Bless the Lord, O my Soul

Psalm 103:1-2 “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:”

This is a psalm David wrote.

Some believe he wrote it when the Ark was moved successfully to Jerusalem. (after the sin of trying to move it on a cart. 2 Samuel 6:3, 6-10; 1 Chronicles 15:12-15,28)

This is a psalm expressing the goodness and mercy of God to sinners.

David calls upon himself, and the people to love and praise the Lord for all His benefits.

(Psalm 103:3-5). Praise the Lord…for…

His forgiveness…He forgives His people’s sins and iniquities.

His healing…both spiritual and physical.

His saving us from so many places of danger and destruction.

He shields (crowns) us with His loving-kindness, and treats us as His children….with tender mercies.

He has not only saved us, but given us contentment and joy.

He strengthens us by His grace.

(The eagle lives many years, and naturalists say….when they grow old, the eagle casts off her feathers [at molting time] and fresh ones come on,…..so that the eagle’ feathers are as young again)

Psalm 103:6 “The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.”

David praises the Lord for showing him his error, forgiving his sin…….and allowing him to finish bringing the Ark to the Tabernacle in Jerusalem, so that all may come and worship before God.

(Psalm 103:7-12)

As it was shown Moses at the giving of the Law, God is merciful and gracious.

(We do not think of grace being in the Old Testament….but it is always, “by grace are ye saved”…..there it looked forward to Christ, for those who believed God….now, we look back, and grace is given us by the Holy Spirit who abides with us, forever.

Grace is the unmerited favor of power….the power God gives us to look to Him, believe and be saved.)

God is slow to anger….praise the Lord for His longsuffering to us, wooing us to Himself, showing us our faults, and taking us by the hand when we are going astray, to guide us into the right way.

Though He signals His displeasure at our sins; He waits, giving us time to repent.

For He has not dealt with us according to our sins….for Christ took the penalty for them, which was against us.

(Where can you say the east ends and the west begins….for the east to us, is west to someone else.

As the line between them can not be found, so our sins can not be found for all who are in Christ Jesus.)

Psalm 103:13-14 “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him.

For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.”

“Pitieth” means compassionate love. A father never pushes his children to go beyond their true capacity…..but encourages them, leading them into new things, with him at their side.

All the things which come to us, come through the Lord’s hands; He measures our trials, and joys that we might become grounded,…steady in our walk with Him.

Proverbs 30:8-9 “Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

Lest I be full, and deny Thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.”

“Keep me, O Lord, from anything that will hinder my walk with You.”

Psalm 103:15, 17-18 “As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto the children’s children;

To such as keep His covenant, and to those that remember His commandments to do them.”

Our lives are short, in comparison to God’s mercy. He saw us in eternity past….made provision for us in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 1:9) that we might be with Him through eternity future.

He extended mercy when we were yet in our sins and rebellion against Him (Titus 3:4-5).

He saves us, and delivers us from our sins….washing us in His Word, and giving us His Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 5:25-27)

Psalm 103:19 “The Lord hath prepared His throne in the heavens; and His kingdom ruleth over all.”

How wonderful that He is ruler above all, unswayed by circumstances, or crisis.

We do not need to fear that we will be forgotten, or left to our own strength…..He invites to draw near His throne in prayer.

Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

(Psalm 103:20-22). Seven times in the whole psalm;……and four times in the last three verses, David calls upon all the created beings….angels, those ministering as His servants, and all His works….in all places, to bless the Lord.

“Bless” here means “kneel and praise”. God can bless us with great benefits….but we bless God when we truly worship Him.

Then he finishes, as he started:

Psalm 103:22 “….bless the Lord, O my soul.”

And shouldn’t we bless Him….kneel down and praise our God….for all His benefits to us?

Gethsemane

Matthew 26:36 “Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto His disciples, Sit ye here while I go and pray yonder.”

Three times it is written of battles,….when our Lord Jesus faced the Adversary alone.

The first was in the temptation in the wilderness for forty days. (Matthew 4)

The second was in Gethsemane.

