Be Still and Know that I am God

Ex 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 forever.”

How many times have we been told to stand still…..wait here….till God removes….or moves circumstances, to His Way for us?

Many times.

(I am a planner. Give me a problem….and I am right at it, to “fix” it.

Even if there is nothing I can do, I still try and wiggle the circumstances….or change the mind of people….to see the “right” thing done.)

Psalm 46:10-11 “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge.”

Like Jacob, (and I love that God uses him here,….not the God of Israel, but the God of Jacob!…..For he was a schemer….figuring out things…trying to hurry up God’s time!)…we often think we know what is best.

But what we are called to “know”…..is God.

God’s time is best…..God’s Way is best…..God’s faithfulness is seen again and again in the fact that what He works out, is right.

Let us consider…..”Be still”.

Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Be still and know,….to be still that you may know…..know that He is God, still in control of all things….

….no matter what is going on with me, now.

To quiet yourself before Him….this requires discipline.

To force yourself…and all the voices within your thoughts to stop!

(1 Peter 1:13 “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,…” Wherefore gather your thoughts….and bind them under One thought…what is the Lord’s Will for me, now.)

Stop trying to figure out what must be done….stop planning….stop,..

…and force yourself to wait on the Lord….to honor Him in this.

Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

(Wait…..but wait upon the Lord.

Not on circumstances to change, or people to change, or even our feelings to change….

…to wait upon the Lord is different for each of us….

….for me, it usually comes down to “seeing”. The things I “see” in my problems or trials or sickness is how this effects me and mine. But when I “see” the Lord, then His Will is first….and my spirit gets quiet,…then I can know God….my God.)

This He will do, if we but wait on Him.

He hath blessed us with all Spiritual Blessings in heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3)…

…but what we have…

(they are ours, set aside for our circumstances here….count on it.)

….we need to get them in us, down here in the earthlies,…ourselves.

The means to have all these blessings is.….”Thy Kingdom Come. Thy Will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)

This is true rest, this is true sight, this is true liberty.

The flow of Spiritual blessings is only stopped when we refuse His rule over our lives.

He does not bless our will…..but He does bless His Will, in us….for me to do His Will,….which is all that He is requiring at my hand, in my everyday things.

Be still, and know that I am God.

(I have been thinking a lot about how many times the Lord uses…the Lord, or God, in scripture.

He uses The Lord when He is stressing Himself as our Personal King and Guide….He leads us through all things.

He uses God when He is stressing His Purpose, which is Eternal and Unchanging…and His Might to bring it to pass.)

Here, He commands….”Be still and know that I am God”….

“Have you forgotten that I am in charge? That I will bring all My Purpose to pass….in My time?

Then quiet yourselves, and know….first in you….then in the peace I give you in this time.”

Be still and know,….to be still that you might know!

Know that He is God….our God….still in control of all things.

Amen and amen.

2 Chronicles 34:33 “And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel,…… And all his days they departed not from following the Lord, the God of their fathers.”

But now King Josiah was dead.

For the nation of Judah, this was their last godly king….in essence, their last revival….their last chance, as a nation….to repent and be blessed.

There still could be personal repentance and turning to the Lord God, but the nation was on a course to destruction.

Jeremiah, a friend of King Josiah, mourned his loss….and the loss for the nation….for what could have been.

2 Chronicles 35:25 “And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and the singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel: and, behold, they are written in the lamentations.”

He wrote “Lamentations” ….a song and prophesy of what will happen now that Josiah was gone.

The downward spiral into captivity…(it took twenty-three years)….was filled with battle,…loss…..hunger…till in the siege at the last, people were letting their children and the older people just die, so they would not have to feed them.

All of this was seen by Jeremiah on the day Josiah died…

Lamentations 1:1, 4, 8, 16 “How doeth the city sit solitary, that was full of people!…..she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary!

The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts:….

Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed:…

For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the Comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me:…”

I have spoken before about when the Lord uses….The Lord,….or God…in scripture.

He uses The Lord when He is stressing Himself as our Personal King and Guide….He leads us through all things.

