Who hath ears to hear, let him hear…

Matthew 13:9 “Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

Jesus had just told the parable of the sower, and the four kinds of ground: wayside, stony places, among thorns, and the good ground.

Then His disciples ask: Why do you speak to them in parables?

(We must remember Jesus has preached plainly to the crowds: Matthew 5-7 is the Sermon on the Mt.; and there He speaks very plainly what they should do)

So Jesus explains:

Matthew 13:12-13 “For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

Therefore speak I unto them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.”

Basically He said: exposition must have application.

When they come and hear, do they want to know what it means for them?

Or are they happy just to hear a story and go away, untouched by the meaning of My Words?

“For whosoever hath”. The crowds had been following Him, and listening.

But to truly follow Him as Christ, they would have to want to understand for themselves what He was demanding of them. What the parables meant where they were concerned.

Jesus said the kingdom of heaven was at hand. Did they really hear that? Then, what should they do,…….to have it?

Just follow along…..thinking everything was alright, because they listened to Him?

No,…..for to enter a kingdom…..you must submit to the King!

But to those who are His disciples, He said:

Matthew 13:16 “But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears for they hear.”

How?

His disciples had taken the first step and obeyed His call to them,……..whether from fishing boats, or tax collector booths…they came after Him (and that is always the first step: to leave the old life and come after Him)

Matthew 13:36 “Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house; and His disciples came unto Him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.”

They did not always understand at first, what the parables meant. But they wanted to know what these things really meant, and because they did, Jesus explained it to them.

That is the difference in hearing, and having hearing ears. The first one hears the words….they are lovely, and probably from God.

The hearing ears comes after for the understanding they need, to know and have what Jesus says for themselves.

When we have a Bible truth in reality; we have it in our everyday experience.

Romans 5:17 “For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one (that was Adam, by his sin);

Much more they that receive abundance of grace

And of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by One, Jesus Christ.”

Romans 5:17 (Williams version) “For if by one man’s offense death reigned through that one (Adam, by his sin);

To a much greater degree will those who continue to receive the overflow of His unmerited favor, and His gift of right standing with Himself; reign in real life, through One, Jesus Christ.”

I like the Williams version because it explains: “receive abundance of grace”.

Jesus says in John 10:10 “…I am come that they may have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

Abundant life comes as we continue to receive the overflow of His life and grace. He gives them to us: drop by drop;….or showers of grace.

There are graces we need to just “get through”.

But peace under trial; joy in pain; strength in sickness; perseverance in times of distress; etc.

These are all abundant graces which we can receive from Him…His overflow of power to us by His Holy Spirit in us.

Him flowing through us: in us (it is always in us first), and by us.

So we can reign (that’s right, we can rule our spirits in the situation: what ever it is).

And we can reign in “real” life….our real life!

Yes, the real life we live…not the one we would like to live; or the one we read someone else lived; but our life: all the people, jobs, troubles, griefs, and happiness…our life.

If we continue to receive His abundant grace: His overflow….for He has enough and to spare of grace (the unmerited favor of power)…for us all….

Standing before the God Who is there.

Romans 11:29 “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”

If the Lord has ever called you to a ministry or work (we call it work, because so many people feel “ministry” is only for preachers), He has not changed His mind concerning you.

Our whole existence should be: to will to please our Lord, as His creature and servant.

As creatures, we are responsible for all He has given us.

Who I am and what I am, rests with the God before Whom I stand.

I can not make myself what I am not; nor can I excuse myself for what I have been.

But I can give myself over to the molding of the Holy Spirit within, and do God’s Will in obedience, now.

He will work within to increase faith, hope, peace, and joy that I need, as I yield to Him.

It is: I stand, as His servant, before Him in each situation.

It is not as someone else, or someone I might be someday,……but who I am, using the faith that God has given me, now.

Example:

Acts 3:1-2 “Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them which entered into the temple;”

Peter and John, had been filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.

But they were still Peter and John.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit, is to be filled to the capacity in your soul at that time, to receive the rule and power of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit never stops you, being you, in your personality,…..but only guides you away from sin, and into knowledge of God’s Will.

Then He gives grace or the empowerment to do God’s Will. (We still have to use it)

Peter and John were going along to prayer service, when they see this lame man.

He sat at the gate of the temple to beg alms.

He saw Peter and John, and as usual, he asked them for some money.

Acts 3:4 “And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.”

The lame man saw nothing different in them, for he expected some small change, as others gave him.

But Peter wanted to direct his eyes away from the coin, to what he said. For he knew that the Lord wanted to heal him. (“Fastening” here, means looking with a purpose in mind.)

Acts 3:6-8 “Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.”

Notice Peter said, “such as I have give I thee”. What did he have?

He had the knowledge of Jesus Christ and of the power of His name.

For Jesus Christ can change men’s lives.

And Peter knew the Lord’s Will, and used what he had, to obey.

Notice also, he took him by the hand. Peter did not wait for the man to believe, but “lifted him up” in faith, himself.

And God did the rest: “his feet and ankle bones received strength” to walk and leap.

Then faith in the man caught up and he did not run home; but went into the temple to praise God.

If you read further, you will see how God used this to enable Peter to preach about Christ to others. Many believed. (Acts 4:4)

(Yes, they were put in “hold” for a night, but even that gave them the opportunity to preach in Jesus Name to the rulers, elders, and scribes.

They were threatened, but told the council, “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”)

After such an experience, Peter and John went back to the company of believers and told what had happened.

