elisha was grateful….and wanted to thank her….so he asked if she wanted to be spoken for, to someone important…

….this could be quite an advantage to her farm…to her livelihood.

But she was content to live where she was, with her own people…..she was happy in the circumstances….she did not need more.

“What then is to done for her?”(2 Kings 4:14)

Elisha’s servant remarked that she had no child…..no heir.

So Elisha called and told her that God would give her a child.

2 Kings 4:16-17 “And he (Elisha) said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid.

And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.”

Now, she had not asked Elisha for anything….

…..she felt blessed that he was stopping by, for she knew him to be a man of God.

(Godly, Bible believing ministers or friends….are a blessing we should all cherish.)

But God gave her a son…..a blessing she could hardly believe!

Years pass, and the boy is old enough to go out in the field to see his father work there….

As he goes, he is pained in his head….”My head, my head!”

His father sends him back into the house with a laborer, to his Mother.

She holds him, all morning,…..perhaps praying, reminding God of His giving him to her…..

….but at noon, he dies.

Now, with the death of a loved one…..there is loss, great loss….

But this woman, had faith in God,….and knew immediately she had to act.

By Elisha’s word to her….she had been given a promise…..now she needed to hear his word again….to complete the original promise,….that she would have him……even though her son, now, was dead.

Faith is seeing God, in what He is, what He has done, and what His Word says….

…..and what we “see” is Someone who knows everything, and has provided for everything…..before we are aware we need anything.

So she took her son and placed him in the room she had set aside for Elisha….and got a servant to lead her to mount Carmel, where Elisha was having meetings.

Coming to him, she throws herself down and holds on to his feet….saying, “Did I not tell you not to lie to me!”

He knows then it is about the child….and learns that he has died.

He sends his servant ahead with his rod to lay it on the boy.

A man’s staff or rod, was a symbol of his work….and Elisha was a prophet of God….who spoke God’s Word……the rod symbolized that.

(Now we may think this strange…..why did not Elisha just pray for him?

Why did he have to leave his ministry at Carmel, and travel to the boy to heal him? Many times in the Bible…..a principle is shown only by action.

Remember Jesus telling the ten lepers to go and show themselves to the priests…..and it was in their going…..that they were healed. Luke 17:13-15)

Nothing happens until….

2 Kings 4:32, 34. “And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed.

And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm.”

Elisha, himself, comes and….places himself over the child….identifying with the death of the child….

(Jesus saw we were dead in trespasses and sin….and came…..identifying with our death of sin….”becoming sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him”

His sacrificial death was the ransom paid….)

But what Elisha did at first, is not enough to revive the boy…to make him alive again.

Nor is Christ’s death enough for us….without His resurrection.

His death takes away our sin, once for all…..but His resurrection gives us His life, His power to live…..

….both are required for us to have His life in us.

2 Kings 4:35-37 “Then he(Elisha) returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.

And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son.

Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.”

Life….Eternal life, is what God gives in Christ Jesus.

Christ has stretched Himself across the whole of our sin…..the sins of the mouth, the sins of the eyes, the sins of our hands,…..

…..the whole of our sin is covered by Him on the cross.

And then Christ stretched Himself completely across our life….all our plans, all our thoughts and ways,….

….the whole of our life….spirit, soul, and body….is completely saved….and we are given His life in us…..eternal, powerful, peaceful, joyful, useful life.

This woman was repaid for her kindness to God’s prophet….double:

Once in giving her a son…..and once in restoring her son to her.

If we are Christians…..we too, have noticed Christ….seen him as the Holy Son of God….

….and we have given Him a room, a place in our hearts and lives….

…..and when He has given us promises….blessings….we praise Him….

…then troubles come…..in whatever form….and seem to bring death…

….but faith sees God….His might, and His Word…and goes to Christ.

It must be Him that revives and restores. It is His life…..in us, and for us…that makes the miracle….for He is our life.

Have we learned this yet? He is our life….

He will leave whatever….and whoever….and deal with us…..if we will but go to Him….

…..with Christ, all our blessings are double:

They are for us…..that we may be a blessing to others…..showing His life through us.

Honey

Psalm 119:103 “How sweet are Thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

(This is in a Psalm where every verse but three, speak of HIs Word, precepts, testimonies, statutes, judgements.)

