The bushel over our lights

Matthew 5:14-15 “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.”

You remember the children’s song….This little light of mine,

I’m going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel….no! I’m going to let it shine; hide it under a bushel…no! I’m going to let it shine; let it shine; let it shine; let it shine.

Won’t let Satan blow it out….I’m going to let it shine; Won’t let Satan blow it out…I’m going to let it shine; let it shine; let it shine; let it shine.

Shine till Jesus comes again; I’m going to let it shine; Shine till Jesus comes again; I’m going to let it shine; let it shine; let it shine; let it shine.

But since the last time we sang that, has our light been dimmed,….or hidden under a bushel?

Just what is that bushel….that our light is under?

Well, one thing I have found over the years….is weariness.

Sometimes we feel as if we can not do just this one more thing….

….no one has appreciated us…..no one cares,…..so much indifference….

….we all have a reason that we let the wile of weariness creep in….

….but once it is there, it is like a bushel over our light.

Galatians 6:9 “Let us not be weary in well doing: for for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

We are going along fine, then something takes a turn we did not expect….whether in loss, or hurt, or illness….

….then we’re not sure what to do! We sure do not feel like shining our light!

We feel like curling up and hiding.

We are often like the disciples, at Gethsemane, who were saddened by Jesus saying He was going away.

Jesus asked them to watch with Him for a while….but they fell asleep…..never dreaming failure was just around the corner.

Another thing that hides our light, is the past.

The Holy Spirit is guiding now, correcting now, giving us grace for now….

….but when we let the past enter the door of our thoughts (good past, or bad past)….it throws the “now” aside…

…and we are neither yielding to the moments guidance, or listening for the warnings….

…we are “back there”….and our light is hidden.

Philippians3:13 “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, “

Fear is often the bushel that covers our light….and gives us confusion of feeling, in it’s place….until the love of Jesus conquerors the fear.

Nicodemus came to Jesus at night for fear of retaliation from the rulers, and Joseph of Arimathaea, who gave Jesus his tomb, was also a “silent disciple”.

John 19:38-39 “And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. he came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.

And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.”

They were “silent disciples”….till the love of Jesus conquered that fear.

1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

Bushels are made of guilt….

…when we sin, as Christians, there is a darkening of our light…..that “bushel” comes between us….and fellowship with the Lord, breaks down.

Guilt is there,….and it needs to be confessed and cleansed.

1 John 1:5-7 “This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.

If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

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

Strife or quarrels are bushels….

….they cover our good works, and….we “walk as men”….just like everyone else of the world……not as Christ’s representatives.

1 Corinthians 3:3 “For ye are yet carnal (not growing up into Christ): for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men.”

Doubts are bushels. When we lose some confidence in Christ and His Word….we come into shadows.

It is not unbelief yet, but it is as though we are groping for the handrail…..we are just not going forward….for we are trying to find something to hang on to….

….when we should be trusting Christ.

Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.”

Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”

Sympathy with ourselves is a bushel….

….it is not self-pity…..but just a feeling that we “deserve something else”…..whatever that “else” is.

For this puts us into a mind that God is not giving us “the best” He should….

….when a little honest conversation with the Lord, would straighten our thoughts out.

Psalm 77:8, 10, 12 “Is His mercy clean gone for ever? Doth His promise fail for evermore?

And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.

I will meditate also of all Thy work, and talk of Thy doings.”

Every time our light is hidden, opportunities are lost.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4, 7 “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, Who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”

And how do we keep, from hiding our lights?

Colossians 3:16-17 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.”

First, know God’s Word……let it dwell in you richly…..or copiously.

Second, praise God for the grace He has given you…..testify of it to help others.

Third, whatever you do….do as if you were saying a prayer over it in Jesus Name…..that will elevate every act into a blessing….for it is for “His sake” it is done.

We need not have a bushel over our lights…..we can be a bright out-shining of His life, who was the Light of the world.

Occupy Till I Come.

Luke 19:12-13 “He (Jesus) said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

And He called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.”

This nobleman gives ten servants, one pound each….. to use while he was away.

Of course Jesus is giving this story about His going back to heaven after being raised again;…..and what He gives His servants here.

Each of us, as Christians, have been given something…..

….we all have the Holy Spirit

….we all have faith to overcome

….we all have grace to use

….we all have His Word to read, study and get into our lives.

We all have a lot….what are we doing with it?

“Occupy till I come” is a merchandise term.

It is to use what we have, or what we have been given(as in a loan),….to get more,….just as in a business.

But the thought here, is that you are gaining for Someone else.

As Christians, we are not our own. We have been bought and redeemed with the high price of Jesus blood. (1 Peter 1:18-19)

And we are given His life and power by the Holy Spirit within. He enables us with His grace.

This is the “pound” we are all given as His servants.

The work is all to be done, as servants of our Lord Jesus Christ, out of love to Him.

So how do we “gain” to show our love to Christ?

By using what we have…

……as these servants gained with their “pound” for their nobleman master.