He uses God when He is stressing His Purpose, which is Eternal and Unchanging…and His Might to bring it to pass.

In Lamentations, God is used just once,….but the Lord is used every other time…forty-three times.

Jeremiah cries out in the personal….

Lamentations 3:40-41 “Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.

(Let us get back into the personal relationship with our King and Guide.)

Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.”

(Let us remember our Covenant God….His Purpose, and pray to Him that He will work that Purpose in us.)

With all that he saw,….for Israel….and all that would come upon himself for standing with the Lord God….

…”He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood.”

Standing with the Lord had always been dangerous….

….when Jeremiah was first called, and he preached in his own hometown….the people, and even his own relatives tried to kill him….and God sent him to Jerusalem.

But now, in the perilous times….the last times for the nation of Judah….till there captivity would be complete….

….Jeremiah preaches to a people who wants to be deceived…..who wants to hear only pleasant things…

“Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause.” Lamentations 3:52

Yet,….

….and I stress that Jeremiah is called the weeping prophet….

yet…

….He knows the Lord…..God is his God.

Jeremiah laments the last chance for Israel, yet gets up and preaches in the Temple….

….he is told to write his messages down, and when they are destroyed…..to write them again.

He becomes weary, and wants to give up preaching, at one stage….

Yet…

“Then I said, I will not make mention of Him nor speak any more in His name. But His Word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

But the Lord is with me as a mighty terrible One:…

Sing unto the Lord, praise ye the Lord: for He hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers.” Jeremiah 20:9,11,13

How great is the grace that upholds His servant!

How greater is the grace that gives the burning desire to preach His Word, even in times of trouble!

Jeremiah, in time of bitterness (Lamentations 3:15-19)….seeing by the Word of the Lord all that would come upon his people….and himself….

yet said,…

Lamentations 3:24-26 “The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him.

The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him.

It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.”

The Lord God was with him….in all….through all…and though he was never esteemed of men….yet God spoke to him, through him, and never was He away from him.

In this day, we Christians, are also called to look…

…”for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;

Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Titus 2:13-14)

We are in a time…

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine….and they shall turn away their ears from the truth….”. (2Timothy 4:3-4)

Yet….

…Timothy was exhorted (and we too, are exhorted to do this, as well)…

2 Timothy 4:1-2,5 “I charge thee therefore before God (Whose Purpose is Eternal, Unchanging),…

…and the Lord Jesus Christ (our Personal King and Savior), Who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom;

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”

No matter the “times”…..or the seasons of emotions….we are to continue with on with the Lord….seeking the good of all, especially them of the household of faith.

May The Lord our God keep us faithful to Him…..may His word be as a fire in our hearts, that we may speak it faithfully….

….and may we know the Lord as our portion….through all the circumstances of these days.

The Power of the Word of God

Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

This is a simple statement. Period. God does not need to prove anything….nor does He.

He simply speaks, commands, and calls.

He created the heaven and the earth.

Psalms 33:6-9 “By the Word of the Lord were the heavens formed, and all the hosts of them by the breath of His mouth.

He gathereth the waters of the sea together as a heap: He layeth up the depth in storehouses.

Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.

For He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.”

The first creation was a beautiful place….but the sin of Lucifer entered and destroyed it’s beauty….it was now covered with darkness….no order..

Genesis 1:2-3 “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”

But God’s Voice spoke….”Let there be light”……there was light.

God purposed this earth….and us….and would not let this rebellion put an end to His purpose……”and He commanded….and it stood fast.”

His Purpose continued….there was nothing He was not prepared for.

Psalm 18:30 “As for God, His Way is perfect: the Word of the Lord is tried: He is a buckler (shield) to all those that trust in Him.”

Have we found His Word to be the purifier of our minds and hearts? For that is what “tried” means…..to be purified like silver.

Psalm 138:3 “In the day when I cried Thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.”

His Word corrects and instructs…..His Word encourages and comforts us…..His Word brings knowledge, and through His Spirit, understanding.

John 1:1, 14 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

His Word is truth.

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

Have you heard Him? Has He spoken His truth into your heart?

Our example of the power of His Word, is Lazarus:

John 11:43 “And when He thus had spoken, He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.”