His Word is sweet to my taste! Taste and see that the Lord is good! (Psalm 34:8)

Many years ago, when I was a young girl, my Grandmother received a gift from her son in California. It was a gift set of honey….little bottles of orange honey, clover honey, buckwheat honey, and another I can not remember.

She thought it was wonderful….she loved honey…nature’s sweetener. And she used it sparingly….savoring every mouthful.

Now it struck me the other day, about the Word of God. How is it to us?

Psalm 19:9-10 “The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.”

We think of the great promises of the Word of God, and savor everyone….but His Word is a goldmine of knowledge and instruction for us Christians,…as we journey to heaven. (2 Timothy 3:15-17)

And HIs Word to us….whether in correction, or comfort and mercy….comes to us in His love….is as sweet as honey. (Hebrews 12:11…we are like Samson, getting honey from the lion Judges 14:5-9)

Sometimes it is as sweet as honey, as we receive it…..but bitter in our “belly”, our lives, for we will be mocked for following it,…and for warning people with it. (Ezekiel 3:3, Revelation 10:10)

And our gifts and callings….what do we think of them?

Exodus 3:8 “And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with mild and honey;…”

(There are twenty-one times….the promised land is spoken of as “a land flowing with milk and honey”)

That was their inheritance that the Lord promised them….and gave them.

What do we think of the many blessings in Christ Jesus that we have been given?

Ephesians 1:3, 18-20 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

And what the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power,

Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places.”

Our blessings come with His mighty power, by the Holy Spirit in us….do we love Him?

And our daily portion from the Lord….the daily grace and exhortation we receive….how do we receive it?

Do we consider that….like the manna, which tasted of honey (Exodus16:31)….which was given to the Israelites all the way to the Promised Land….on the ground outside their tents…

…..that this grace can be gathered and used…..or walked upon!

Honey has a lot of health benefits…..it is naturally anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial….if sealed it does not spoil. You can use it to treat coughs and sore throats (my Grandma’s favorite)….upper tract infections in children…..and you can put it on burns and wounds to promote healing.

The prophesy of Christ speaks of honey….which is again a type of the sweetness and healthiness of the Word of God….

Isaiah 7:14-15 “Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

Butter and honey shall He eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.”

Jesus ate honeycomb before HIs disciples after HIs resurrection, (to show that He was not a spirit, but a glorified man)…..preparing them to speak HIs Word about HIs death and resurrection.

Luke 24:40-47 “And when He had thus spoken, He shewed them His hands and His feet.

And while they yet believed…., He said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

And they gave Him a piece of broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.

And He took it, and did eat before them…..

Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.

And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”

It is our privilege to have the sweetness that the Bible gives us.

Yes, it requires reading, and searching, and praying……but like the inheritance of Israel….it is more than worth it.

Hebrews 6:10-12 “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have shewed toward His Name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

And ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

Jesus Christ has sweetness for us in Himself and His Word to us….let us get it.

Oh my brother (and sister),do you know the Savior, who is wondrous , kind and true….He’s the Rock of your salvation….there is honey in the Rock for you.

Have you tasted that the Lord is gracious? Do you walk in the way that’s new? Have you drunk from the living fountain? There is honey in the Rock for you.

Oh there is honey in the Rock my brother (and sister), there is honey in the Rock for you. Leave your sins for the blood to cover, there is honey in the Rock for you.

O Wretched Man that I am

Romans 7:24 “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”

Paul cried out in anquish about the wretched state of his life….for it seemed to be a mess.   He wanted to do God’s Will…but when he would go to do it,  he felt within himself a resistance…….inside of him,  wanting to be in charge. (Romans 7:23)…wanting his way, because of his coveteousness.

      And we, too, are wretched….not by my word….but by the Word of Him who is the Faithful and True witness…

….but we know it not.

Revelation 3:17 “Because thou sayest,  I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not theat thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:”

The Lord told my husband once….praying for the church in these days….”that we are totally unaware of our condition….that if any Laodicean would get a good look at his heart…he would want to do something about it.”

Now I want to stress that this is said to a church.

       But the Lord….the Amen,  the Faithful and True witness, the Beginning of the Creation of God says….His church is a mess.

But we think we are rich and increased with goods,   and have need of nothing.  And our Adversary, the devil, would keep us blinded to God’s Word…to the Truth, if he could.

But Jesus calls us to use eyesalve….”Anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see” (Rev. 3:18)

What is the eyesalve?   

      Some say the Holy Spirit, and He is the agency in us…the Godward side…the anointing.