Luke 19:15-16 “And it came to pass, that when He was returned, having received the kingdom, then He commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom He had given the money, that He might know how much every man had gained by trading.

Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.”

This servant had yielded to the Holy Spirit and done all he could for His lovely and blessed Lord.

(It is not counting souls won, or jobs done; but the diligent effort of a life lived to God’s glory.)

Luke 19:18 “And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.”

This servant had difficulties.

His gain had been smaller,……maybe because of doubts and cares which hindered him at the first;……but he had finally overcome by the faith given him, and he had gained five times more than he had been given!

Luke 19:20-21 “And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin;

For I feared thee, because you art an austere man: and takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou did not sow.”

What!! This servant did not gain anything!

His dishonor was because of the wrong thoughts about the Lord.

He thought that if he did what he was told and tried to gain with the pound he had been given, he might lose it.

He thought that he was better off just forgetting about it….till he could give it back……because the Lord was a very severe, and demanding God…..

……The Lord would have what he gave….he could not complain.

But this was not what the Lord had wanted for the man.

He wanted this man to use the “pound” (which is the power of the Holy Spirit within), and “gain” in his heart love, peace, and joy in the fellowship with Himself….by faith.

This is gaining for the Lord; for we are His inheritance.(Ephesians 1:18)

Luke 19:22 “But He saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:”

Sadly the Lord of this man judges him……..according to what that man had wanted to believe about the Lord.

For you see, by the next question, the Lord shows that any gain would have been blessed.

Luke 19:23 “Wherefore thou gavest not my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury (interest)?”

What the Lord was really asking this man, was:

Why did you not show some interest in My gift of the Holy Spirit?

You grieved My Holy Spirit by your not wanting my gift;

So, since you never really had it; you will never have it.

Luke 19:24, 26 “And He said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.

For I say unto you, that unto everyone which hath, shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.”

There are many who want to appear as the Lord’s servants, which never really love Him, or receive Him into their hearts and lives. (John 1:12)

They want to look good, but never honor the Lord in their hearts. They really hate the thought of doing anything for the Lord Jesus Christ!

Every thought they have is self….self-pity, self-preservation, self-love.

This man was one of these; and he was seen at last for what he was.

He was not judged by anyone else, but the Lord judged him according to the man’s own thoughts.

We are told by the Lord to use His gift of faith by the Holy Spirit and gain joy and peace in believing.

In every gain we make in our lives, we rejoice the Lord’s heart….and “gain” for Him.

“Occupy till I come.”

Jesus Christ Stands Without the Church, Knocking

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

In the letters to the Churches in Revelation, Jesus is sending messages to instruct them about what they were facing in their times, and what they should do about it.

The last one, Laodicea, was given more proof that He was speaking,….and more correction.

For He could not find anything to approve, in this Church.

Yet He also set one of the greatest rewards before them, “if” they would respond to His Voice.

Let us look at the proof He sent, of Who Spoke. He uses three Names: to none other Church He authorizes, like this one.

Revelation 3:14 “And unto the angel of the Church of Laodiceans write; these things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.”

All of these Names are Christ’s.

He is the Amen: He alone is the affirmation and confirmation of God. He declares God in all His perfections and purposes; and then proves that God is faithful in them.

So Christ is the Amen to Laodicea, who is so far from God, they didn’t recognize He wasn’t in their midst.

He is the Faithful and True Witness: This Church is on trial, and as such the Witness against them is not of the world, but Christ, Himself. He witnesses that He knows their hearts, and minds; and finds wretchedness, instead of holiness or zeal.

He is the Beginning of the Creation of God: From Eternity Past God the Father and God the Son made an Everlasting Covenant. This concerns Christ’s becoming the Man, Christ Jesus; and coming to the earth….and saving a people for Christ’s Name sake.

So in the very beginning of Creation, there was the Plan of Salvation:…..which first included the agreement of Christ to become our Redeemer by His Sacrifice;….and the agreement of God the Father to give Christ a people for a reward, because of His becoming the Man, Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him (that is us) endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Hebrews 13:20-21 “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the Everlasting Covenant,

Make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

This is Christ as the Beginning of The Creation of God.

Now these Names begin in manifesting God,…..and then go to witnessing against our lukewarmness,……then finally giving another invitation in His purpose and provision for these…..and us.

Christ gave ample proof that He was speaking. Then He moves on to the corrections:

Revelation 3:15-17 “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold or hot; I would that thou wert cold or hot.

So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold or hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.

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

He corrects them, because they are lukewarm.

Now we think: Lukewarm isn’t so bad. We think it is just good enough to get us by.

But Christ does not think so…..

He died that we might be saved to the uttermost (Hebrews7:25).

Since they are not,…….and are not working to be,…(since they are so conceited as to be in “need of nothing” Revelation 3:17),….they will be spewed out of His mouth.

In other words Jesus Christ will vomit out these lukewarm Laodiceans.

How can He spew out a Christian? Who said they are true Christians?….they are wretched,…..naked…and blind….