This is Jesus, raising Lazarus from the dead.

Jesus had waited two days after hearing that His friend was sick…..

John 11:3 “Therefore his sisters sent unto Him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom Thou lovest is sick.”

He had done that,….knowing that Lazarus would die,…..so that God’s purpose would be shown…….a manifestation of the power of His Word.

John 11:14-15 “Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.”

He had healed the sick, cast out demons, and done many wonderful works…..so much so that even the men present said….

“Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have cause that even this man should not have died?” (John 11:37)

They believed….but only up to a point. They believed He could have done something….if Lazarus was sick….if Jesus had been there.

They called Him….”this man”…..not Christ, “the anointed”…..or the Messiah…..or even Rabbi.

They saw Him come out of obscurity…..preaching “the kingdom of God is at hand”……

……He had come in “power”…..healing the sick, feeding the multitudes, giving the blind, sight.

But now, the power of Him, through His authoritative Word, will be shown…over life and death.

All He had to do was say the Word….and it was done….Lazarus was free from death….by His Word…..”Lazarus, come forth.”

But then Jesus said,…

John 11:44 “And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave-clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.”

Lazarus was raised, but not freed from the grave cloth bond……till, Jesus spoke again,…

…this time in a command to others (whether His disciples or others)..”Loose him, and let him go”.

Christ Jesus, has spoken to His church the same way:

“I have raised up all who will believe in Me…now you need to loose them and let them go, by the preaching of My word.”

There are things Jesus does by His Word alone…..and then there are things He commands others to do…..by His authority….with His Word.

Only Jesus Christ can free them from the death of sin, and give liberty to the captives….

….yet in this work He calls His church to join Him.

We can not bring them from death to life….He does that.

But we can loose them from the grave-clothes of the world….by His Word.

The Lord has shown us God’s heart…..for He sent His Son to seek and to save all who are lost.

Let us speak His word faithfully….

…..the Lord will save….

…..for no Word that He speaks will return to Him void.

Isaiah 55:10-11 “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater.

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

Trials of Faith

1 Peter 4:12-13 “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”

There are trials of faith which we just have to go through. They are sent to help us to grow stronger in faith; to learn joy in trouble; to realize the power of peace—His peace in it all.

Thank goodness, we do not go through any trial alone. For Christ Jesus is with us, guiding, strengthening, and encouraging us; as we walk through them with Him.

There are also trials which come upon us…..which we have brought on ourselves.

Let’s face it, we often “stick our foot in our mouths” and say things which are wrong….or at the wrong time (I am guilty of this a lot….you want to help…so you jump in….where only God should be speaking.)

We speak or act in anger (and have you ever noticed how much anger is around any more?), and why?

First, that never helps…..

James 1:20 “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”

Second, we lose the opportunity to say…..what really needs to be said.

Sometimes the Lord uses these trials to remind us of these things we have put off…….so they can be confessed, and taken care of….done.

And then there are “fiery trials” which come upon us because we are Christians—we belong to Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 4:14, 16 “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you; on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified.

Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.”

Peter knew about being ashamed of Christ….he had missed the blessing of standing with Christ in suffering…..when Jesus was taken in the garden…

He had tried to defend with a sword…thinking that was what he should do…but instead….Jesus had corrected him….”My Father’s Will….that I will do….no matter what.”

John 18:10-11 “Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear….

The said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword in the sheath: the cup which My Father hath given Me, shall I not drink it?”

The sword was not the way to help Jesus, here…..Peter should have just stood with Him…..that is what Jesus wanted…

….And it is the same with us….Christ Jesus wants us to stand with Him in every trial.

And that is what He says: Stand with me, and go through these trials, with Me at your side, to show to the world that you trust Me.

That will glorify Me.

Do you remember when Jesus asked His disciples in the garden to watch with Him? (Mark 14:33-34, 37-38)

And instead they fell asleep.

He came and asked, “Could you not stay with me one hour?”

He asks us the same thing:

Stand with me in a world that does not believe in Me,…

…..and if that brings ridicule, or persecution;……still stand with Me, and I will stand with you, in peace, strength, and guidance.

