The Still Small Voice

1 Kings 19:12 “And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.”

When we think of God’s power, we think of miracles from the Bible:

The sun standing still (Joshua 10:12-14)

or time going backward as a sign for the healing of king Hezekiah. (2 Kings 20:8-11).

Indeed, there was power there….

But, when God’s power is usually seen, it is thru His Word.

(He stressed this , at the first:

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

He did not have to speak; all He had to do was will it.

But He did speak, to show the value He places on His Word.)

To stress the real Power of His Voice, we would do back to a cave and a hiding Prophet.

1 Kings 19:9 “And he (Elijah) came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?”

Indeed, What was Elijah doing in that cave? How did he come to this?

Elijah was a man of Gilead, who was distressed at the low spiritual state of Israel. They were worshipping idols, and killing those who worshipped God. Yes, things were very low.

So he began to pray. God had told Israel that if they worshipped other gods , then He would withhold the rain. (Deuteronomy 11:16-17).

Elijah prayed God would withhold rain, to get Israel’s attention…..so they would turn back to God.

James 5:17 ” Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.”

For six months Elijah prayed for God to withhold the rain, and He did.

Then Elijah was told to go to Ahab, king of Israel and tell him:

1 Kings 17:1 ” And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.”

This might seem the wrong way to go about it….for Ahab did not believe in God…he had completely become an idol worshipper.

But someone coming and saying , in effect, “The true God of Israel is listening to my prayers,….And He is going to stop the rain, all the rain and dew; until I pray again.”

That got Ahab’s attention!

Elijah was told to go and hide…for Ahab would try and kill him. He did try. But God hid him….till:

After 3 years, Israel was in famine….cattle, crops, everything withering,

Then…

Elijah was told (1 Kings 18:1). “….Go, show thyself to Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.”

How would he do that? Through Elijah’s prayer…but first, Elijah wanted to showed Ahab and all the Israelites,…..the power of God,…..when you obey Him.

So , he set up a “contest” between the priests of the idol, and him.

1 Kings 18:19 “Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred which eat at Jezebel’s table.”

It was a simple contest :

1 Kings 18:23-24 “Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:

And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.”

So the prophets of Baal began:

1 Kings 18:26 “And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that heard. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.”

Notice, “No voice, nor any that heard”. Tricks and show…..but no reality.

So now it was Elijah’s turn.

Remember Elijah began this, by praying that God would withhold rain, so Israel would be awakened to their sin of idolatry and come back to God.

But how would they be awakened?

By a mighty demonstration of God’s Power?

For even under famine, the people had not turned back to God.

Called to the work of making everyone know that God was not pleased with Israel’s sin.

This he did when he went to Ahab.

Everyone knew that he had gone before the king and declared “No rain or dew” till he said.

And there had been no dew or rain for 3 years!

What were the means to Awaken the hearts to God’s demands for His people?

How were they to “hear” for themselves, and return to Him?

Well, it is through His Word spoken to our hearts…..

After three years of drought and famine; Elijah was told to go back and God would send rain.

God puts HIs people through a measured chastening….It was time to send rain. He would send it through Elijah’s prayer, but…….

As for the “contest”, I believe Elijah thought (as most of us would),…..if the people could just see some mighty work, that only God could do, then they would believe.

God’s people would know….once for all–that God was God….and return to Him.

(Remember the people are standing around, watching as the priests of the idol fail…..and now their attention is turned to Elijah)

1 Kings 18:30-35 ” And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down.

And Elijah took twelve stones, ….And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.

And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.

And he said, Do it a second time. And they did….And he said, Do it a third time. And they did it the third time.

And water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.”

(Where did he get the water? Mt. Carmel is about a few miles from the Mediterranean Sea)

He made the Altar so wet it could never burn….except by the Power of God.

Listen to the Prayer of Elijah:

1Kings 18:37-39 “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.

Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that Thou hast turned their heart back.

The the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.”

Two things to notice:

Elijah did not pray for rain, here.

And the people said “the Lord, he is the God”…….not our God.

The fire came down! First the burnt sacrifice was consumed, which meant God heard Elijah, and honored him before the king and the people.

Then the wood,

Then the stones of the altar, itself

Then the very dust on the ground where the altar sat.

And licked up the water in the trench.

Then the prophets and priests of Baal were slain!

This was a mighty demonstration; so….

Everything is set in order, right?

But what did it do for King Ahab, or the people?

Where was the rain?

It came, and at Elijah’s prayer, but who was noticing , then?

1 Kings 18:42-45 “So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,

And said to his servant, Go up now , look toward the sea. And he went up and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand……..And it came to pass in the meanwhile, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain.”

The fire falling was a mighty answer to prayer, but the people’s hearts were not turned back to God.

They might have been shown the true God…….

But I believe, that to turn their hearts back , required Elijah to preach God’s Word to the people that he had prayed for,…..till their hearts said The Lord is our God…..

…..people hearing for themselves God’s requirements on their own lives….

…..comes through preaching, and teaching God’s Word, and prayers.

(We can know God is able, without ever knowing God is able for me. That is the problem here; God was real now, They had to believe in His power…but they did not believe in Him for their lives)

Then what did this mighty demonstration do for Elijah? For Ahab? For the people?