But the manward side…the eyesalve…is honesty.

Luke 8:15 “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the Word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”

The honest and good heart….good only because it gets honest.   Having heard the Word…keeps it!

       Answering the demands that that Word makes on their lives…doing as they are told.  But this requires honesty…with the Lord, and with ourselves.

Honestly telling the Lord about how we feel,  about the situation as we see it, and ask for the power of the Holy Spirit to change us.

It is everyday obedience…just doing His Will in our everyday circumstances.  This leads us to know that His Kingdom is come within us.  

       This is what Paul wanted….and was frustrated by his own way.   

We usually do not see the last stronghold of rebellion within us….till the Lord, in love, points it out…and then, as Paul we see our wretchedness and cry out to do something about it. 

As a man thinketh in heart so he is.   Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life.

We must all come to the obedience of faith (Romans 16:26)  or to believeing obedience.

This is a deliberate act of our wills.

“I see it!”

I know what this life of obedience entails….I see that I do not have the life I should.

“I desire it!”

This is the life I want to live.

“I expect it!”

I will by HIs enabling live it…hear His Word, trust Him in it, and do it.

“I accept it!”

I know I have it, and I thank you, Lord, for it….even as Paul did…”I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord….” (Romans 7:25)

“I trust Christ for it!”

 Faithful is He that calleth you,  Who also will do it. (1 Thes. 5:24)

Romans 8:2, 10-11, 13  “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

      And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin;  but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

      But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you,  He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.

      For if ye live after the flesh,  ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”

Will we be delivered from our wretchedness….by being obedient to the Holy Spirit?

For it is by the Holy Spirit that all these things are accomplished.

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

This is one of my husband’s favorite verses….because here,  all unite to invite all to come….if they will…and take the water of life, which is the Spirit of God, by Christ….freely.

Christ has paid the price…not only for our salvation, but our sanctification through the Spirit….He has paid it all…but we must come and obey Him. When once we really see this for ourselves….we too, will rejoice and joy in our Lord Jesus Christ.

We are called to Pay the Price, for what we Have

Once, years ago, my husband was holding meetings in another church. Every night people were coming forward, confessing sins, and surrendering their lives to Christ….

….yet….after a while…he thought there would be more outreach for Christ.

People who open up their lives to Christ usually want to share their joy with others….

…but, later in the evening meetings, the same people would come forward,….mostly for the same things.

“What was the reason?” he asked the Lord.

And the Lord said, “They will not pay the price for what they have. I have heard their confessions….I have heard them as they commit this and that part of their life to Me….

…..but when they get up from the altar….

….they will not hold the ground I have given them in their lives….

…..for surrender to me will bring attacks from the Adversary.”

From then on, my husband not only sought to preach about sanctification…..but also about the warfare which comes from following the Lord whole-heartedly.

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

To stand in this scripture, is to hold on to the promises, and gifts, and callings….the grace and hope, that the Lord has won on the cross for us……against the temptations and tricks the world and the devil throw against us.

Our Strength is in the Lord,…..not in our surrender…..but we must stand with Him.

It is true, that when we are born again…..we do not possess all that He has for us.

We have the Holy Spirit as our Comforter and Guide, and faith as a gift…..and so we have the ability to “grow in grace and the knowledge of God”.

But we have to grow.

What is it to grow in grace?…..well, we can go from grace to grace by using the ability and power you have been given. God will give us as much as we use….not as much as we want.

And what is it to grow in the knowledge of God?….it is to read, and seek understanding of His Word.

To use that understanding to come to Him and say,….

“Lord, I see you want me to be patient amid trials (Romans 5:3). I am not….I panic, I get frustrated, I grumble….forgive me.

Please show me, blessed Holy Spirit, how to be this way….and work this patience within me.”

His Word gives knowledge in light…..and the experience He leads you in gives you knowledge in love.

Luke 8:5, 11 “A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.

Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God.”

In this day, we tend to play down His Word as our authority….and play up our “right” to obey it or not.

But once we have heard God’s Word….we are saved or condemned….by what we do about it….

1 Peter 1:23 “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.”

This “seed” has been spread everywhere….as Christ told His disciples to do.

Luke 8:12 “Those by the wayside are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.” (2 Timothy 2:26)

I have always thought of these “wayside hearers” to be the religious-hardened. Those that barely hear the Word in their ears, before rejecting it for themselves.

But….