I personally believe, that for these Laodiceans who refuse to hear and obey the Voice of Jesus Christ, and repent; that the little bit of knowledge of salvation that they had will wither and die,…….the Holy Spirit will be grieved for they will not submit to Christ……and they will stand as rebels against God, instead of servants of Him.

They will be “spewed out” by their own choice in turning their backs on His offer of peace.

They will find, then, that His Salvation was not just a salvation from Hell, but from sin, (which they would not give up.).

And salvation from self, which is true liberty of spirit.

He saves to the uttermost, He saves all of us–spirit, mind, heart, will and body; or nothing.

Now, it is true, we are often in need of correction; but it is how we take Christ’s correction, which shows true Salvation.

Do we “murmur and complain” continually; for the children of Israel did, and lost out. (Hebrews 3:10-11)

Or do we: “Come let us reason together” (Isaiah 1:18) with the Lord.

We will not always like what we hear from Jesus. How often did He rebuke His disciples?

But if we are going on with Him,……we will not lose out.

Jesus said this:

John 8:31-32 “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

But Christ does not just correct, He gives life, to those who follow His way of life:

Revelation 3:18 ” I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear, and anoint thy eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.”

Many people disagree with Christ here, and say He should not have said “buy of me”.

But, the articles He refers to, are those of righteousness. The righteousness which we are to do, not be. If we are truly born again, then we are righteous, because we are in Christ Jesus.

But we are also to do righteousness, because we have His Spirit within us, enabling and directing us.

The “gold, tried in the fire” speaks of God manifested in our life. We are to show forth our new nature, the nature of God, within us in our daily life.

We are to deny ourself and pick up our cross and follow Him into a life of Godliness. Receiving the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), and using them.

If we don’t, we are refusing Him.

The “white raiment” is not His garment of purity applied to us…..but the purity of love and motive to the commands and word of Christ.

And the “eye salve” is honesty, which tears away the veil of our own conceit; so we see ourselves, the world, and our place in it clearly.

This, the Holy Spirit helps us with. We are such dishonest people without His help. But with His help, we see.

The means to get these is clear: “buy”. But with what do we buy?

It is obedience to the next verse, simply stated by Jesus:

Revelation 3:19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous therefore, and repent.”

Repent…..be zealous and repent of our lukewarmness…and get boiling hot for Christ.

But even here, He does not desert us. He goes on to call us with His arms of love outstretched:

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

This is a personal call, to individuals in the Church. To open their lives to His Voice, and let Him in, to lead them on, (yes, in correction and instruction), in fellowship with Him.

Promising one of the greatest rewards, “if we will”.

Revelation 3:21 “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”

We are to overcome everything which stands in the way of doing Christ’s Will for us.

His power is there for us: remember He saves to the uttermost, those who come to Him.

Christ requires not an answer of words, but of a life open to and receptive to Him.

We may not be the greatest Christians, but are we going on with Him? Or refusing His Voice?

He has made it clear what He will do. What will you do?

Jesus Forgave us; we should Forgive

Matthew 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

Matthew 6:14-15 “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you:

But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

I can never acquire that which I am to be, finally,…..if I fail to pass through those experiences that must lead to it; acquiring now, to a degree; that which I will be fully, then.

For the Christian, that means going into all situations,……with Him.

Luke 22:40-41, 45-46 “And when He was at the place (Gethsemane), He said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

And when He rose up from prayer, and was come to His

disciples, He found them sleeping for sorrow,

And said unto them, Why sleep ye? Rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.”

They were sleeping for sorrow….you know how when you are really sad, you become so tired…it wears you out.

So with them: they had heard how He was going away, and became so sad, that they became sleepy.

They had been told to “watch”, but they fell asleep. They could not even watch with the Lord, one hour.

If they had watched, they would have been prepared for His arrest…and trial…and crucifixion.

But they slept because of fear, and sadness; and ran away when faced with the next trial.

We think of power (and the Lord has it for us in the Holy Spirit), mighty acts of valor…..

…..but the Lord looks on devotion to Him, and obedience to the way He has chosen for us, as the manifesting of His real power in us…..persevering through all, with Him.

In this, all the disciples failed. But Jesus forgave them, even before they did it.

(Matthew 25:31-32)

Then Peter went on to deny the Lord, but the Lord forgave him, and restored him. (John 21:15-19)

Jesus has seen and does see our every failure as well. And He has made full provision for us. He has and does forgive us.

But what about us? Do we forgive, as He forgave us? For as His disciples, He commands us to.

The trouble is…..

Self digs in, and hangs on to control with much force. (Whether it is fear, anger, jealousy, or self-conceit, pride….and there are a thousand emotions and thoughts which come to us.)

So it must always be a deliberate act of our will to deny ourselves, and yield to God, and do what He says.

A victorious Christian should not feel resentment.

Hebrews 12:15 “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;”

So when the Holy Spirit shows us that we are harboring resentment, we should bring those resentments—the people, places, actions (both theirs and ours) to Christ.