For Ahab there was no change in his heart.

1 Kings 19:1 ” And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.”

He ran home and told Jezebel; nothing changed in his life.

For the people? Some say that the worship of Baal was never the same. And the servants of God we’re not brutally killed as before.

But most did not turn back to God, even though they knew He was “The God.”

And for Elijah? That is the saddest situation of all.

Having done such a Mighty Demonstration of God’s Power….

Since the rain was given in answer to his prayer….he thought:

Surely everything is over with….Israel will now worship The Lord God , and Elijah could go and relax.

Everything was fixed…they were God’s People again. Right?

God enables His servants….there was ample power at Elijah’s disposal.

But……God requires His servants to see the job done; and Elijah thought the job was over with.

But it wasn’t:

1 Kings 19:2 “Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time”

Now as God’s Servants, we should expect trials, and enemies in this world.

But Elijah was thrown off guard, by thinking that the work was done, that he and God had won. There would be no opposition.

But, again, that was not the case.

1 Kings 19:3 “And when he saw that , he arose, and went for his life,….”

After such a mighty demonstration,….then running for his life.

Now , I would not judge Elijah….I have been tricked up myself, thinking things were not what they actually were.

And thinking that if I could just somehow show God’s Power, too, things would be different.

What we need to come to is God’s Word, and Voice.

What was it that began Elijah’s ministry?

The Word of God spoken to Moses so many years before…a promise that God surely would; and did, bring to pass by his seeking it.

And what caused Elijah to return , to pray for rain, after three years….God’s Word to him.

So now let us consider a lesson that God used to teach His runaway prophet. (For He was not done with him, though he had run away.)

1 Kings 19:9-10 “And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?

And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life , to take it away. “

Maybe he actually thought he was the only one left. A sure sign that no one seemed to stand with him. And here he was hiding inside the cave.

1 Kings 19:11-13 “And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by , and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind:

and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:

And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And behold, there came a voice unto him and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?”

God’s Word and Voice began his ministry; and here God teaches His prophet a lesson about His Voice in comparison to Mighty Demonstrations of Power.

God calls Elijah to come out of hiding, after showing him He was not in the wind, earthquake, or fire….but it is His Voice that brings out His real servants to Himself.

Here God gives his runaway servant some instructions, and Elijah just goes and does it. No need for anything else.

And what else does God show him? The prophet who said “I only am left”?

1 Kings 19:18 “Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.”

There were seven thousand of God’s servants, throughout Israel.

The important thing here, is: Having heard the Word of the Lord again, Elijah just goes and does it.

There is no fear, no hesitation, he just does what he is told.

This is true power…God’s Voice speaking to us…..and us doing what He says.

He can do what He promises,…….and He can take care of us, through it all.

Faith is:

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

Faith makes the things of God, real to us.   I often say,  that faith sees God.   Always looks toward Him, and in every circumstance….faith knows God,…there in those circumstances.

Let us talk a little about  the reality faith brings:

Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

   Justification is such a tremendous doctrine….God makes me, a wretched sinner, who in faith comes to Christ for salvation….not guilty before His holy court….because of the merits of Christ Jesus the Lord.    

   But justification is more than being not guilty….it is the positive merits of Christ Jesus the Lord being applied to me….that I might approach God, as my Father in heaven….

…this is that “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”.     

       1 Corinthians 5:21 “For He hath made Him (Jesus Christ) to be sin for us,  who knew no sin;  that we (the sinner) might be made the righteousness of God….in Him.”

Romans 5:2 “By Whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

We are justified by faith….we have access by faith….

….so we can see….faith is a living and growing vitality within us.   

We have access into this  grace.  This grace is empowering, for  by it, we stand (in a world which hates Christ….grace lifts us out of the mire of sin, and…”going along, to get along” attitude….to hold on to the promises and Word of God.).

      This grace is empowering, for by it, we can rejoice in hope. 

      This hope is a faculty of the Holy Spirit within us….it is the confident expectation within us…that God will do what He says.   It is an anchor, which holds us in the storms of life…for we are anchored to God by hope.  Hebrews 6:19-20   (It is not…I hope, I hope, I hope….but it is from the Holy Spirit…real confidence in God’s Word)

      And we can rejoice in hope….of the glory of God.   By faith, we are no longer afraid of God….we have access to His presence in prayer, now…..and one day to His presence forever.   

     Therefore, my soul rejoice!   And stand in that rejoicing….for the glory of God now is shining on us in Christ….not for punishment,  but for enabling grace and hope!

This faith and grace are so enabling….so sustaining…that we can glory in:

Romans 5:3-4 “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also:  knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

    And patience, experience; and experience, hope:”

Tribulations worketh patience….worketh.  We are not zapped…but taught of the Holy Spirit. 

    We learn patience…or the letting God work all things out, the way He wants.  

    These are many experiences…but they lead to more growth in hope.   We have seen the deliverances, the answers fulfilled,  the problem solved.  (the weight of our anchor of hope…grows with every trial to steady and hold us…as we yield to it)

How can we learn His faithfulness….if we have no troubles….no hurts….no tribulations (trials)?  These work within us patience….for we learn to wait for God to make good on His Word.   