All the gathered believers, prayed for boldness to “speak Thy word”.

Acts 4:31 “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”

Weren’t they already filled with the Spirit? Yes….

….but….here, they were filled to the greater capacity in their souls.

They had a larger capacity because of what they had done and experienced……and they needed more of His help.

And He gave it.

Standing before the God Who is there, is simply being His obedient servant;…….and receiving and using the faith and help, He gives.

When we go on in this way,…..more grace and help, is given, as we need it

Isaiah 43:21 “This people have I formed for Myself; they shall show forth My praise.”

“Formed” means to mold, as a Potter does the clay…by squeezing, and shaping according to his plan.

So God is saying, here, that He, as the Divine Potter, has molded us that we might perform the purpose for which we were created.

A water pot is for carrying water….a flower pot is for the displaying of beauty….etc.

Every person saved….is saved for a reason.

Not just for heaven…..yes, Jesus Christ wants us to be with Him forever, and has prepared a place with Him in heaven…

…but the preparation….or the molding of us for our Purpose….is here.

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

If we could “go down to the Potter’s house” with Jeremiah….and watch the Divine Potter form a vessel on the wheel (Jeremiah 18:2)….what would we want Him to make?

I would ask you….what do you want Him to form you into?

You see there is creation….and there is forming:

Isaiah 42:1 “But now thus saith the Lord, that created thee, O Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine.”

Jacob, the schemer was born….he was the second twin…always behind his brother in his father’s eyes….but not God’s.

God purposed him to have the blessing of the covenant….and be formed into Israel….

…and after years of Jacob planning and scheming to work things out….God spoke, wrestled, and worked on Jacob with His Word, and circumstances….till Israel was formed.

We are who God has created us to be by birth…..we have no choice in this….our parents, our home life, our place of birth…

Romans 9:19 “Thou wilt say, then unto me, Why doeth He yet find fault? For Who hath resisted His Will?”

Who had any say in what He created us to be? Why then does He require obedience? He made me this way….He could have made me different….

Romans 9:20 “Nay, but O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to Him that formed it, Why hast Thou made me thus?”

“Why has Thou made me this way?”

Down through the centuries mankind has asked God this…

Adam blamed God for his fall….”the woman Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me to eat”….(Genesis 3:12)

….”You gave her to me…..and she gave me the fruit to eat…so it is Your fault.”

This is a favorite rebellion….one, the Adversary of our souls, the devil, uses.

Why did You give me this situation?

Why did You permit this to happen, when You could have stopped it?

When, what He wants, is that we will with Him to “stop it”……and be formed more into His character.

Why does God create us the way we are? To show forth His praise.

(It is interesting to note, that when it spoke of “pots” in the Old Testament, that a lot of the references were for the Temple…and it’s use.)

We are created….and formed by Him….for He has a good reason….even though we may not know what it is.

When the Potter molds a vessel….the clay is made pliable by mixing in water with it….it is really kneaded in; for it has to become pliable, and smooth…

….all the hard lumps removed.

Then it is placed on a wheel….and formed by the hands of the Potter.

The wheel turning fast or slow….that is up to the Potter.

But the “forming” is not given up on….till it is done.

The Potter does not take it off the wheel, and say….”I will finish this tomorrow or next week”….for the clay would become too hard to mold….and the vessel would be worthless.

Isaiah 64:8 “But now, O Lord, Thou art our Father, we are the clay, and Thou our potter, and we all are the work of Thy hand.”

We started with “this people have I formed for Myself”.

Romans 9:21 “Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?”

Of course He does…..so why are we so discontented with His plan?

I believe the reason is……the plans we will not let go of.

Romans 9:22-23 “What if God, willing to show His wrath, and to make His power known, endured with much long suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

And that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had afore prepared unto glory.”

By the process of molding, the Lord is able to show the thought of His mind, and make known the desire of His Will.

He molds us by circumstances…..this is a hard one….for we would rather He change the circumstances….but He wants to change us, and give us victory in them.

He molds us by Scripture….as we read His Word….the Holy Spirit opens our minds and hearts to receive the power and blessing of it.

He molds us by His love….how many times when I have been angry, that He would remind me of His merciful love to me….and I would deny my anger….for His sake.

He uses every day things to bring us to the place that we are: “a vessel unto honor….meet for the Master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:21)

He has an end in view….with much to be accomplished, along the way.

That “end” is:

Jeremiah 29:11 “And I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

Christ, the Anointed One

The Lord Jesus was Christ, the Anointed One. 

(Of course, in His deity, He needed no anointing….but in His human nature, He is shown as anointed….by the fulness of the Holy Spirit,…without measure…for the work and life He took on, to save  us.)

 His  anointing was spoken of several times:

       “anoint” means to consecrate…or to furnish what is needed.

The anointing of Christ Jesus is stressed in Scripture.   Over three hundred times Christ is used in the New Testament.   

1 John 5:1 “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God….”

    The Lord’s enemies were very conscious of the importance of this name…for they said:

John 9:22 “….that if any man did confess that He was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.”

Before Jesus came to earth…He was said to be anointed with the oil of gladness for the work He was to do.    His love was toward the sons of men….wanting and waiting the day when He would come and bring salvation to us.

Psalm 45:7 “Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.”   (This is repeated in Hebrews 1:9)

We often think of Jesus as a sad individual….but though He walked upon this sin sick earth…among some of the worst diseases…and with continual signs of rejection and or misunderstanding…yet He was a joyful and glad person.   