The third was on the cross.

Here, we will speak of Gethsemane, and the terrible mental and physical battle which was brought against Jesus, by the forces of darkness.

Jesus knew He would have to face the cross alone.

John 16:32 “Behold, the hour cometh, Yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave Me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.”

But at Gethsemane, He wanted His closest disciples to be near to Him as He wrestled against the devil’s suggestions.

But they slept for sorrow.

He had told them He would be leaving them, and so they were sad, and sleepy. (John 16:5-6, 17, 28)

How many times have we failed to “watch with Him”.

At Gethsemane, a garden which Jesus often visited for times of prayer,…..Jesus left eight of His disciples at a small distance,….and took the three closest disciples: Peter, James, and John further.

Then He went a little farther on to pray.

He asked them to wait with Him in prayer. He wanted them to pray for the trials that would be coming up.

For their own faith to be strengthened, and for their courage in the face of His leaving them.

Matthew 26:38 “Then saith He unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with Me.”

(They had been told many times that He was going to Jerusalem, and that the chief priests and elders would kill him….and He would be raised the third day.

But they had not really understood what He said. )

Jesus left them, and went and fell down to pray; His greatest comfort was the Father and Holy Spirit with Him.

But now the time for the Lamb of God to be slain for the sins of the world was very near.

Everything from the Last Supper, where Judas went out to betray Him, till He died on the cross,….was one continuous battle.

Judas’ betrayal……the chief priests and ruling religious body, the Roman soldiers beatings,…..

…..the rejection of the very people who had hailed Him: “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna to the highest.” (Matthew 21:9) a few days earlier.

And the cross.

The agony of the nails, the thirst, the mocking crowds,….

…….and mostly: our sin being put upon His holy person, and the separation of the Father from Him for a time, because of this.

Sufferings He went through alone.

But here in Gethsemane the devil’s attacks….mentally and emotionally were so severe: “even unto death”, Jesus said.

Here we are shown that Jesus understands the mental strain of the battles we fight. There are the stress of life’s choices…the stress of friends which hurt us…the strain of relationships which disappoint or fail….the stress of the Adversary’s whispers.

We are not permitted to hear what the devil says to Jesus, but the thoughts of being deserted forever:

“God will not bring You out of the death of sin.

Sin brings death, and if you go to the cross and become the sin bearer, You will forfeit God’s promise of life.

It will weigh You down and You will never come out of death.”

Also…..the thought that all these sufferings He would have to go through as man.

The devil berated Him with the thought that:

…. He would not be able to go through these sufferings without breaking down.

Then He would fail….and He would not bring salvation to the world.

The devil’s attacks were so great against the Lord, that “being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (Luke 22:44)

(How we need to follow His example…and when in agony….to pray more earnestly to our Heavenly Father.)

The first prayer:

Matthew 26:39 “And He went a little further, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt.”

Mark 14:36 “ And He said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto Thee; take away this cup from Me: nevertheless, not what I will, but what Thou wilt.”

Jesus came on the basis of relationship: “O my Father” and asked that if it were possible, according to His Will, that “this cup”, or……salvation through the cross,….might be changed to another way.

Jesus asked because “all things are possible unto Thee”. God could come up with another way of Salvation.

But Jesus would not have God’s Will changed.

He knew the Value of The Father’s Will, and yielded to it….and He has left us an example in everything in our walk to fulfill God’s Will for us.

His Father sent an angel unto him, “strengthening him.”(Luke 22:43)

The second and third prayers:

Matthew 26:42 “And went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, Thy will be done.”

“Thy will be done.”

Three times Jesus prayed. Once, for conformation of God’s Promises: to find out if it were possible to change the way of salvation—the cross.

When He received His answer, God’s Will was yielded to.

The other two were prayers that the Father’s Will might be honored in His sacrifice, and resurrection.

You see, by the end of the battle at Gethsemane, Jesus was at peace in His Father’s love,

in His Father’s strength to help Him go through everything,

and in His Father’s Promises, to raise Him up and save His people from their sins by this.