     When these trials are all to the glory of God,  then rejoice!

By faith, we experience more hope….and become not ashamed (again,  we stand)…and then we begin to know the reality of:

Romans 5:5 “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

It is amazing….but  Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:13 says:  “And now abideth faith, hope, charity (love),  these three; but the greatest of these is charity (love).”    

    And here, to the Romans, he is describing the growth of faith….it is faith, hope, leading to love.   

God’s love being “shed abroad in our hearts”….which means, it pours forth…gushes….into our hearts….giving us love for Christ….and love for others.  That love is there by the Holy Ghost which is given to us.

Faith sees God….and from there we learn from Him, by the Holy Spirit within.   The lessons are varied….some long, some short….all according to His Word and in His time.

   And faith is the victory…

1 John 5:3-5 “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not grievous.

   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?”

We are to overcome the world….it’s purpose, it’s attitudes, it’s feelings about things….through faith.  For faith sees God and leads us out of ourselves.

Faith holds on in hope….and faith ignites love for God and others within us (sheds it abroad).

What a victory we can have over the world and it’s “things”….by the faith given us by the Holy Spirit, by the precious merits of Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Path of the Just.

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

When the sun first begins to break, the sky begins to be light. Then the sun comes up, and in the east, the light comes streaming.

But there are shadows, for the light shows all that stands in the way of complete light.

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

Until the day break, and the shadows flee away. When the shadows are gone, then there is nothing between us and the Son of God, our Light source.

Our Lord, here, is inviting us to come with Him further into the Light of His love, so even the shadows “flee” away.

Now shadows are not the thing itself, but the impress of it. But it is in darkness.

What this means is that the sin itself has been taken care of:

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

But the influence of the sin, or the resentment because of the consequences of the sin are still there.

These are the shadows.

They are darkness, but not the substance of sin.

Many people are confused about this.

They think that if the sin is confessed, and they know they are forgiven; then all the other emotions concerning the sin, are gone to.

Suppose you have a habit of lying: you have hurt your family, people at work, etc. by your habit.

Then you are given real light about this, and you confess it.

(Perhaps you say, why would we need light about lying. Surely everyone knows it’s wrong.

Maybe they know in a general sense, but the offense of lying when it lays upon my personal heart, is an eye opener.)

But even though you have confessed your sin, and asked God to cleanse you from the desire and habit of lying;…..the reason for it is still there to face everyday…..the desire to look better than you are….

…and that “shadow” needs to be dealt with.

These are the shadows, the image of the sin, though not the sin.

The trouble with Shadows is that the influence of our Adversary, the Devil can be felt through them.

But how do we deal with shadows?

First, it is the work of the Spirit of God within you to show you light. Light to see and deal with the attitudes surrounding the sin.

Philippians 3:13-14 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

There is putting behind,…..and there is reaching forth.

This requires us to be in subjection to the Holy Spirit, for He asks you to be obedient to the Light He gives in these matters.

These shadows that remain, are shadows only; but they are there and the influence of the the Adversary can be felt through them.

They are there because of the choices we have made, true; but we can also make choices which remove them, by coming more into the Light.

Shadows do not exist in light

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

We are to go to the high noon of Light with Christ Jesus. Many choose, instead to stay in the shadowy existence of the fear of the truth.

But don’t.

God’s Light shows truth, yes, and when we see the reasons of our actions, it gives us the ability to deal with what is really behind the: “why we did what we did”.

Let’s face it, we all have reasons we act the way we do. But have you dealt with the reasons? Or just the actions?

True Light; the Light of Life, deals with both. It frees you from both the sin and the reason of the sin.

And gives you joy.

John 16:24 “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”

Joy is one of the grandest attributes of God, Himself.

Joy is not dependent upon the people or events around me.(That is happiness, which has to do with how things or people treat us, or those we love.)

Joy springs from the presence of God in my life, for He is the abundant power of good, and peace.

In this, we know the purifying of the Holy Spirit, assuring me that I am right with God.

I am made right with others,

And, importantly, I know that I all is well between me and myself.

(How many things come from the disappointment we have about ourselves? How many times have we hated what we have done, but refused to look at it? How many times have we hidden our hurt behind a phony face of ridicule?)

These all can be brought out into the Light; and put behind us. We can be free from them.

The Joy of the Lord can become a force in my life.

It is a great light, illuminating the whole of my being; dispelling the darkness, and despair that dominates so often. He has it for us, in His Light.

Go down to the Potter’s House.

Jeremiah 18:1-2 “The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying, Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there will I cause thee to hear My words.”

Jeremiah was God’s Prophet. He spoke to Judah for God. But when called to go to the potter’s house, he did not refuse,…..because God spoke to him.

He went, without question, to hear what God would say,……he didn’t say. “Hey, Lord, I am your prophet. I don’t need to go to a potter’s house. He only makes pots, but I give your message to priests, the king, and the people….You just speak to me.”

No,……Jeremiah wanted to hear the Lord’s Word,…..no matter how or through who it came.

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 hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel as seemed good to the potter to make it.”

Now the potter uses clay and water (lots of water) to make the clay very pliable in his hands.

The two are mixed together, and when the clay seems soft enough;…..the shaping starts.