       He knew His Father’s Will and it was His joy to speak of His Will.    It was His pleasure to relieve the sick, and demon possessed.     It was His delight to speak of the kingdom of God…and HIs righteous laws.   

      Jesus was anointed with gladness (cheerfulness, joy)…for the work…and we can be too.   For joy is the Presence of God in my life.   God’s Presence was with Him…and therefore He rejoiced (Luke 10:21).   

                 (We, too, should have the joy of the Lord, for it is through the Holy Spirit that we have it      Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,”)

When Jesus came to earth and was to begin His work of redemption, He was  baptized by John, and anointed with the Holy Ghost and with power  

Acts 10:37-38 “…after the baptism which John preached; 

         How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed  of the devil; for God was with Him.”

         He was anointed in full measure with the Holy Ghost for the life ahead…..His capacity for this fullness was limitless….because He knew no sin. 

Matthew 3:16 “And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him:”

         He was anointed  against trials and temptations ahead….to heal  and disciple those that would come after Him.   

        He was anointed by the Holy Ghost….and so are we to be…”…that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” (Eph.3:19)…”…be not drunk with wine…but be filled with the Spirit;” (Eph. 5:18)

        Jesus showed us that we need the Holy Spirit’s infilling, for our lives ahead…”to do good”.

Jesus was “anointed….to preach the gospel”:

 Luke 4:18-19, 21 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

         To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

And He began to say unto them,  This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”

Jesus was anointed to preach….to preach the gospel, to preach deliverance and enlightening of the eyes,  to preach the acceptable year of the Lord…or that the kingdom of God is at hand. (Matthew 4:17)

We think of the Sermon on the Mt. and what a wonderful message that was!….but He preached in many places…giving out the glad tidings.

        Luke 8:1 “And it came to pass afterward, that He went thoughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with HIm,”

How this shows us God’s plan for getting His message out!  

       He preached….going about preaching God’s Word….and….the glad tidings of the kingdom of God!   

       And we, too, that are preachers should preach…

1 Corinthians 1:21-23 “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God  by the foolishness of preaching  to save them that believe.

        For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 

        But we preach Christ crucified,…”

Jesus was anointed with tears of repentance… and love.

Luke 7:37-38, 44-47 “And, behold, a woman…which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,

        And stood at his feet behind Him weeping, and began to wash His feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed His feet, and anointed them with the ointment.”

        Repentance is a choice flower in the garden of God.   And Jesus manifests this thought,  in His acceptance of this anointing.

        We think that it was the lesson to Simon, that was most important…and it was important…

….but this sinner….acknowledged sinner….in faith and repentance, came and anointed Jesus because she loved Him!   

        (Sadly we get to thinking that when we are shown our sin,  it is a  thing to dread.

 Yes, this woman was grieved and weeping because of her sin, how  awful it was…but she loved Jesus,  because she believed Who He was….the Messiah…

…and she came so that He could give her what she sought….forgiveness.

But whether He did or not…she had already brought an alabaster box to pour out on Jesus, in faith and love.   And she poured it out on His feet, for she felt unworthy to do anything else.)

Jesus said about this:     “My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed My feet with ointment.

          Wherefore I say unto thee,  Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.” (Luke 7:46-47)

                  She repented and loved much….so we are called to repent, and love Him. (Revelation 3:19)

Jesus was anointed for His burial…twice.

      John 12:1-3 “Then Jesus  six days before the passover  came to Bethany, where Lazarus was….

          There they made Him a supper; and Martha served…

          Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.”

Mary had sat at His feet to hear Him before,  she had heard His voice call Lazarus back from death,  and she now wanted to worship Him…with an anointing of great cost to her….on His feet, and wiped them with her hair….(our hair is the woman’s glory….and she was taking her glory…and giving it to Christ, as worship.)

This was six days before the passover…when Jesus was betrayed and taken.   

         Mary anoints Jesus feet…”against the day of My burying” Jesus says. (John 12:7)

Jesus was anointed again, at Bethany, at Simon the leper’s house…(recorded twice Mark 14:3, Matthew 26:2, 6-13)…two days before the Passover feast:

      Mark 14:1, 3 “After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread:….

      And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on His head.

      This time Jesus was anointed on His head…this woman, unnamed, broke the alabaster box…and poured it out on Jesus head. 

      She did not save it for anything, or anyone else…..for the vessel it was in,  was broken…so that none but He could be honored by it!

This, too, was for His burial.   

Mark 14:8-9 “She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.

      Verily I say unto you,  Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.”

            I find it amazing the God saw to everything where Jesus was concerned!   And He will do the same for us!

[It is interesting to note that when they came to the tomb to anoint Jesus with spices on resurrection morning (Mark 16:1)…..angels were at the place of His feet and head (John 20:12).

       And Mary had anointed Jesus feet, and another woman anointed His head….they did it beforetime]

And although it is not said in the gospels….God anointed Jesus, for the persecution, beatings, and crucifixtion.   

Acts 4:27-28 “For of a truth against Thy holy child Jesus,  whom Thou hast  anointed,   both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

      For to do whatsoever Thy hand and Thy counsel determined before to be done.”

Whatever was in the Will of God for the Lord Jesus….God anointed Him for it.   

      Anoint means to consecrate, or furnish what is needed.

And God will do the same for us….

And now I will speak of our anointing, by the merits of Christ….through the Holy Spirit.

 1 John 2:27 “But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you:  but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him.”

This anointing is the Holy Spirit.  He is the One that will teach us “all things”.  And He is truth, and will show us the truth.  