How?

By the “artea” or force that is the Holy Spirit in your spirit, to get honest about it.

Yield to Him, and what He shows you….spread it out all before the Lord.

You see, when the Lord hears the honest telling about this resentment, He begins to speak peace about it. The hurt, or pain, or loss, or thoughts of violence, retribution, or “turning your back” on that person; is seen as He sees it.

No, this is not the preachy “everything is going to be alright” stuff. This is real forgiveness. Real setting it right.

You say, “It can’t be set right. What happened to me affected me, and still does.”

Yes, some hurts are like shadows that follow you around. Only sometimes breaking through into the emotions.

But, remember, God is light…He is peace….and He is joy!

Shall we have it?

But God’s powerful “force” of forgiveness, heals. Heals the wound, our emotions,……and our thoughts about it all, if we let Him.

The Lord has shown me that, except for the time we are injured….and we are often….we do not need to suffer. We can come to Him and receive His life.

I had a co-worker once that worked very hard at making me miserable. Comments, taunts, and worse; were the things I put up with day by day….and for quite some time.

I was newly restored to the Lord, and tried to act right, even if he did not.

But no matter my actions…his were the same.

Sometimes I thought I could not put up with it any more. I wanted to deck him, and show him that he had picked the wrong person to terrorize.

I started to imagine all sorts of bad things happening to him.

And yes, as terrible as this is, I really wanted him to hurt, as bad as I was.

I had prayed that the Lord would stop this man; but He did not.

Why? Because the Lord had something better for me.

Praying about it, the Lord showed me this man in front of me.

All the terrible things he had done came rolling through my mind, and I wanted to…..to….

To what? That is what the Lord asked me: If you could do anything to this man, with no consequences; what would you do?

I started to say a few of the things I had imagined….but suddenly, I started to laugh.

That’s right, I laughed.

I knew I would do nothing to him. Right then I was joyful, and powerful…the Holy Spirit filling me up with laughter!

I knew freedom from this man, from the situation….because of the power the Lord gave me, then.

I laughed! The man could say whatever he wanted, do whatever he wanted….he could not hurt me again.

I knew also that I could forgive him for anything he did and would do. The Lord helped me, the Holy Spirit empowered me, and I had peace.

When we forgive, the Holy Spirit rejoices our hearts. His power uplifts us into a realm where we are victors, we are overcomers, we are healed.

We know joy and peace; and most important, His presence is like a light shining in a dark place!

This is what Jesus did to those men who crucified Him. “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

This was not pretend…..it was in the midst of agony….He looked down upon those men who taunted Him….and forgave them.

(And Stephen, the first martyr, did the same Acts 8:60)

This is power. Real power in our lives; for us to live in this world where offenses abound….and they do….God does not minimize it….they are real.

Real power for us to look our enemies in their faces, and see how Jesus’ forgave…

Real power to forgive and put it behind you forever.

Living in Christ, by Christ, and for Christ is never without real pain, real hurt, or real injury; He never belittles our suffering (Psalm 56:8), but remembers every slight done to us.

One day He will wipe away all tears—there will be no hurts, then (Isaiah 25:8, Revelation 21:4),……no more offenses…

……but here in this life, He will also wipe them away, if we let Him; and have His peace.

The Lord’s Personal Voice to His Sheep

John 10:1-5 “Verily, Verily, I say unto you, he that entereth not by the door of the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him; for they know not the voice of strangers.”

Here is a lovely picture of the personal care and guidance of Christ Jesus our Lord…..who is our Good Shepherd.

John 10:14 “I am the good shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of mine.”

In the days of Christ, there would be one sheep fold for many flocks. The Shepherd would come to the door: state his name, so the porter or watchman from the night before, would let him in to get his sheep.

Then the Shepherd would go to the door, and call his sheep. (There is always a few older sheep which would follow quite close to the Shepherd, and they would be first to come.) “Come on Nathan, come on Levi, come on Gershom, come on Sarah”

And out they would come, behind him.

The other sheep of his flock would then follow, too.

It was their name that brought them out to follow the Shepherd; and so Jesus teaches here, that He calls us by our name, when He calls us to follow Him.

He goeth before them. Christ Jesus always leads us on. So that He meets any obstacle first. He has prepared our way, and He leads us in it.

As a Christian, you should experience this.

His call to follow Him in your everyday experiences. He leads, we follow; it is that simple.

There are enemies. There are dangers. There are also warm days of feeding and following, and resting with Christ.

He leads us through them all; and protects us in these events, as we follow Him.

It is our life here in this world of strife, which is pictured.

He has encamped about us; keeping us in His fold, and calling us forth for each days events.

And saving us from enemies, sliding rocks, steep mountain terrain, swift waters which would carry us away. (The dangers of which we are often not aware, but our Shepherd sees, and leads us around, or protects us from.)

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

And it is always His Voice which is calling us onward. Have you responded to HIs call to follow Him?