The potter starts the wheel and puts the clay on; and begins to shape the vessel he wants to make.

But the vessel was marred, because the clay had a hard spot.

The water had not been absorbed into that part of the clay, so when the potter’s hand was trying to form it,……it refused to bend, and so it destroyed the pattern, marring the vessel.

Often we are the same way.

The Holy Spirit has spoken to us, trying to work the “water” of the Lord’s Word in us,…..and we just refuse to hear….at least in some spots of our life.

(In scripture water is a picture of the Holy Spirit working through the Word; Ephesians 5:26 “That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word.)

When we do not yield to the Word, it becomes a dry, hard spot in our life.

Then when the Lord is forming us according to His Will, we become marred, and unable to be molded into what He wants.

(Sometimes the hard part tears a hole in the vessel, sometimes it just will not bend, or yield to the Potter’s hand.)

“……So he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.”(Jeremiah 18:4)

So what does the potter do? What did He do with Israel? And what does God do with us?

Does He give up on us? No.

Jeremiah 18:6 “O house of Israel, can not I do with you as this potter? Saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in Mine hand, O house of Israel.”

He takes the hard clay out , and then adds more water till the clay is completely pliable, so that the rest of the clay is reusable: to be able to be made into what the Lord wants.

The hard spots in us are varied:

They are those things the Lord has told us to do, and we have put off.

We know what the Lord is telling us. We know what we should do;…..but we think we have a better plan.

We even come to believe that the Lord will not care…it is such a small thing.

But it becomes a hard place, and comes between us and God in our lives, until it is removed.

Or this hard spot is a resentment we have left unconfessed (why should I confess this attitude? They did this to me. Let them apologize first!),………so it festers into something between the Lord and us.

[I will tell you, speaking from personal experience, that these things are deadening. They make you insensible to God’s voice. Any attitude , hurt, or affections which pushes you away from God (His call, His love, His power to do for you) causes real separation.

Forgiveness is freedom—do not let anyone tell you different. Forgiving someone frees you from their control. They can not hurt you anymore; for forgiveness lifts you above them.]

But once these (and any other “hard” places) are removed, the Holy Spirit can add the water of the Word to us, making us pliable in His hands; so He can form us into a Vessel unto honor, meet for the Master’s use.

(Pliable to His hands. See what He does! His hands in us, and for us—for He shapes our circumstances, our path, as well as us.)

2 Timothy 2:19-21 “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that name the the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor and some of dishonor.

If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”

Do you want to be “prepared”? Nothing coming between you and your Lord?

Ready to face any challenge, or call?

Then yield; give yourselves into the hands of the Almighty Potter, and let Him work within you—and see what He will work for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

(Some believe, if all the Christians would be praying…..each in their part of the world……that all the world would be covered in prayer.

Wouldn’t that be a wonderful thing for the strengthening of our faith!)

We are all called to prayer….

…..some as prayer warriors: fighting on their knees for the Lord’s Will done in His people….specifically.

But most to pray for themselves, their family, their church and for the church around the world.

These are basic prayers for the furtherance of the gospel…for souls to be saved, and then made disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

…for specific battles for friends and church fellowship.

…and against the enemies around the world which would destroy the faith of believers.

To be faithful in prayer is one of the hardest things…..for the devil would always give us something to do….when we should be praying.

“Doing” is easier than praying….even though the battle be hot, we can at least see we are doing something.

But prayer, is unseen….often unappreciated. We are not sure if it is doing anything! Especially when our prayers are not answered….quickly.

An example:

Exodus 17:8 “Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.”

God had just given water from the rock for the supply of Israel.

Water was so precious in the desert, that when it was discovered, then usually there would be a fight over who could have it.

This is what happened here.

I want to mention that this is the first battle Israel has had to fight! God has delivered them without a battle so far,….

….but as with all of us, there comes a time when we must stand for what God has given us.

So Israel is called to do here.

Exodus 17:9 “And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.”

“Choose us out men”…..all Israel was to be represented, even though not all would fight. They would be under Joshua as their leader, and fight.

This they would do….

…..and we should be ready also, to stand and fight with the Lord in the battles that come to us.

“I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand”….Moses would take the same rod God told him to use in delivering Israel from Egypt….

….and lift it up before the Lord in prayer…..

….and we should also be ready to wait before the Lord, in prayer, lifting up the promises the Lord has given us….that the victory we need, might be given.

Exodus 17:11-12. “And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.”

Notice, it is not Moses standing, or standing alone…..that brought victory, but the lifting up of the rod, in his hands.

It was what God ordained and promised to use…..not the strength of Moses…(or us, either.)

But God’s Word and promises….lifted up to Him that make the victory

This battle was was from sun up to sun down…..Not something of a few moments.

Both men felt the weight of the battle….each in his place…..as they needed to be.

Without Moses lifting up his rod,….the battle would not have been won.

Without Joshua and the sword, the battle would not have been won.

The Amalek’s may have been more concerned with the men fighting in the field….but God, from the first battle….ordained the means of prayer.

What we are considering is to “Pray without ceasing”.

To do our duty where the Lord’s battle is concerned….and pray….that victory may be ours.