John 13:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

     Do we need to know what the Word is saying?   The Holy Spirit will enlighten us to what we need to know….and do.

And He is truth, and will show us the truth.

John 16:13 “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth:…”

     He is discernment for us.   By Him we know what is good and evil…..which is not always easy to see, in this world.

(We are told in Revelation 3:18 “…anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see…”   It is by the Holy Spirit’s grace, that we “anoint” our eyes with honesty…honesty with God and with ourselves.)

This anointing of the Holy Spirit is “power”….power to speak for Christ.

Acts 1:8 “And ye shall recieve power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:….and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem….and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

And the Holy Spirit will establish us “in Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)….this is a wealth beyond measure for us.    He certainly is in us, by the Holy Spirit….but we are also in Him.  As He is, so are we before the Father!

And the Holy Spirit will strengthen us in the inner man…that we may know the love of Christ (Ephesians 3:16-19)….here is an anchor for our hearts and affections…to know the love of Christ…for me personally.  

        How that will keep us in days of trials, and times of success….for both are sent to help us grow.

Christ was anointed….and when He was raised and ascended back to Heaven….He sent His Holy Spirit that we, too, might be anointed and empowered.

Pride

Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Pride is a dreadful sin, for it places us just a little bit better than our fellowmen. Just a little bit smarter, a little bit nicer.

We are not like…….them….

Pride sees that “I am right”. Therefore we argue easily.

Pride sees that “I deserve more”. Therefore we envy, and are jealous of others who have, before we do, or more than we do.

Pride leads us to try and shut out everyone else, because they are not as “good” as we are.

I have never found “pride” in scripture in a good sense.

It was the sin of the devil:

Isaiah 14:12-14 “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations!

For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will set also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High.”

Lucifer,(who became the Devil)….was the highest of angelic beings….

but pride was found in him….and he rebelled against God….wanting to take over God’s throne and rule….and so was “cut down to the ground”…thrown out of his place. (Ezekiel 28:14-16, 17)

(The opposite of pride is humility.

To be humble is to place yourself in the right place before God…..right where we are….not want to be…..wish to be…..or where we want others to see us…

…but where we are….

….and then, will to change anything that displeases Him.)

Pride was found in the first sin:

Genesis 3:4-6 “And the serpent (the devil in disguise) said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”

What the woman “saw”…..the temptation of “being like gods”…..took hold on Eve and she saw this forbidden tree with new desire:

first,…she had plenty of trees for food….but the first thought to lead her on, was to “eat it….for food.”

Then she suddenly noticed how “beautiful” it was….

…..and…then she wanted that “like god” stuff……pride came in and she lusted after that newfound knowledge! (And we know where that took her.)

1 John 2:16 “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 of the world.”

The world around us,…..would not call these sin,….no, no, they are:

…satisfaction of the body,…we have to have that, we are human.

….gratification of the eyes,….who does not love beauty and form.

….and a sense of pride in your accomplishments….what is wrong with feeling good about “me”

….and how many are drawn away by these very temptations?

So simple….they could not be sin.

Such little steps….they could not be wrong.

But they are.

They all play on our desire for pride in ourselves.

Not to take our place before God in repentance, or faith, or obedience….but….

…..pride in us.

Pride is always against God,…..for when we exalt or rise up in our thoughts ,…..God becomes less in our eyes,…..in our hearts…..and in our actions.

An example of pride,and the pursuit of position…..is Lot.

Abraham told Lot that the whole land was before them….and he gave Lot the opportunity to choose which way he would go….and Abraham would go the other way….so that their herdsman would not fight over grass.

Lot “lifted up his eyes” (Genesis 13:10). Lot should have humbled himself and let God choose….God would have not sent him toward Sodom….

….but Lot’s eyes “saw” a useful pasture, a beautiful valley,……..and a place where he could get up in the world….become “somebody important”.

Proverbs 16:5, 8 “Everyone that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues without right.”

Even, later when Lot was taken as a captive by an invading army…..and Abraham saved him and his family…..

….Lot did not humble himself and choose to follow the Lord…..

…..no, he went back to Sodom….

and in his pride of place,…

…..eventually….he lost his family to sin, and destruction.

An example of learning from God’s correction about pride is Nebuchadnezzar….the king of Babylon.

Proud of…”his accomplishments “….of “his power”(God warned him of his abuse of power with other people)…..of “his great city” (unconquerable)….

….yet in a moment, brought to madness and made like a beast before his court and people. (Daniel 4:27-31)

Yet, after a time….when his reason is restored….he does not return to his old ways, but:

Daniel 4:37 “Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all Whose works are truth, and His ways judgement: and those that walk in pride He is able to abase.”

Paul warns, that in the last days….”…men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud,…….lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof:…” (2 Timothy 3:2-5)

They will go along with the form of religion….saying the Bible is God’s Word….but taking out the power of His sovereignty……the power of the resurrection of Christ….the power of the Holy Spirit’s rule….

….”from such turn away”. (In 1 Peter 5:12-15 the leaders we are to listen to, is spoken of)

But then Paul goes on to speak to Timothy…..and us…about what we should do….2 Timothy 3:14-17:

“But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of,…..that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

That the man of God may be perfect (sanctified), thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

In other words…..keep following Christ as Lord and Savior…..continuing to follow His Word,….His correction by the Holy Spirit….His leading into the “good works” the Lord has for you.

There is no pride of life here…..but a sincere desire to honor the Lord and be useful to Him….in all the days we are given…..love is there, not pride.