The Word that I have spoken to you,  shall I not do it?

What has the Lord spoken to you?  What has He promised to do through you?

When Ezekiel was taken away to Babylon, he was called to give a message to Israel, which simply was…..

…..before you can return to the land, you must return to your God.

     ( He was with the group of engineers, smiths, and priests which Nebuchadnezzar carried away the second time.  2 Kings 14.    Ezekiel was a priest.  His name means “God will strengthen, or God will prevail”.)

Ezekiel 3:17 “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel:  therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from Me.”

It was the last days of the kingdom of Judah…..there would be nine more years after Ezekiel was taken, before the last of Jerusalem’s people were put under siege….and in the eleventh year….Jerusalem and it’s people fell.   God removed them out of HIs sight….for a time.

These are the last days of the church age.    Is there someone to whom we should speak….and give them warning from HIm?

God’s promises and God’s warnings are very important.   He does not speak slightly….or carelessly….but every Word He gives is vital (Matthew 5:18)…..if we are to do the work He has for us.

Ezekiel 3:10-11 “Moreover He said unto me,   Son of man, all My words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine ears.

           And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them,  Thus saith the Lord God;  whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear,

Ezekiel’s ministry was to the captive prisoners near the River Chebar, which flows into the Euphrates.   

         Often they would come to him, because he was a priest, to hear what the Lord would say(Ezekiel 20:1)….especially when they would hear something had happened in Jerusalem and Judah. 

         The Lord had made Ezekiel responsible to speak His Word….whether they would hear it or not.

We, too, are responsible to speak to those we are called to.  Whether at home, work, school, or wherever….we are to simply say HIs Words.   Then it is between them and the Lord.

Obadiah 1:17 “But upon Mt Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.”

(Obadiah was the prophet who prophesied against Edom….because they helped Nebuchadnezzar when he came to destroy the city.  Though they were the descendants of Esau…Jacob’s brother….yet they were glad and rejoiced when the city was taken.  And  they entered into the city to plunder what they could.   God would greatly judge them for such unkind attitudes and actions against family.)

Israel shall be brought back….and possess again the land of their possessions.  Though they sinned so great…as to be driven from the promised land….yet God would bring back a remnant, and work in them a “new heart” (Ezekiel 36:24-28).

God will not forget His promises….or HIs warnings.

We also are responsible to have the reality of HIs Word within ourselves….to possess our promised possessions.

2 Timothy 2:6 “The husbandman that laboreth must be first partaker of the fruits.”

In other words,  we must have in our experience, to a degree, what we require at the hands of others.

Ezekiel was in captivity….he, too, felt the defilement of the heathen land.   Yet he never lost sight of the call he received….speaking the Word of warning and promise…faithfully.

Though the captives were to build houses, and be useful citizens there as long as the captivity lasted….yet this time was given them and their children to repent and leave the idols they had turned to….and return to God, and HIs Word.

(And is this,  not the message for today, for the church of Laodicea?   We are to be good citizens…live the lives the Lord gives us….but return with all our hearts to God and HIs Word.  “Be zealous therefore and repent”)

Through Ezekiel,  God showed His people…that He had not left them.   He would not be with them in their sin….yet He was never away from them.  

Well, what has the Lord spoken to you?  What word has He given you?   

Hebrews 10:23-25 “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;)

            And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

            Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is;  but exhorting one another:    and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

We are to watch out for one another…in prayers, words, deeds of kindness.

           “Provoke” here means to incite for good, or to contend for the faith.   

           We are to incite…wake up and get them excited….unto love and good works.    We are to exhort one another….again a word that means to wake up, each other, so we all will finish the ministry…or work the Lord has for us….in these last days of the Church age.

As God said to Israel…

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now,…(not tomorrow or next week)

….and let us reason together, saith the Lord:  though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

And God says to us….

Hebrews 10:35-36 “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.

           For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.”

Let us hold on to our profession of faith….let us not cast away our confidence in God….but let us be as Ezekiel, and speak….and keep speaking to those in this time….whether they will hear the Lord, or forbear.