To be in an attitude of prayer…all the time.

To easily come before the throne of grace, because we are seeking the Lord’s Will….all the time.

Give diligence

2 Peter 1:10-11 “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall;

For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly unto the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Heaven is the Father’s house, and all believers have exactly the same title. It is home to the Father’s children and the weakest or most youngest of the saints will be as welcome there as the strongest and most useful.

But the everlasting kingdom is another thing. It speaks of reward, and our place in this kingdom is determined by our devotion to Jesus Christ here on earth.

Therefore, Peter, uses this phrase, “give diligence” twice in this one chapter.

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

2 Peter 1:10 “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure:..”

What is diligence? It is to urge on, to make haste with eagerness and earnestness.

We are to urge ourselves on in our walk with the Lord…..as swiftly as we can go….with joy and consistency.

This is giving diligence.

(Pilgrims Progress: Christian going through the Valley of the Shadow of death…..part in darkness, keeping close eye on the narrow way through it. And part in sunshine…seeing all the traps and snares. But the one consistent thing which got him through was that he did not want the Lord ashamed of him. Once he thought about turning back….how far had he come? How far did he have to go? The mouth of hell opened beside the way….and in fear and trembling he hesitated. But he betook himself to prayer….and continued. This is diligence.)

We are to give diligence to add to our faith….all the other characteristics of our Lord, such as virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, love.

(That we might bear fruit to the Lord….and not be barren 2 Peter 1:8)

We also are to give diligence, to make our calling and election sure.

(We make our election sure….by fulfilling our calling. By doing the Will of God, we show that we are of the elect. You will notice, it is not showing others….no,…but it is doing these things for confidence for ourselves in what the Lord has said…..”…for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:” 2 Peter 1:10)

We are to give diligence that we might enjoy the fruits of the Spirit within us…..and to take hold on the stability of His calling and election for us.

How easy it is to get blindsided by failures, or things that did not go as we thought?! And begin to doubt one thing and then another.

2 Peter 1:9 “But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.”

Real diligence in our Christian life…..keeps Christ and His grace and promises before our face.

2 Peter 1:2-4 “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord

According as 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:…”

(Knowledge of the Lord is spoken of three times in this first chapter….showing how important our personal relationship…our personal knowledge of the Lord, is)

Our calling is to glory and virtue…..we are to manifest the glory of the Lord in our lives….in praise and obedience.

John 17:10, 22 “And all Mine are Thine, and Thine are Mine; and I am glorified in them.

And the glory which thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:”

And are calling is to have virtue…”artea”. “excellence”.

This excellence is not of ourselves….but given from God….by the Holy Spirit. He is that excellence within us….which we are to honor.

Diligence is something we do…..we “give” diligence.

It is a precious gift to our God, that we, in eagerness and earnestness, continue to do His Will….no matter where His Way leads us.

The Battles we fight

When we are born again,  we are called to stand with Christ….and when we do, we will need to learn to fight, to hold the ground won for us by Christ.

        For our Adversary the devil, and the world…will seek to withstand every victory we have.

To illustrate, I will speak about the battles of Joshua and Israel, when they first came into the Promised land.

Joshua 6:2 “And the Lord said unto Joshua,  See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor.”

Jericho was the first battle….and it should have been a pattern for all others.   Not in its form…but in its means.

         Here, Joshua met the Captain of the host of the Lord, who was in charge of all….and fell on his face and worshiped. Joshua 5:13-14

         Here, it was learned that the means God uses, is often not thought much of by men….it was ram’s horns…not the silver trumpets that were used.  Joshua 6:8

         It was silence from the people…with them and the  Ark simply walking about the city,…until the seventh day,  when after seven times, they were to shout…and go up before them, and fight. Joshua 6:10,15-16             All of these means were ridiculous to men…but they were God’s Way.

        Here it was learned that the first of everything was to be given to God….Joshua 6:19

The second battle was Ai….and here a lesson in sin, unconfessed,…hindering the victory is shown.   Men of Israel died,  which should not have….

        But after the sin was taken care of…(and we should  confess our sins…everyday…that our work is not hindered. 1 John 1:9),…

……exact instructions were given for the next battle…and victory:

Joshua 8:2 “And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king:  only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves:  lay thee an ambush for the city behind it.”

Here, the means is an ambush.   They were to hide behind the city,….and when the troops in front pretended to be beaten….they were to come around, into the city and burn it!   Then the men which pretend to be beaten will turn around!  Which caused Ai to be trapped from both ends.

         Ai was a small city….and when we have frustrations…or just small problems….or slights….we tend to think we can deal with them ourselves.

         We can not….

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

        Ephesians 4:30-31 “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

     Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:”

But we can have victory, where there is defeat….when we confess and put away our sins….even seemingly little sins.

             (Notice….that here is where the Israelites are given the spoil for themselves….and it is this way for the rest of the battles!  When God is first….He sees to us, to the last.)

The next battle was with five kings!   

     And they had to do it after a forced march all night (Joshua 10:7-9)….because they had “leaned on their own understanding” (Prov. 3:5-6)…and made a league with some of the people of the land…the Gibeonites.     

     But then the Gibeonites were attacked…by these five kings….and called for help from Israel!