Pride is “to rise up, a swelling, majesty”….all are used to magnify “us”….our knowledge, our place, our calling from God.

And pride is always against God….for when we “rise up”….the Lord becomes less in our eyes….in our hearts….in our actions.

Let us pray for wisdom to see ourselves in the Light of His Word by His Holy Spirit….that we may put away pride…..and humble ourselves under the Mighty Hand of God.

He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed.

On the third day, after Jesus died on the cross,  He arose.   

Shortly after there was an earthquake:

Matthew 28:2  “And behold, there was a great earthquake:  for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and come and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

The stone was rolled away,……..not to let Christ Jesus out,……He was already risen;  but to let his disciples in—to see and believe.

1st    Were the women bearing spices to anoint Jesus.   It had been the time of the evening sacrifice,  and Passover,  and there had been no time to anoint Jesus after death. 

Luke 24 :1 “Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.”

(You will remember He was anointed “aforehand”, by a woman with an alabaster box of ointment. )

When they saw the stone rolled away and heard the words of the angel,  they departed and told the disciples.

2nd.   They went and told the eleven disciples, and Peter and John came to see.  

Though John came first, he looked, but did not go in.  

Peter followed and entered the tomb and simply wondered. (Luke 24:12).  

But John then went in and believed.   Then they went away.   

John 20:4-8. “So they ran together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulcher.

       And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.

       Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulcher, and seeth the linen clothes lie, 

       And the napkin, that was about His head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped  together in a place by itself.

       Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulcher, and he saw, and believed.”

3rd.   One of the women,  which came first,  was Mary Magdalene.   

She began to cry because she thought they had stolen the Lord’s body.    (She stayed and actually saw Jesus,  though at first she thought  He was a gardener.)

John 20:11. “But Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulcher”

Angels talked to her,  but she cared only for her Lord….where had He been taken.

She would have tried to carry the body, if she had found Him….thinking some had robbed the tomb.

But as soon as she heard Jesus say,  “Mary.”  She knew it was Jesus and believed.

John 20:16 “Jesus saith unto her,   Mary.   She turned herself, and saith unto him,  Rabboni;  which is to say Master.”

Then Jesus speaks to her, and  shows her one of the greatest truths to Christians…….

……God is our Father,  not our Judge because of His sacrifice.

John 20:17 “Jesus saith unto her, ……but go to my brethren, and say unto them,   I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.”

She went and told the disciples she had seen the Lord.

4th. Women and the other Mary came and again see the tomb…..and the angel tells them, “He is risen”. Then they see Jesus, and worship Him.

Matthew 28:9 “And as they went to tell His disciples,  behold,  Jesus met them,  saying,  All hail.   And they came and held Him by His feet,  and worshipped Him.”

5th.   He shows himself to the disciples in the upper room,  but Thomas is not there. 

John 20:19, 24  “Then the same day at evening,  being the first day of the week,  when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst,  and saith unto them,  Peace be unto you.

               But Thomas, one of the twelve,  called Didymus,  was not with them when Jesus came.”

6th.    He walks along the road with two disciples, and instructs them about the death and resurrection  from the scriptures.   

Proving by the Word of God that the Christ was meant to die a sacrifice for sin,….and be raised the third day.

Luke 24:13, 15-16, 26-27.  “And, behold,  two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus,  which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

            And it came to pass,  that,  while they communed together and reasoned,  Jesus himself drew near,  and went with them.

            But their eyes were holden that they should not know Him.

            Ought not Christ to have suffered these things,  and to enter into His glory?

            And beginning at Moses and at the prophets,  He (Jesus) expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself.”

He went in with them, to eat,  and as soon as He gave blessing,  they knew who He was, and returned to Jerusalem with joy and told His disciples.

Luke 24:30-31 “And it came to pass,  as He set at meat with them,  He took bread,  and blessed it,  and break and gave to them.

                And their eyes were opened,  and they knew Him;  and He vanished out of their sight.”

7th.   He shows Himself again,  in their midst, and eats before them…..and again speaks to them of scripture,  opening their understanding to it.

(How He does the same for us!)

Luke 24:36,41-43, 45-47. “And as they thus spake,  Jesus himself thus stood in the midst of them,  and saith unto them,   Peace be unto you.

                 And while they believed not for joy,  and wondered,  He said unto them,  Have ye here any meat?

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

                 And He took it,  and did eat before them.

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

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

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

                                            

8th. Eight days later He shows Himself again to them in the upper room, especially for Thomas’s benefit.

John 20:26-29 “And after eight days His disciples were within,  and Thomas was with them:   then came Jesus, the doors being shut,  and stood in the midst,  and said,   Peace be unto you.

                 Then saith He to Thomas,  Reach hither thy finger,  and behold my hands;   And reach hither thy hand,  and thrust it into my side;  and be not faithless,  but believing.

                 And Thomas answered and said unto Him,    My Lord and My God.

                 Jesus saith unto him,   Thomas,  because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed:   Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”

9th.   He saw them on the Sea, and restored Peter from his sin of denying Him three times.

He asked him three times, “Do you love Me?”

John 21:15-17 “So when they had dined,  Jesus saith unto Simon Peter,   Simon son of Jonas,  lovest thou  me more than these?  He saith unto Him,  Yea,  Lord;  Thou knowest that I love thee.   He saith unto him,   Feed my lambs.