It is an amazing thing, when we as sheep, learn to make each day an adventure with Christ. (And sheep can be pretty stubborn)

Today is a new day.

Yesterday’s failures have been confessed.

Yesterday’s successes have been brought to Christ in thanksgiving, and laid aside.

Now, it is today.

And today is the time for more going on with Jesus. We can hear His voice today, and follow into the place He has for us.

Maybe the same people we see everyday, but with new conversations.

Maybe new people. Enemies, or friends, we will let our Shepherd decide. (He only can see their hearts, and intentions.)

John 10:27-29 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

And I give unto them eternal life, (eternal life is a condition of life now, and throughout eternity) and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

My Father, which gave them to me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”

He has made all the provision for our lives. He has saved us. He now calls us to follow Him, today, and the next and the next, as His sheep. Following His Voice, and His leading through all our circumstances.

Are we ready to hear?

Achan’s Folly

Israel has come into the land to inherit God’s Promise to them….and the first obstacle was the fortress city of Jericho.

This was an impossibility! Yet God gave them a miraculous victory.

This was the first battle….therefore the Lord gave certain requirements concerning the things found in the city….

Joshua 6:17-19 “And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the Lord:….

And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.

But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron are consecrated unto the Lord: they shall come into the treasury of the Lord.”

Joshua 7:1 “But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing:…”

First, I want to explain “foolishness”…..it means to be perverse, to act in silliness or to choose to let our emotions rule, when we know better.

Psalm 14:1 “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God, they are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good”

(Most believe that it says in the original…”The fool hath said in his heart, No, God,..”)

Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

(We often are unaware of the definitions of God’s Word. We think their meaning is the way we use them now.

The way we think of “fool” now is that they are stupid, or that they blindly follow their idea….which could be good…

But “fool” in the Bible, means one who has despised God’s character and law….and acts from that motive.)

Achan was an Israelite, of the tribe of Judah. He had a family, and cattle, and goods.

He has seen the bondage of Egypt as a child,….

…the wilderness wanderings and the Lord dealing with His people,…

….and was among those that crossed the Jordan,……dry shod.

He had heard the instructions of Joshua to the people as how they were to see the fortress of Jericho destroyed….

….and the warnings of what to stay away from.

He walked around Jericho for seven days, till they shouted on the last day, when the walls fell down flat.

He had witnessed, for himself, a lot of miracles….yet…

…..with all that knowledge of God, and His power for His people….

…..still he gave into his lust, when he was tempted…(James 1:14-15)

Joshua 7:1 “But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan,….of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel.”

But it is not the affect that Achan’s sin had on Israel that I want to speak of….but the damage that it caused his own soul….and the damage to his family.

So let us look at what tempted him:

Joshua 7:21 “When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.”

A Babylonian garment….luxurious and grand….something to make him look like “Somebody”.

(To be able to walk around feeling as good, or better than others.)

A bag of silver….here is the spending money he has always wanted! He could take a little of it and buy anything he wanted.

(To be able to gratify his desire….now.)

A wedge of gold….wealth. It was not something he could carry in his pocket to use for buying and selling….but it was something to be put up….for prestige and collateral.

(To be able to rest content…thinking he was “kept” by it, for years to come.)

All of these have to do with Achan’s personality….as all our temptations come from what we “lust” after.

Achan is unsatisfied with the way things are going….

Perhaps he is unhappy about waiting to get “what is mine”…..his inheritance.

Perhaps it is just a “sample” of his inheritance that he wants….

Perhaps it is desire for prestige and importance…..

…..for the Babylonian garment is named first….

“Boy, wouldn’t I look grand in that….just like the landowner I will be soon!”

(And how often are we concerned with what the world values?

1 John 2:16-17 “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

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

Achan is unhappy with God’s Will….for all the first battles’s goods will go to the Lord. (Like the tithe and offerings we give…..Him first.)

Achan is someone who feels that God’s requirements are too harsh…….God should not demand “so much”.

(Have not we felt the same way, at times?)

Yet, had he ever been without supplies….for him, his family, or animals?….no.

Has he been promised a place, an inheritance,….for him and his family?….yes.

Hadn’t God fought for them against the greatest nation of the world…Egypt; and against the Amalekites….and even now, makes the walls of this huge city fall down?…..yes.

What did he lack?

(This is a question we should all ask ourselves….when we are tempted.)

Now when Achan looked down as he was fighting in Jericho….and saw the Babylonian garment, the silver, and the gold….

….it was not just these things…….but what he imagined for himself, with them.

Then, he said, “No, God.”

And his folly led him to take what was to be hallowed to the Lord….for himself.

Worse,…..he drew his family into his folly, when he came back to camp….and hid these things in his tent….under the blankets there…

….because they would have known….so he made them guilty with him.

(They could have come and told the leaders….or priests, to get forgiveness and guidance….yet they kept silence.

Their silence to his guilt….made them guilty, too.)

Sin begets sin.

For this folly, Achan…..and his family…..and all that he had was destroyed…..for he had made them a curse. (Joshua 7:24-26)

Now, let’s look at God’s provision for His people….His general way of dealing with us.