    Granted, the Gibeonites had tricked them….for Israel and Joshua  had not asked direction from the Lord….but believed what the Gibeonites said….because it “looked good”.

     (We, too, are warned of the wiles of the devil…and we should be watchful.

     How many times we get into things we have no business in….when we do not seek direction from the Lord.

     And as Israel, here,  we must do the right thing afterwards….and bow to the “reaping” of that which we have done….till the Lord leads us out….and gives us victory)

To honor their league….they had to come up all night to get there…so Israel could help them against these five kings and their armies.

Joshua 10:8 “And the Lord said unto Joshua,  Fear them not:  for I have delivered them into thine hand;  there shall not a man of them stand before thee.”

     Here, the Lord killed more men with hailstones (Joshua 10:11)…than with the sword of the children of Israel.

(And sometimes the Lord just takes over and deals with situations….giving us deliverance, when we are being obedient.   Things are taken care of….amazingly!)

     Here, Joshua needed more time….more light….and asked for it.

     When he cried….he was given a whole day. (Joshua 10:13).    

     (And we, too, in a time of battle, often need more understanding and grace…and we can certainly ask for it. Hebrews 4:16)

     Here, Joshua had every battle captain, of the men of war put their feet on the necks of the kings of the enemies….before they were hanged….and said: “Fear not,…be strong…for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies…against whom ye fight.” (Joshua 10:24-25)   

 And has not the Lord promised us victory….by faith….now (1 John 5:4-5)…

…and the victory of the Lamb of God over the whole world, one day.  Let us put our trust in Him.

But this was not all….after such a victory….Joshua kept the army with him and kept moving from city state to city state…fighting and taking the cities that the Lord led them to come to.  Joshua 10:29,31,33,34,3638,40-42.  “And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time,….because….the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel.”

How gracious our God….using even our failures…to teach us and lead us to “…all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”  (Romans 8:28)

The last battles began with more kings banding together and coming to fight Israel.  

     (Altogether there were thirty-three kings that they fought and destroyed.   Two on the east of Jordan, and thirty-one on the west of Jordan)

This set of battles….begins with many kings and their armies coming together at the waters of Merom.

     But again, the Lord tells Joshua (11:6,10:8, 8:1, 6:1) as He had several times before….to “fear not, I have delivered them to Israel”.  

     They come upon them suddenly and….the Lord delivered them into the hand of Israel.

You will notice, that God is praised here all the way along.   The Lord delivered them into the hands of Israel.   

(There are many battles we fight in our Christian walk….for we are to possess the promises that the Lord has given us.   There are battles we have with our old nature…old habits, old plans, old attitudes.    Yet we are given the victory…against the giants (Joshua 11:21-22)…of our lusts and reasons…by God’s grace and direction.    

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

    (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

    Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”)

How many times we are outnumbered….in our belief in God…many mock and scorn Him and us.

    Many come together to “give us a hard time”…because we believe HIs Word.

    But….”fear not”.  God’s voice to us gives us peace and victory in that peace….even against many.

Joshua 11:18-19 “Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.

      There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all other they took in battle.”

Our warfare as Christians is to conquer ourselves, through the sanctification of the Spirit,…and gain all that the Lord has for us.

     We are to get our direction from the Lord….and, whether in confession of sin,….or  seeing by faith and not by sight….or asking the Lord for more and more light, till the job is done….we are to persevere….to continue…till we are called home to be with the Lord.

But there is one more thing I wish to add….Joshua, was a light, himself.   His testimony in leading Israel into battle….his getting before the Ark in confession….his getting up and doing what is next and next….his asking for more and more light….his diligence in getting all the promised possession.   His adherence to the Word of God.  

     If you read the message to Israel in Joshua 23-24,  he testifies of God’s mercy and goodness.  He shows God’s faithfulness to His Word to Israel.   He warns them of forsaking the Lord.

He, was a light to keep Israel focused on the purpose of God for them…the goal to which they were to reach out for. 

(And aren’t we to do the same…

….”…forgetting those things wheich are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14)

      Joshua 24:29, 31 “And it  came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died,…

      And Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the Lord, that He had done for Israel.”

      “…which had known all the works of the Lord…”

This is the real value of our testimony….we know. And no one can take away our knowledge of our God. We may wobble….or doubt….or hesitate. But we can know God….our God….and that is the shining of our light in a dark place….a placing of our lamps high, for all to see. (Matthew 5:15-16)

For God so loved the world

Galatians 4:4-5 “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”

Until that time, travel was dangerous and limited. Caravans were the only safe way to go. Pirates were on the sea.

But after the establishment of the Roman Empire, then Roman legions marched, built roads all across the known world.

They maintained them, and kept them safe.

They maintained the Sea ways. Yes, under cruel mastery, but they were kept open.

(Why did not God send Jesus later…like during the industrial revolution when machines were being built? Or now when the internet makes spreading God’s word easy?

Because without the spread of Christianity; freedom and the education of people, would not have taken place. Christ brought forth the kindness and love for all people to the earth.

Beside, how many would not have been saved who were.)

So on the background of cruelty, power, and helplessness…

Then God sent forth His Son.