             He saith unto him the second time,   Simon,  son of Jonas,  lovest thou me?    He saith unto Him,  Yea, Lord;  thou knowest that I love thee.  He said unto him,   Feed my sheep.

             He saith unto him the third time,  Simon son of Jonas,  lovest thou me?   Peter was grieved because He said unto him the third time,  lovest thou me?   And he said unto Him,  Lord,  Thou knowest all things;  thou knowest that I love thee.    Jesus saith unto him,  Feed my sheep.”

Jesus knew Peter loved Him,  but three times he had denied Him;  so three times he affirmed his love to Him.

                          

10th.    Jesus stayed 40 days after His resurrection,  teaching them.

Acts 1:3 “To whom also He showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs,  being seen of them forty days,  and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.”

Jesus ascended to heaven, after telling them to wait till the Holy Ghost was given them……for He would abide with them and empower them for the work.

Acts 1:8-9 “But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

               And when He had spoken these things,  while they beheld,  He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.”

His promise is to come again:  

Acts1:10-11 “And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel;  

              Which also said,  Ye men of Galilee,  why stand ye gazing up into heaven?   This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.”

Revelation 22:20 “He which testifieth these things saith,   Surely I come quickly:   Amen.   Even so,  come,  Lord Jesus.”

He is risen,   He is Risen indeed.

He is now at the right hand of the Father in heaven for us as our Mediator.

And…….He will come again,……just as He said.  

Even so come, Lord Jesus.

Beside Me, there is no God

Isaiah 44:6-8 “Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and His Redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last: and beside Me there is no God.

And who, as I, shall call and shall declare it, and set in order before me, since I appointed the ancient people? And the things that are coming, and shall come, let them show unto them.

Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have I not told thee from that time, and since declared it? Ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside Me? Yea, there is no God; I know not any.”

The God we trust in, is a God of incontestable sovereignty and irresistible power!

He is the Lord Jehovah….self-existent and self-sufficient….

….and He is the Lord of Hosts…of all the hosts of Heaven and earth, of angels and of men….of all that He can muster as an army against those that fight against His people.

He is the King…and those that take God for their King shall have Him for their Redeemer.

He is God from everlasting,….before the world was….

….and He will be so, to eternity beyond.

If God did not create….nothing would ever have been.

If God did not uphold the world…….all would soon come to destruction again.

“Beside Me there is no God.” His people never need to hope in another.

Revelation 4:11 “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.”

(There are only three creations:

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

Our new nature,…we are created in Christ Jesus….Ephesians 2:10

And a new heaven and a new earth….Isaiah 65:17)

For Thou hast created all things: As the Son of God, He created all things!

As the Man, Christ Jesus, He bought back all that was lost at the fall….and gave us redemption….the creation of a new nature within us.

Romans 12:1 “I beseech thee therefore, brethren; by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, wholly, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

Now it is His Pleasure, that I be empowered to do what must be done.

For I can not do it, of myself.

But Who do we present our bodies to?

God the Father sets on His Throne.

God the Son has His own body, as the Man, Christ Jesus.

God the Holy Spirit has come to earth…and we have the privilege to present our bodies to Him, to be His dwelling place on earth.

As mankind, we lost the Presence of the Holy Spirit, after the fall.

He comes back into our spirits at regeneration…..and abides with us.

And God calls us, as an act of the will, to present our bodies to Him……and to be filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18)

To be filled with all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19)…..we must be emptied of self.

And it takes the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit to lead us to be emptied of self…..and that is why…..even though He abides with us…..we need to present our bodies to Him….

….”present” means to “stand beside, to aid”….we willfully stand beside the Lord in all that comes to us….in all that we do…..in all that we are.

Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

And when we “present” ourselves to the Holy Spirit….He frees us from conformity to the world (our old habits, and the desire to be like everyone else)….

…..and transforms us (amazing word!)…..changes us….our minds which are our attitudes and reasons…..which influence our walk….to God’s attitudes toward everything…..

….(and He goes on to tell us what that is later in the chapter Romans 12:9-21)…

…..and this, enables us to prove….God’s Will in ourselves.

He calls to each of us…..will we?……Present ourselves to the Holy Spirit to be emptied of our self-life….that we might be filled by the Holy Spirit with all the fullness of God?

To the degree you are willing to be emptied, He will fill you, for all that is now….and will yet come!

Psalm 22

In the Old Testament there are many prophesies of Christ. Some telling of His exaltation, some of His humiliation.

In the very first prophesy concerning Christ’s coming to save mankind from our sin, death and the devil’s influence of evil….Christ is seen as the Victor.

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

The seed of the woman: Christ would bruise Satan’s head…destroying the power of sin.

Satan would bruise His heel, in the crucifixion.

No one could have imagined the way Christ was going to come and destroy sin, and save His people. It is an amazing and costly plan.

But the Lord knew what would have to be done; and yielded Himself up to do it, …….that we might be saved from sin and it’s curse.

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 (complete) 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 forever and ever. Amen.”

Some of what would happen to Christ, was foretold….so the people would know when it did happen.

This Psalm 22 is an amazing prophesy concerning Christ, when He was on the cross.

Psalm 22:1 “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? Why art Thou so far from helping Me, and from the words of My raging (crying out in pain)?”

When Christ shouted this from the cross (Matthew 27:45-46), darkness had come in the day time because God would not look upon sin….the mass of sin (mine and yours) which was laid upon Christ, to save His people.

Psalm 22:6 “But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.”