The Woman at the Well

John 4:3-4, 6-7 “He left Judea, and departed again into Galilee. For he must needs go through Samaria.

Now Jacobs’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.”

Why is the woman at the well important?

1. the Salvation of every person is important.

2. She became a light which brought her city to Christ, though she was an adulteress.

3. Because Jesus lets us know that it is not in a place, or because you are a particular people….but He tells that anyone must worship God in Spirit and in truth.

Jesus is passing through Samaria, and was tired, hungry and thirsty. His disciples went into the city to buy some food. And Jesus sat on the well, waiting.

She had come to the well when no one was around, because of what she was; and yet wanted the truth of God’s Word…..even though she was, what she was.

(I am stressing this, because we all begin our journey with the Lord the same way: We are sinners. Maybe we have never done what she did, but sin places us all on the same plain….on the way to death.)

“Why do you a Jew ask a drink of me, a Samaritan?” (John 4:9)

It seemed a good question, for the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans,….thinking them defiled.

(The Samaritans were the descendants of the inter marriages of Hebrew and the other nations. Ezra 9:1-2,12)

But Jesus came to save all those who would believe and receive His life.

So, instead of pressing His right to a drink again;…….Jesus speaks to her about “living water”.

John 4:10, 13-14 “Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knowest the gift of God, and Who it is that saith to thee, Give Me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water.

Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

Her reply was very practical: “Give me that water so I won’t have to come and draw from this well.”

So Jesus brings her a step further toward real life, by dealing with her real problem: “Go get your husband.”

Would she tell the truth?

She replied, “I have no husband”.

John 4:17-18 “….Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said I have no husband:

For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.”

What would she do now? Run away? Spit on Him? Throw water on Him?

But instead she considered the truth, instead of her feelings,….and spoke to this man of something which was on her heart: worship,….for she knew He was a prophet.

She wanted to know, what was right, in God sight.

This is amazing…..she was being shown for what she was….yet…she is drawn out of herself….because she sees He is a prophet (she still does not see Who He is as Lord and Savior)….but she is being drawn toward more of the truth…

Let me say, that Jesus does this within us….He draws us out of ourselves….our circumstances….toward Him.

“Were they right to worship in this mountain, as their fathers did? Or were the Jews right in saying Jerusalem was the only place to worship God?”

Odd conversation for a woman who had been looking for satisfaction in sexual and romantic emotions.

John 4:21-22 “Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe Me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship;…

…But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth:….

God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

Right here, could have been a problem; if she did not really want the truth.

(Maybe this was what she had been searching for in those five husbands she’d had.

But to want the truth,….generally, and to face the truth for yourself, is two different things.)

Yet, here again, she does not back away from getting the truth,……of getting that living water;……even when it came to what He would say about herself.

John 4:25-26 “The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh, which is called Christ: when He is come, He will teach us all things.

Jesus saith unto her, I that speaketh unto thee am He.”

Jesus had revealed Himself to very few people; but to this woman who wanted the truth, He did.

This shows us the great value the Lord Jesus puts on truth,….and those that seek it.

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

When truth is faced, grace is always given….no matter what our background)

This woman was afraid of people….and how they treated her.

Because of that she had come to the well at this time…..and met Jesus.

But hearing the Truth, and from the Messiah……sent her into that same town, to tell all that she would meet, about Christ Jesus.

John 4:29 “Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?”

By her witness, many came to believe on Jesus, too:

John 4:39-42 “And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on Him, for the saying of the woman, which testified , He told me all that ever I did.

So when the Samaritans were come unto Him, they besought Him that he would tarry with them: and He abode there two days.

And many more believed because of His own word.

And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard Him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”

Notice, she is not afraid of the townspeople, now. They are not different….she is. She has met the Savior….and believed on Him. (John 1:12, Romans 10:8-13)

What of us? How much do we value the truth, especially for ourselves?

Have we hidden lives we do not want to admit to?

Or are we believing in a doctrine, and that is enough?

The truth is, that everyone who comes to Jesus can find the water of life……

……real satisfaction…..and know for themselves that He is Lord and Savior, for themselves….and show Him to others.

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.