“Sent forth” on an errand of mercy and grace; to liberate and redeem His people. Jesus said…

Luke 4:18-19 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at Liberty them that are bruised,

To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”

“He was made of a woman”.

From the first prophecy of Christ’s coming, right after Adam had sinned: “her seed”.

Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity between thee (the devil) and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.”

To the plain statement of fact in:

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

Christ was to be made of a woman. The Holy Ghost would come upon her and implant within her the Son of God.

Luke 1:35 “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: Therefore also that Holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”

Christ Jesus was made under the law, to show how honorable it was, if it was kept.

But, as sinners, we had no power to keep it; and therefore, even for those who knew it:

“The law made nothing perfect (complete), but the bringing in of a better Hope did: by the which we draw nigh to God.” Hebrew 7:19

And that “better hope” is Christ.

“To redeem them.” Christ Jesus, because He was the Son of God, and perfect; He was without sin; could and did pay the full price for us by His precious blood, to free us from our sins and the great penalty of death that was upon us.

Instead we are given adoption papers by the Holy Spirit within us, saying we are now children of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.

Romans 8:16-17 “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirits, that we are the children of God:

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.”

Galatians 4:6 “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.”

God has again “sent forth”; this time He has sent the Holy Spirit to us, personally, with a message of great power and love.

God is Almighty, Holy, and ever Present; yet He has become our Father by Holy, Divine adoption!

(No, He is not Father to all, but Father only to those who receive His Son as Lord and Savior)

But here, Paul puts a darling name for Father…Abba.

It is like “Daddy”.

Like a little child glad to see the Father, runs to him crying, Daddy, Daddy.

So Paul says the Holy Spirit within us, gives us this access: this joy and affection as we come before the Throne of God in prayer.

1 Peter 1:18-20 “For as much as ye know that you are not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition by your fathers;

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

Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifested in these last times for you.”

God “sent forth” His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to free us from the bondage of sin, anoint us by His Holy Spirit in faith and love. Making us His children, and giving us unlimited access to our Abba, Father.

Christ is indeed:

Isaiah 9:6 “But unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder. And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

God is never late…He has everything in His control…and how wonderful that He has saved us, made us His, and given us His Spirit, so we are never alone.

Let us praise the Lord for His timetable….for we are included in it.

The call to discipleship

This call is from God.  We are called to set aside ourselves to the Lord, and HIs Will and Purpose for us….in the work that He gives us.

“Call” is an interesting term.   When I was little I had a godly Grandmother, and she would often talk about “calling”.   I had no idea what she meant (altho she was very patient with me, trying to explain about the Lord’ Will for our lives.)….until  I was born again. 

      Later,  when I received my call….

I heard the Lord plainly tell me what His plan for me was….and that I was to go to the altar to surrender to it…and follow Him.

The call of the fishermen was an amazing thing….who would have thought that ignorant fishermen would become the apostles of Christ!

(And aren’t we amazed when Jesus calls us to do something for Him!)

Matthew 4:18-21 “And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw brethren,  Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea:  for they were fishers.

        And He saith unto them,   Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.

        And they straightway left their nets, and followed Him.

        And going on from thence,  He saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them.”

One set of sons were casting a net for fish….and called to be fishers of men.   The other set of sons were mending their nets….and John was called to mend the church, even in his life time.

There was the call of Matthew….a tax collector…another choice which would not seem right to do….but Jesus came and called him.

Matthew 9:9 “And as Jesus passed forth from thence, He saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and He saith unto him,  Follow me.   And he arose, and followed Him.”

(I find Matthew’s call an amazing one….for he would have been hated and looked down upon because  of his job….yet Jesus called him to be a disciple…and chose him to be an apostle.  The first book in the New Testament is his…written by a converted tax collector.)

Our calling is not according to our abilities…..but according to HIs choice and grace.   He gives ability….we simply must trust and obey.   

(My husband, one  Sunday,  had just sang the song,…”Trust and Obey”, and sat down.   The preacher at that time, then gave his message, and the Lord called my husband to preach.   My husband thought, “Surely not me, Lord.  You would not call me to preach.”

      But the Lord told my husband,  “You sang it,….now do it”.   And he went forward to accept the call…to, in fact, ‘trust and obey’.)

It is also interesting that the testimony of John the Baptist was a call to Andrew….for when John said,  “Behold the Lamb of God!”  (John 1:36)…Andrew and another unnamed man followed after the Lord Jesus….calling Him, “ Rabbi” or Master.   

       Then Jesus called…”Come and see”.

But the bringing of others did not stop….Andrew went and got Simon Peter.

John 1:41 “He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him,  We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.”

       The next day…

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

       And Philip went and got Nathanael…

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

       Though Nathanael hesitated, because Jesus was from Nazareth….yet the call was…”come and see” for yourself.   And when he did,….

John 1:49 “Nathanael answered and saith unto Him,  Rabbi,  Thou art the Son of God;  Thou art the KIng of Israel.”

When we have found Christ for ourselves….we should also witness to our family, and others of Him and His grace.

At first, the disciples calling…was to go around to Israel’s villages and preach….”the kingdom of God is at hand”.   Along with that,  they were given the power to heal…and cast out devils. (Luke 9:1-2)

Luke 9:10 “And the apostles, when they returned, told Him all that they had done.  And He took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.”