The Son of God became the Son of man, and as our substitute became less than man…a worm, unnoticed and unheeded, even as He was crushed beneath the foot of our sins… and the mockery of the people.

Psalm 22:7-8 “All they that see Me laugh Me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

He trusted on the Lord that He would deliver Him: let Him deliver Him, seeing He delighted in Him.”

As He suffered on the cross, some walked by shaking their heads in disbelief, but many scorned Him, even in His death misery’s.

Matthew 27:39,41-43 …”He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him…”

Psalm 22:10 “I was cast upon Thee from the womb: Thou art My God from My mother’s belly.”

Jesus was God’s Son, and from the first to the last, He was hunted and rejected….King Herod when He was born a king…the chief priests and scribes…and finally the crowd crying “Crucify Him.”

Psalm 22:11, 19 “Be not far from Me, for trouble is near, for there is none to help.

But be not far from Me , O Lord: O My Strength, haste Thee to help Me.”

Twice here, the cry is, “But be not Thou far from Me,”. This was Jesus’ greatest anxiety and pain….His Father’s removal from Him….being separated from Him by the sin He carried on Himself……for us.

Psalm 22:14 “I am poured out like water, all My bones are out of joint: My heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of My bowels.”

He was not only nailed to the cross after the beatings He took;….but then they jolted the cross down into the hole they had made;….tearing and jerking His muscles and ligaments with the weight of His body.

“I am poured out like water….my bones are out of joint…my heart is like wax…melted.”

Yet He took every pain, every bit of anguish…lest He come short of His goal, of salvation for us.

Psalm 22:15 “My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and My tongue cleaveth to My jaws; and Thou hast brought Me into the dust of death.”

His mouth became dry after being filled with blood with the beatings. And hanging on the cross He thirsted:

But at first He would not drink of the stupefying gall (Matthew 27:34),….for He would pay every bit of the penalty of our sin.

But at the end when they gave Him just vinegar to drink, He drank from a sponge (John 19:29-30).

Psalm 22:16-17 “For dogs have compassed Me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed Me: they pierce My hands and My feet.

I may tell all My bones: they look and stare upon Me.”

They waited like a pack of hungry wolves, for Him to die. When will He be gone, and out of our hair?

The other’s crucified, had their legs broken, but not He. (John 20:32-33)

Psalm 22:18 “They part My garments among them, and cast lots upon My vesture.”

While He suffered, the soldiers gambled for His garments. (Mark 15:24)

But this Psalm goes beyond the cross to the resurrection, and the forty days of instruction before the Lord’s ascension back to heaven.

Psalm 22:22 “I will declare Thy name unto My brethren: In the midst of the congregation will I praise Thee.”

After His resurrection, He was seen by His disciples (both men and women): He appeared to Mary Magdalene and told her, “My Father and your Father” (John 20:16-18),

He appeared on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32),

and He appeared in the midst of His disciples several times (Luke 24:36-40),

He told Thomas to put his fingers into His hands, and side….and be not unbelieving. (John 20:24-29).

Psalm 22:27-28, 31 “All of the ends of the world shall remember and trust unto the Lord: all the kindreds of the nations shall worship Thee.

For the Kingdom is the Lord’s: and He is the governor among the nations.

They shall come, and shall declare His righteousness unto a people that shall be born (born again), that He hath done this.”

Jesus told of His authority, and gave last instructions to His disciples.

(Matthew 28:18-20 “All power is given unto Me in heaven and earth. Go ye,…and teach all nations…”)

And sent His disciples out to spread the good news of His Salvation to all.

(Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”)

This Psalm begins in horrible sorrow, and ends in triumph, and power;……as was His horrible death….and triumphant resurrection.

And it is all through the Will of the Father, the Sacrifice of the Son, and the giving of the Holy Spirit……to us, and for us.

Hallelujah, What a God and Savior, we have!

A Kingdom must have a King

We have been made in the image of God: He is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.

We are spirit, soul and body…and within each of us there is place where someone rules. Who rules in the kingdom of Mansoul?

(We have often pictured it as a throne in our hearts….Who sits there?)

Psalm 24:9-10 “Lift up, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors: and the King of glory shall come in.

Who is this King of glory? The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah.

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

A King rules…..that is His job. He is at the head of His army….He is directing circumstances for His kingdom,……He is commanding His people. That is what a King does.

He does it according to His due order, and for the good of the Kingdom and His people.

The Lord Jesus Christ is King…..is He our King?

In the beginning, Adam was put under a trial of his faith to God.

Yes, the devil’s wiles, and the temptation through Eve, was part of the trial….but, it came down to: who was Adam going to choose, to rule his life…..himself, or God?

And for each of his decedents, it is the same choice: who will we choose to rule us?

The natural man never chooses God….

Psalm 10:4 “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.”

Romans 8:7-8 “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

So then they that are in the flesh shall not please God.”

The natural man fights against Him in his life, everyday. This man may be religious, go to church, or do charitable works…..but it is always them doing it, their way of doing it, and for their own praise.

But the born again man, will…..by the Holy Spirit within,….be lead into a Narrow Way,…..where trials and choices, will bring us to give our whole life over to the Lord, as King.

Psalm 11:4-5 “The Lord is in His holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven: His eyes behold, His eyelids try, the children of men.

The Lord trieth the righteous:….”

If we have faith in the Lord,…..it must be tried….to strengthen it and prove to us that it is real. For faith digs in and holds on to God….faith moves us ever closer to the Lord;…..for the object of real faith is God.