Isaiah 30:18 “And therefore will the Lord wait, that He may be gracious unto you, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgement: blessed are all they that wait for Him.”

(As we have mentioned before “judgement” means He weighs the righteous and obedient….and the wicked and disobedient)

The Lord’s Word is a place of shelter, a place of comfort, a place of joy….and yes, a place of judgement.

For it shows us…..us.

What we do with that knowledge makes all the difference.

What we do after that, makes all the difference!

Will we obey His Will?

What do we think of our Lord?

Achan should have waited on the Lord.

He should have reasoned with his lust and said….”No, Achan. (Instead of No God)….I do not know what God will give me….but I will trust Him to do the right thing.”

If he had, he would have had a whole lot more than what he foolishly took….and be blessed in having it!

For God had the spoil of the next city and all the rest of the places to be divided among the people.

(Joshua 8:2, 27. It is recorded twice that we should not miss the significance of it.)

Joshua 8:27 “Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Israel took for a prey unto themselves according unto the word of the Lord which He commanded Joshua.”

God had plenty for Achan….and for all Israel….but they were to honor Him first….while trusting in Him for the rest.

Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

What will you give in exchange for your soul?

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

We know this is the summary of Christ’s call to follow Him. (Matthew 16:24-26)

It is a call He gave all…(Luke 9:23-25)

Here, the Lord Jesus puts into perspective the choice we truly make….Him or the world.

If you had everything, and lost your soul, of what value could it be?

(Let us speak for a moment of losing our soul: it is not just going to Hell and then the Lake of Fire….although that is the end result.

No. We are in subjection, as mankind,……..to something.

We do not rule our destiny….we can not…..for circumstances, people, times and seasons, and places are all factors we can not rule.

In fact, we can not rule ourselves…..our souls, our personalities.

We can be phony….pretending to like or love things we do not….for “profit” or advantage in the world.

We can “learn” to like things….making ourselves over in the image of someone we want to be like….but we can never be them….but just us—like them.

We can not, at times, subdue our anger, or our affections….both fly away where they want.

But we can, as Jesus Christ said, come and let Him rule in us.

If you refuse this…..as many people mistakenly think this liberty is bondage….then the simple answer is:

You will be ruled by the world, the flesh or the devil.

The world’s thoughts will be yours.

You will always be frustrated, because your way is not being done.

The devil will trick you into real bondage of some sort.

You have lost your soul…..and you are not in Hell, yet.

There is still hope…..you can come to Christ Jesus, and let Him bring you into His kingdom.)

Jesus asked, “Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Many things in this world, say, “Don’t worry about your soul’s well being….after all your young….or after all your intelligent….or after all you go to church.”

Matthew Henry said in his commentary on the Bible: “If your religion is worth anything, It is worth everything.”

Christ says we must lose….to gain Him.

We must “Come”……leave where you are…….and then, “Follow”.

Colossians 1:10-13 “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful unto every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness;

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.”

This is what is promised all who come to Christ….who are born again:

Being fruitful…..increasing in the knowledge of God….strengthened with all might….with joyfulness….partakers of the inheritance….delivered from the power of darkness….translated into the kingdom of His dear Son.

It is in the walk we have with Christ….bringing all that we are and have, step by step, and placing it under His control.

By a deliberate act of the will….placing all things at His disposal.

Here, Lord is my anger….I am mad and feeling it worsen….But it not just the anger….it is my resentment toward these people,…..my frustration at the lack of appreciation,….my frustration to You, even.

(By this time, when I pray, I am usually agreeing with the Lord, and giving up the feelings….they are not worth having anything come between me and Jesus.)

Now, Lord, I am sick….I am full of grief….I am weary, so weary….

What ever it is, it is….

…..and must be dealt with by bringing it all….Yes, bringing it all to Christ….to be delivered from this darkness….and no longer under the influence of the Adversary……into Light.

As Christians, we have the ability to bring ourselves into subjection, by the Holy Spirit’s power within us….by our deliberate act of our will.

(I remember talking to a man who was having some difficulties,….and he said:

“I just need more of God in my life.”

Now, I thought that sounded good….and praying for him, the Lord said to me, “What that man needs is a whole lot less of himself.”

God showed me, that He was there for that man….and His power was there for that man….but the man was not letting Him rule……

….pray for that.

And how many times the Lord has reminded me about this….for myself.)

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

Jesus tells all who will follow Him…..it will be the world….or Me.

Which will it be?

Seek ye the Lord

Isaiah 55:6-7 “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near:

       Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”

“Seek” here means to diligently search for…to ask after, for worship.

But what does it mean…seek Him….”While He may be found”..”While He is near”?

       Isn’t He always available to us?  

(As the old story goes….an older couple in their vehicle saw this younger couple sitting next to each other.   And the wife of the older man said,  Honey, why don’t we sit like that anymore?

And the older man, who was driving,  said,  Well, I haven’t moved.