The Bible plainly says, the Word was sown “in their hearts”……how is this possible?…..with this outcome?

First let me explain that the Word is never for our ears,…alone.

If that were the case, it would be like documents filed in our mind, for later….mostly forgotten about.

No, the Word is always through the ears….to the heart.

There must be a response to the Word….not just an emotional response,….but a turning toward, and a holding onto.

So how was this Word in their hearts…..yet “devoured” by the Adversary?

(he is pictured as “the fowls of the air”. Notice the term, “devoured”….as in

1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”)

Because,….it is “trodden down”….then it is taken away by the devil.

When we receive the Word of God to us, we can do two things: hold on to it….or throw it down.

(My husband used the illustration of the Word as pieces of paper….and his pocket on his shirt as his heart.

The Word comes into the heart….but, oh, that does not mean anything for me…..now….and the paper (word) is taken from the pocket (heart) and tossed on the floor.

Oh, that Word is good, I should probably pray about that…..later….and the paper slides out of the pocket on to the floor.

We may have a number of “reasons” that the Word is not held on to….and obeyed…..but the Word always ends up on the floor.

And my husband is walking all over them! Illustrating the way we “trod them down”….

……..if we do not hold and obey them.)

When we receive God’s Word to us…..and it does not matter how it comes….through a message, the scriptures, through someone’s testimony….however it comes,…

….we must hold on to it….surrendering right then to that Word….

…….using it on ourselves, in honesty with God….for it is His Word to us.

Luke 8:8, 15 “And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bear fruit a hundredfold. And when He had said these things, He cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the Word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”

Jeremiah 17:9-10 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins (will), even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

If we keep God’s Word, in honesty (which shows it is a “good heart”), then the fruit of the Spirit will begin to manifest itself…first in us:

Love for the Lord and His Word…

Joy…that exuberance, which comes from His presence within

Peace..a settled union with God’s Will

Then the fruit of the Spirit without, to others…both of the household of faith and not:

Long-suffering or patience with others.

Gentleness or showing others Christ as we would children.

Goodness or kindness especially to those who do not show kindness to us.

Faith…that faith that stands with Christ in the world. (Jude 3)

Meekness….or keeping ourselves in our humble place before God..whether in success or failure.

Temperance…to be moderate or hang on with a loose hand all our worldly goods.

The price we pay, for what Christ has won for us…..and it is all of Him….but the price He asks us to pay….is to stand with Him in everything…

…will we?

Let us Come Boldly to the Throne of Grace.

Hebrews 4:14-16 “Seeing then we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

For we have not a high priest which can not be touched with the feelings of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

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

This is written to Christians:

As a child of the our Heavenly Father, we are to come boldly to His Throne, that we may obtain (get into our experience) mercy, and find the grace we need to help.

Mercy shows the inclination of God to relieve the misery of fallen men and women.

His Sovereign mercy is to His elect (the born again ones).

It is reserved for the heirs of Salvation, which is passed on to them through Christ Jesus, their Mediator. He appears before God the Father for us.

These Sovereign mercies, are more than the temporal mercies He gives to all men.

Matthew 5:45 “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”

God’s temporal mercies include, as the verse says: sun, rain, ground which produces food, and companions. These are for everyone, no matter whether they are good or evil.

But for His own children; God gives mercy which transforms the heart of the individual, and enriches their lives in spiritual blessings.

Ephesians 2:4-5 “But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us,

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace are ye saved);”

It is mercy that quickened us to life in Christ when they were dead in sins.

Titus 3:5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost;”

It is mercy that saves us.

1 Peter 1:3-4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,”

His abundant mercy gives us an inheritance, which is reserved, just for us, in heaven.

2 Corinthians 1:3 “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;”

Unto His own children, God is the Father of Mercies.

Time would fail us, if each Christian would tell of His preserving, supplying, pardoning, and sustaining mercy to them, for we are called the “vessels of mercy”.(Romans 9:23)

God would…..if we would yield to Him…..fill us up with His great mercy. Full and overflowing.

This is the mercy God gives from His throne of grace.

And “grace to help in time of need.”

This grace is enabling grace.

Grace to do what needs to be done. And we are to come boldly to God’s throne to receive it.

We are invited to come, on the merits of our Mediator, Christ Jesus.

And invited to bring our requests for mercy and our needs,……to be supplied by grace.

When you think of the Almighty and His Power: He can do anything.