We call this life: A life open to and receptive to Him, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Because we must open up our life in so many areas…..today it may be here, in our guidance.

And tomorrow, or next week, it will be in some other area,….in our friends, and family.

Next, it will be in the area of our health, our finances, our time….and it is amazing how many area’s of our life, we have never really given over to Him….

(I know this was the case with me….until He tried me there, then He said, “Is this Mine?”)

But we must “open to Him”……for we have a tendency to “close Him off” from things in our minds, and affections.

Though in the main stream, we will do His Will,…..yet our eyes look elsewhere, our minds think other plans, and our hearts can yearn after other things.

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

“Thy kingdom come.” Full stop. It is a statement all on it’s own. One which we are to pray for.

Christ’s kingdom will come one day on earth…..and we are to pray for it.

(Revelation 11:15)

But this whole prayer Jesus taught, is practical…..it is for His people, for today. In fact, it stresses the day….this day…

…..the praise and honor for the Father,

….the provision, physically and spiritually for today,

….the forgiving of our sins, and our forgiving others for today,

….the prayer for His keeping us from evil,….today,

….the reason we can pray for these things….because He is King of His kingdom, now….with power and glory….for ever.

So the prayer for His kingdom to come, is for today…..”in earth”…..in us.

We are to be expressions of His kingdom, here, today……because His kingdom has come with in us…..and He reigns as King of my life….remember, a life open to Him,……and receptive to Him, in all that He says.

Luke 11:2-4 “And He said unto them, When ye pray, say,

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

(Let me honor Your name and character)

Thy kingdom come. (In me and let it be shown by me to the sphere of my influence, today.)

Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

(With the joy that all the angels do Your will, let me do it….in me and by me)

Give us day by day, our daily bread.

(Supply my needs, spiritually, and physically)

And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive everyone that is indebted to us.

(Forgive me, Lord, for my sins this day. And as You have forgiven me, I forgive everyone who has injured and sinned against me.)

And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.”

(Help me, Lord, to know the Way to go, this day….keep my steps from slipping, and me from falling….for their is so much to trip me in my walk.)

He calls us to have a life open to and receptive to Him…..will we?

When Jesus is our King, we are always behind Him….protected in His guidance,…..and He is always in us….helping us, cheering us,….and calming our minds….for He is always in charge, where I am concerned.

Make Your Calling and Election Sure

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

According to Peter, you prove that you are of the elect (or born again) by fulfilling your calling.

Peter reminds all believers how important the question of where you stand with God is:

Peter had been called to follow the Lord as he was a fishermen. He was one of the first to be called.

Matthew 4:18-20 “And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

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

And they straightway left their nets, and followed Him.”

Peter had been the first among the disciples that declared Jesus was the Christ:

Matthew 16:16 “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus blessed Peter for declaring it: “Blessed art thou, Simon…for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in heaven.”

When Jesus spoke of His going to Jerusalem, and “suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and ….be killed, and be raised the third day”;

Peter took Him and began to rebuke Him:

Matthew 16:22 “Then Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him, saying, Be it far from Thee, Lord: this shall not be unto Thee.”

But Jesus would not tolerate any thought or saying which rejected for any reason, the work the Father gave Him to do:

Matthew 16:23 “But He turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind Me, Satan: thou art an offense unto Me; for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”

Peter had been there when Jesus said “ If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, pick up his cross and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24)

Peter had been there when Jesus was transfigured before then:

Mark 9:2 “And after six days Jesus taketh with Him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into a high mountain apart by themselves: and He was transfigured before them.”

After they had followed Jesus for almost three years, Peter had told the Lord: Luke 18:28 “Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed Thee.”

And Jesus answered him:

Luke 18:29-30 “And He said unto them, Verily I say unto you, there is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake,

Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.”

He had seen miracle after miracle: the blind, seeing. The deaf, hearing. And even the dead, raised.

Peter had been there when Jesus was welcomed with “Hallelujah, blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord;” (Luke 19:38) to Jerusalem.

Peter had been there when Jesus said, “there is one here with Me that will betray Me.” (John 13:21)

And Peter had wondered then, if it was him.

Jesus had prayed for Peter, that his faith fail not. Peter was impetuous, and did not really know the fears of his own heart, yet….

Luke 22:31-32 “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”

And it did not fail, for though Peter denied the Lord three times; yet when Jesus looked at him, he went out and wept bitterly.

He stayed with the disciples, and was restored. (John 21:15-19).

How many times had Peter heard Jesus say to him: Follow Me?

How many times have we?

So now, Peter, in his last letter, is seeking to warn others, thinking of his many failures.

So he warns these believers, that though they do these things that he has written:

You believe and are obtaining the promises…….You use your faith to gain patience, knowledge and love; and you have done it in diligence.

Still,….because I remember my failures,…so I warn you, to faithfully continue to follow Christ.

2 Peter 1:13,15 “Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle (body), to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;

Moreover I will endeavor that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.”

I encourage you to follow our Lord, and not become weary or frightened, and “fall from your own steadfastness”. (2 Peter 3:17)

We will never be what we should be without passing through all the everyday trials of our lives, with Christ.

Everything that comes to us has it’s place in the everyday happenings which God intends.

They are all His lessons to bring us closer to Him. So Peter writes:

2 Peter 1:5-7 “…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).”

The Lord’s way is always best; though we can not always see it now.

He will lead, and be a shoulder to lean on in all we go through, if we continue to follow His Word.

Christ is our Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5), still seeing to all those that are His, that our faith fail not.

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