      It is never the Lord that leaves us….but we, who have moved away from Him, in some way.

It may not be far away….but it is not the love relationship that it once was.)

Here the Lord, through Isaiah, is speaking to His own people…..to those who have turned their backs upon Him….when He has called to them. (Proverbs 1:24)

      ( What has our hearts gone after….instead of Him?)

Therefore “seek”….diligently search…to ask after, for worship…is used here.   

       And this kind of searching is always….a matter of our hearts.

Jeremiah 29:13 “And ye shall seek Me, and find Me when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”

When our hearts are awakened to His call….and HIs claims on our lives, as His people,…then He may be found….for then He is very near,  to hear our answer to HIs call.

And how do we do this?

“Let the wicked forsake his way…”   the wicked here are “morally wrong”….

…..their lives are not giving glory to God,  but to their own lusts….wherever those lusts lead.

     ( We, as Christians, can become entangled in the world….and the world is full of corruption, as Peter says, we are to use the promises God gives us and:

       2 Peter 1:4  “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.”)

“Let…the unrighteous man (forsake) his thoughts…”   unrighteous means “to exert oneself in vain…to come to nothing”.

      How many are putting a lot of effort into things which are not God’s Will for them?  Seeking instead to be like someone else…or have something that is not for them?

God calls us to forsake all of these and diligently search for Him….that we may have  real satisfaction…the real blessings of His Presence and grace.

As Paul says to Timothy about the life the Lord has called him to:

2 Timothy 2:3-4 “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

       No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

So the Lord will have mercy (compassion).

This is where the Lord turns His eyes toward us for good.  Mercy is God’s benevolence or kindness to sinners.   

….and God’s  pardon (forgiveness).   This is where we are returned to the Way of blessing.

Psalm 103:2-3, 10-12 “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits;

      Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases;

      He hath not dealt with us after our sins;  nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

      For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him.

      As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.”

And where do we search for Him?    

You search for Him, where you last walked with Him…where you last heard HIs Voice.

Wherever you left the path of duty….there He is.   He is waiting to be gracious….but we must search diligently….for the place we lost Him.

And how do we search?   First, by prayer and confession.  Then by getting up out of what we have gotten ourselves into in the world….and leaving all for Christ.

His call is always:  “Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.”  (Song of Solomon 2:10)

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord:  though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;  though they be as crimson, they shall be as wool.”

(Scarlet and crimson are the bright red colors from  a certain worm.  This worm was crushed to get the color of these…and these are the colors associated with Christ in HIs sacrifice for us.

  Our   Lord looked like this scarlet worm as He hung on the cross….when His body was covered with blood which was shed to make our crimson and scarlet sins as white as snow.)

The Lord calls us to “reason” with Him….to get right, to correct ourselves under His direction and care…..for it is….”to reason together”.

Lord, what am I,  that, with unceasing care, 

Thou didst see after me,—That Thou didst wait,

Wet with unhealthy dews, before my gate,

And pass the gloomy nights of winter there?

How oft my guardian angel gently cried, 

Soul, from thy casement…look, and thou shalt see,

   How He persists to knock and wait for thee!

The call is…”Seek ye the Lord while He may be found….call ye upon Him while He is near:

     Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts…and let him return unto the Lord…for He will have mercy….and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”

HIs pardon,  as we probably already know….is abundant.  Pressed down and running over with forgiveness….and peace.   

    And in the place of crimson sins….we have the white snow of HIs righteousness and the purpose of His life running through us.

“Seek”….”Call”….”forsake”….”return”….for our Lord Jesus will forgive by His merits….and our God will set us free from guilt and bondage…and give us life…abundantly.

John 1:4 “In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.”

“Life” here in this verse is vitality…the essence and power of living.  You will notice, it says…”and the life was the light of men.”

        “The life”…it does not say what life….because life is only found in God.  It is not just that He gives us life….but that He is life to us.

        Christ Jesus has this vitality for us…through the Holy Spirit within.

The joy of the Lord is the Presence of God in my life.

The Holy Spirit in our spirits is the chief source of that joy….but He must be yielded to in all our doings.

1 Thessalonians 5:19 “Quench not the Spirit.”

Don’t choke Him off.            How do we “choke” Him?   By ignoring the light that He gives us, whether in guidance, peace, or strength….His light illuminates us, the situation, and Him.

(An old preacher once said….. that the joy and peace that we have, are the measuring lines  of our true spiritual life.  

       If they are missing,  we are weak Christians indeed.)

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

The devil will attack us in these two fruits….for if he can hinder our joy, by opening the door to looking at ourselves,    looking at others or circumstances…sadness or discontent,….

……then, when joy is gone…and there is a emptiness to it…

…..then our peace, which steadies us in the changing winds and storms…will waver,…and can disappear…

     And when our peace is gone….we begin to run around looking for “something” to hang on to.

Romans 8:11 “But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you,  He that raised up Jesus from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.”

Romans 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink;  but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

Again, joy is the Presence of God in my life. I have Him…and He has me.