Luke 10:17 “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying,  Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through Thy name.”

It is easy, when the Lord gives you some success in your calling to feel elated….kind of wanting to pat yourself on the back….or jump up and down ….but thankfully….Jesus often calls us away from things…He reminds us  what we should really be praising Him for.

Luke 10:20 “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you;   but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”

It is never what we do for Jesus Christ…in our calling.  But what He is to us.   For that is what we show forth….His life, His Word, and His character….through us.

       This,  the disciples had to learn….and for three years they followed Him…hearing HIs Words,….seeing Him heal and comfort the weak….and rebuke the callous and religious blind…..

….always following…

…even when others left Jesus.

John 6:60, 66 “Many therefore of His disciples, when they had heard this, said,   This is an hard saying;  who can hear it?

       From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him.”

They had been offended by His blunt words…that He was the only way to God. 

       Even after all they had experienced….they refused to completely surrender to His Authority over themselves.

Then…for the remaining disciples….the choice to follow Him….on…was made.

John 6:67-69 “Then said Jesus unto the twelve,  Will ye also go away?

        Then Simon Peter answered Him,  Lord, to whom shall we go?  Thou hast the words of eternal life.

        And we believe and are sure that Thou are that Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Discipleship is to place yourself under the authority and teaching of someone.   When you become a disciple of Christ, you surrender to Him…as Master, Teacher, and Lord…for He is the Son of God.

The call to discipleship can come at any time.  

       We can be working hard to get ahead….and Jesus calls us to “come, follow Me”.

       We can be sitting….hated by others….yet Jesus can call us to “Follow Me.”

       We can believe the testimony of other preachers…and “come and see” for ourselves that Jesus is Lord and Savior.

Jesus will speak bluntly to us….He always did, and always will.   He never sugar-coated His Words….but simply gave the truth….and called all of His, to walk in the Light of the Truth.

His call to discipleship is to “Follow Him”….into the work He has for us to do….wherever and with whomever He wills.

To Learn of Him

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”

The first thing we must do is to come to Him…then we must give our attention to the lessons He gives by His Word and His Spirit.

We must learn of Christ;…..for He is both the Teacher and the lesson…

…He is both our Guide and our Way.

Ephesians 4:21 “If so be that ye have heard Him, and have been taught by Him as the truth is in Jesus;”

This is what Jesus Christ teaches…..the truth….putting everything into right perspective.

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

Moses gave God’s people the law He was given….showed it to them and made them to know what they were to do…

But by Christ, we are given grace and truth….

Christ shows us the truth, for us….and when we submit to it…..He gives us grace to do something about it.

And what is the truth for each of us?

Matthew 11:28 “….all ye that labor and are heavy laden….”

Jesus Christ says that we labor very hard, to “get”…….

……to be able to say….”I have”.

And it is weariness:

Ecclesiastes 10:15 “The labor of the foolish wearied every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go the the city.” (the city of God. Hebrews 11:9-10)

Before we come and learn of Christ…..we labor very hard to get satisfaction through many things…….even in religious things.

We work to be able to say…..”I did this….I have this…..I acquired this”.

The emphasis is on “I”.

But Jesus shows us, that this is weariness….for the moment we “get”….we look for more.

We burden ourselves with: ideas of what could have been,…..or might be.

We burden ourselves with: affections that will never be satisfied….that will eat us up…..grief, infatuation, the desire to protect, even those we can’t.

We burden ourselves with conversations to which there is no answer….

2 Timothy 2:23 “But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.”

But Jesus says to “Come to Him,…and He will give us rest from these burdens”…….by the truth,…..and then give us grace, to deal with them.

Christ has left us an example:

Matthew 11:29 “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart:….”

“Yoke” here is a coupling…a bar put on more than one, so they will submit together to the work.

Christ is offering us a place next to Him, in the Will of God.

Will we take it?

“For I am meek…”. Christ was completely yielded to His Father’s Will, He was pliable to everything the Father wanted.

Hebrews 5:8-9 “Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered:

And being made perfect (complete), He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him;”

As the Son of Man, He learned in all His circumstances to obey His Father’s Will, there.

He said, “I do always those things which please Him.” (John 8:29)

He completed every obedience, and by His obedience….became the perfect sacrifice to atone for sin.

(A meek person, sees himself as he is before God…not letting other’s opinions or his own ideas interfere with what God shows him.)

“And lowly in heart:…”. Lowly means humiliated. His Way though this world was one of constant humiliation…..willing humiliation.

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

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

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

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

This is the yoke that we are to take up,….with Him. To be meek, and lowly…taking everything that the Lord leads us into,….and being obedient.

We are to learn to adjust ourselves to every condition which comes to us….with Him beside us.

Philippians 4:11, 13 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

We are to adjust ourselves to an needy condition….to know how to be abased.

Christ did.

We are to learn to be full,….yet not be proud, or secure in what we have.

Christ did.

It is by Christ’s constant and renewing strength, that we learn….by experience…His enabling in all conditions.

Matthew 11:29-30 “……..And ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Again I ask, will we come to Christ and learn of Him?