He is Creator. He created the worlds, and heaven of heavens.

As David prays: “Create in me a clean heart, O God:”. So God creates within us, by the Holy Spirit, new desires, new hopes, new goals.

He is the Sustainer. Which means He will keep us from trouble by guidance;…….and if we fall into trouble He will lead us out, and uphold us through it.

He sustains us in His Word, and by His Holy Spirit.

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

He is the Rock on which we should build our lives.

Our circumstances change often. But His love, mercy and grace never does.

We fall,….or fail often.

But He never fails us,….let us keep coming to Him.

Let us come boldly to the Throne of Grace to obtain mercy, and find grace to help us……..in this time of need.

Are we Spiritually “Real”?

If Christianity is only a religion to you….I would ask you….

….Have you ever met the True and Living God….have you every come to a personal relationship with Christ Jesus….do you know the interference of the Holy Spirit in your day to day life?

(Interference, I believe, is a good word….because the Holy Spirit is a check in our spirits….a voice within….He gives joy and peace….and correction.

He interferes with the way we would go….and says, “Follow Christ”.

Certainly He guides, instructs, empowers, for He is the Person of God in our lives…..do you have this reality?)

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

I am no Theologian or Philosopher…..but I believe our souls are our personalities.

They are that which makes us unique…..no two are exactly the same.

They are that which the Bible calls…”the heart” (Proverbs 23:26)

They are the seat of our personality….all that makes us, us!

This I believe is the most precious thing to God in all of His Creation.

The human soul….having lost it through the Fall.

He bought it back again at such a high price.

And what good would gaining the whole world do,…..if we had to spend eternity in the Lake of Fire?

Or what should a man give in exchange for his soul?

What of all Creation could possibly be of more value than his eternal soul?

We are saved….body, soul, and spirit…

…or we are damned….body, soul, and spirit.

We are an eternal being. We will exist for eternity, in one of two places.

We will come to Christ and save our soul….and live for eternity with God in bliss!

Or we will lose our soul….and spend eternity with Satan in torment.

And what will we have to do, to lose our soul?

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

We are all born under a curse….until we come to Christ….Who bore all the curse of our sin….on Himself.

We are all lost….wandering in a world which is also lost. One among many souls which do not realize the value of ourselves….

….seeking, instead, to find our value in things, or people, or ideas.

We do not have to do anything to get lost…..we are.

Only One….Christ Jesus….knows our true value….which is found in His love, His purpose, and His provision for us….in His sacrificial death.

Only One….Christ Jesus….can save us.

So….what will we give in exchange for our soul?

To answer the call of Christ in this Laodicean Age….calls for an answer, not of words….but an answer of a life open to, and receptive to Him.

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

Let me ask you…..by what have you been “profited” (profited here means: made useful. Simply how is it useful to you….to gain even the whole world….but lose yourself…..your soul.

You see, your soul is not just the “thing” that goes to heaven or hell…..but it is the very real essence of you.

And you are valuable….

….would you throw away your most valuable jewel?

Many have…..but will you?

What have you spent your life in seeking?

Isaiah 55:2-3 “Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? And your labor for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto Me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

Incline your ear, and come unto Me; hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.”

And if you could acquire the whole world (all that you desire in it)….but in order to have it, you would lose your soul?

(Remember our souls are our personalities. All that make us, us.)

Would you do it?

Well, Christ Jesus has lived, and died, and was raised again….that our souls might be free….

…free from our sin.

…free from the influence of the world.

…free from the narrowness of our fears.

…free from being lost….to the glorious purpose of Christ….a life open to and receptive to Him, Who loves us….and calls us.

Fear not

My husband had a message once……about  the first time God says to Abraham…”Fear not, Abraham: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” (Genesis 15:1)

       My husband made the comment…and I have not forgotten it…that the Lord only says, “Fear not”…

……when there  is  something to fear. 

       That He says it, to remind us…that He is there!  To take our eyes off of the thing itself….and put our trust on Him.

There are sixty-one times the Lord says. Fear not,  to someone in the Bible…from Genesis to Revelation.   (Revelation 1:17 “And when I saw Him, I fell at HIs feet as dead.  And He laid HIs right hand upon me, saying unto me,   Fear not; I am the first and the last:”)

      The Lord only  says this to His own….for they are to look to HIm and be saved….delivered from fear of mind and heart, and embolden with HIs Presence and guidance.