       HIs vitality…His life…HIs quickening….is always there…we need to yield to HIm….and let HIm have HIs Way with us.

(I want to speak for a moment about light.   To be enlightened, is not just to know something you did not before.   But it is to experience the uplifting and grace to do what you are shown to do.                                           

       Jesus said, I am the light of the world.   Because the whole world was in the darkness of sin….a darkness that surrounds and blinds them to their condition.

       But Jesus came….darkness had to flee from HIm and HIs Word.   Many saw the light….some followed Him, into more light…submitting to what HIs life and light showed them about themselves….receiving His life, having His light.)

Ephesians 1:17-20 “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him:

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

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

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

””According to the working of HIs mighty power.”    How much are we letting the “working” of the Holy Spirit in our lives?

Now there should come to each of us who seek the Lord’s Will for our lives…that transformation of our mind.   We are now enlightened….we see with the Holy Spirit’s discernment.

        Our natural way of thinking becomes spiritual.  We stop seeing things the way we always have….with our own opinion….and, according to the world’s thoughts.   We stop walking in darkness.

       We step into HIs light.

       That is what the life of Christ does….it imparts a vitality to our life which gives love to God and others,….which gives joy from HIs Presence with us….and which gives peace.   It brings us to worship the Lord…to count Him worthy of our all.

We must come to the place in yielding to the Holy Spirit, that every act is an act of worship. That we do all to the glory of God….then HIs life is flowing through us. Then we are lights to the world….not hiding them under a bushel.

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

Colossians 3:23 “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”

Eating and drinking are simple everyday parts of our lives….yet they are to glorify God.   How much more are we to glorify God through  our words and actions with our church, family, fellow Christians,….and in the world?

In Him was  life, and the life was the light of men.   

And we have this life….His vitality….let us yield to Him, and have the light, joy and peace that He has for us…that we might shine our lights in the darkness of this world.

Let us Pass over to the Other Side.

Mark 4: 35 “And the same day, when the even was come, He said unto them, Let us pass over to the other side.”

The Lord Jesus had just been teaching by the sea side. He had been preaching all day, and so at eventide, He spoke to his disciples that it was time to move on.

Mark 4:36 “And when they had sent away the multitude, they took Him even as He was in the ship. And there were also with Him other little ships.”

Now Jesus had said “Let us pass over to the other side”,…..and there was not a fisherman there, that did not think they could do that,….with no problem.

They were experienced fishermen, what could happen?

So they began. Other boats followed along, as well.

But suddenly a storm arose, which they had not foreseen.

Mark 4:37 “And there was a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.”

This was some sudden storm! The boat was filling up, from the wind whipping up the waves! This was not the usual lake travel; not for fishermen or others.

May I ask each of us, have we not been in this situation?

Quite certain that we could do something the Lord Jesus had given us to do?

(After all, we have been saved, and know quite a bit about the Lord; and about His work for us)

But then, some sudden “storm” of words, resentment, or shaming comes up from others, and we are suddenly at a loss as how to deal with it.

Worse, it seems as if we are “sinking”, and the Lord does not seem to be helping.

And may I also ask, haven’t we felt as if the Lord should come to our rescue, immediately?

I know I have; and have felt the fear, and (yes, shamefully) the resentment toward the Lord, that He did not help me, as I thought He should.

But, as the Lord reminded me: “Didn’t I think I could handle this myself?”

You should have seen me trying to excuse myself!

“Oh no, Lord, I never think I can do something without You.” (But, of course, I had)

Soon, I confessed, instead of excusing myself. I set it right with Him first.

Then I asked Him to show me when I was going to do the same thing: Whenever I began to think I knew what I was doing!

We need guidance, His word to us;

and His Presence with us whenever we do anything for Him.

And we need faith, to see it through, no matter what comes up.

Mark 4:38-40 “And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awoke Him, and say unto Him, Master carest thou not that we perish?

And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

And He said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?”

Faith sees God; and that puts everything else in it’s proper place, under Him.

Now, Jesus had said, “Let us pass over to the other side”; not go out into the sea and drown.

They should have trusted His Word, and by faith, claimed it when they were in the storm.

But as the wind and waves grew greater, their fear grew as well. His Words became just words; which they aren’t.

Guidance we need. (They had that)

His Presence we need; always. (They had that)

What then did they lack?

First, a knowledge of their own inability to see what might come up against them.

As fishermen they would have known the night sky: whether there was a storm coming. So the one that came, surprised them.

Second, they lacked a firm faith in the Word of Christ to them.

Their faith should have steadied them; then they would have been able to trust. (Hold on to what Jesus has said.)

They would have been able to say to the wind and waves: that Jesus had given them His Word, and that He was with them….

And passed over to the other side.

Not without a struggle, this is true; but faith acted on, empowers and enables us to see the duty done.

Let us have faith in Christ Jesus our Lord, and trust His Word, and Presence with us.

Every storm has a lesson, let us look to Him, and learn from Him.

2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen.”