Exodus 14:13 “And Moses said unto the people,  Fear ye not,  stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will shew to you to day:  for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.”

(this is one of my favorites,….because the grandest army was behind them….coming to destroy and re-establish their slavery.    They had chariots and horses, weapons and many men…..yet God said….”Fear ye not”,….

…then He said, “Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord.”    

       At the very beginning of their trip to the Promised Land,  God deals with them…to believe Him….to see,  that what He says….He will do.)

Exactly what God said, happened.  God made a way for His people,  delivering them….and taking them out of the circumstances so completely….they did not need to fear the Egyptians anymore.

Fear is one of the many things which the devil uses,  to get us to see the circumstances around us…rather than God.

1 Peter 5:7-9 “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.        

      Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

      Whom resist steadfast in the faith,…”

To “cast” something,   is to stand back from and throw it away from you, a little or great distance.

        To cast our care upon God is to put it away from us….and upon the sure shoulders of Christ,…for might;  and the sure heart of Christ,…because of HIs love.

“He careth for you”….to be of interest.   God is interested in all your cares.   We think, of course, the big ones….but He is interested in even goose-quills….the smallest of our concerns. 

(The story is told of George Muller, whose ministry was of faith. He prayed for many thousands of dollars for the missionaries of the China Inland Missionary program. He started an orphanage in England….by faith getting land to build on, that was impossible.

        Yet when a man came to see him, the man was let in and Mr.      told him, “ I am finishing a letter that is very important….please sit down and I will be with you in a minute.”

The man noticed, that Mr. Muller wrote a few words, then quickly bowed his head, and prayed….then finished his letter….and sealing it….he looked up and asked what the man wanted.

        The man spoke of his business,….then asked,  “Please, tell me what you prayed for when you were writing.”

Mr. Muller said, “As I said this letter was very important….and my pen tip was failing….and I asked the Lord to keep it, till I was finished with the letter.”)

To be “sober” here is to be serious in the work of the Lord….not to fritter away our time on nothing things….things of amusement only.  Or on worldly pursuits….but to seriously consider that the time we have is limited….

….and God has called us to walk with HIm.

We have an adversary….an active enemy….”walking about” like a wild lion….looking for food.  Lions roar….to scare or cause us to run into something we should not.

      He “walks about”,….coming from any direction with trouble,  doubt or mistrust,…to cast us down in mind and heart. 

      He would destroy us, if he could….but works mostly to get us to give up, ourselves,   on God, or His Word.

But we are to “resist steadfast in the faith”. 

     We are to stand in the faith.   Faith sees God, and if the roaring adversary can get us to “see” something else—our problem,….our selves,…others…then our faith grows weak…and we are not standing.     I want to mention….that “steadfast” means to hold up.   It is from the Holy Spirit…a word that denotes inner strength to continue…through battle and storm.

Fear not.  

     Psalm 31:13 “For I have heard the slander of man:  fear was on every side:  while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.

      But I trusted in Thee, O Lord:  I said, Thou art my God.”

David had many men try and slander or hurt him….even of his own household….but….David trusted the Lord.

Fear not.

      2 Chronicles 20:1,3,17 “It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.

      And Jehoshaphat feared,…..and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.”

But he heard….

      “Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem:  fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you.”

Jehoshaphat feared….but he sought the Lord….getting all the people to do the same….and God delivered them.

Fear not.

      Paul, on the way to Rome….in the middle of a terrible storm.   All men were shaken.  

Yet he hears…

Acts 27:23-25 “For there stood by me this night the angel of God, Whose I am, and Whom I serve,

       Saying,  Fear not, Paul: thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

       Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer:  for I believe God,  that it shall be even as it was told me.”

It is interesting to note:   that there were many people on that ship….yet for Paul’s sake….they all survive.  

       God is interested in us…and in all our cares….big and small.

When Jesus gave command to the disciples before He sent them out to prepare for HIs coming through the villages….He said, 

Matthew 10:24-25, 29-31 “The disciple is not above his Master, nor the servant above his Lord.

It is enough for the disciple that he be as his Master, and the servant as his Lord.

       Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

       But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

       Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”

The term “value” here has to do with “bearing through”….simply God is going to see us through…because He cares and values us.

Many times we are called to “Fear God”,….and many times we are told to “Fear not,..nor be dismayed.”

Let us know,….trust….believe God….and fear Him…..seeking His deliverance and help….for He will see us through….the largest waters, and the in the smallest cares.