Even though He would be alone; He trusted in God, and His trust was honored.

He would drink the cup to the last drop….and empty it out….

….and give a full satisfaction to His Father for our sins. We may be saved to the uttermost!

(It is an interesting term…”cup”. It means “what is deserved or allotted by God”.

Psalm 16:5 “The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup…”

Psalm 11:6 “Upon the wicked He shall rain snares,….this shall be the portion of their cup.”

Psalm 75:8 “For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup,…and He poureth out of the same:…”)

He went through everything,….

……He died on the cross for us, and was raised again the third day, in Victory over every enemy!

Jesus Christ drank every drop of the cup allotted Him by His Father for the atonement for us.

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

His Salvation is a complete Salvation.

Do you have Jesus as your Lord and Savior?

Look unto Me and be saved

Isaiah 45:22 “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.”

“O soul are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see?

There’s light for a look at the Savior….a life more abundant and free.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus….look full in His wonderful face…

…and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”

In the wilderness, the children of Israel were always contending with God about something…

…either water, or meat, or the manna, or traveling….something was always never “right”….according to them.

Is it that way with us?

At one place the Lord sent fiery serpents into the camp because of their complaints.

Many died, being bitten by them….till the Lord told Moses to make a brass image of the serpent and put it on a pole in the middle of the camp.

When someone was bitten….they were to look in belief of God’s Word….to this…and live.

Numbers. 21:5-6 “And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.

And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.”

First they said they hated the manna…this “light bread”.

God’s provision could be gathered and ground into flour….or eaten as it was. It said to taste of wafers with a taste of honey. (Exodus 16:31). Wholesome and sweet and salty….still….in anger they used their tongues as weapons to pour contempt upon it.

It was there every morning….no matter where they were…or how they were…they did not need to worry about finding food…or what they were going to eat.

God provided, what a blessing to them it should have been!

James 3:6 “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.”

It is interesting that God sent “fiery serpents”…perhaps to show them the folly of letting their words be “fired up” against the Lord’s merciful provision.

Numbers 21:7-9 “Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord that He take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.

And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and is shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.

And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.”

In repentance, Israel first came and….used their tongues and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord”.

But it was not Moses prayer that would heal them….

….no, they must individually look up and live!

Notice the Lord did not remove the serpents….or the bitting….but simply gave a abundant remedy by turning their eyes away from earth toward His provision hanging above them.

Jesus said that as the brass serpent was lifted up in the wilderness….so the Son of Man would be lifted up for our sins.

(The brazen serpent had no sting….but took all the poison from the one who believed and turned to it.

So with Christ Jesus. He had no sin….but took all our sins on Him, for the one who believes and looks to Him to be saved.)

John 3:14-15 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

How much is given here: We are sinners….by birth and choice….yet God gives salvation…..but by presenting His Beloved Son as the sacrifice for us. The call is still the same:

“Look unto Me and be saved”

And those that look to Christ in faith are saved!

(I firmly believe that the call is also for those Christians who have become “bitten” by the serpent from discouragement, distresses, and depression.

For our adversary…

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

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

Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”

“Look unto Me and live”

We can become impatient…frustrated with circumstances….even good ones;…and then it is easy to get our eyes off of Jesus, and HIs provision….

….and onto suggestions from the world, ourselves, or the devil.

Ephesians 4:26-27 “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

Neither give place to the devil.”)

Look to Me, and live…

…is still the call. Jesus Christ offers life….eternal life…HIs life…

….and the “sting” of sin and death to be put away (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)….for me,….you….us.

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in HIs wonderful face;

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of HIs glory and grace.”

The Rich Man in Hell

I do not like to preach much about Hell. I do not like to try and get people to heaven, because they do not want to go to Hell.

Those that go to Heaven, go there, not only because they wish to escape Hell, but because Jesus Christ is there. They go to Heaven to be with Him.

Hell is a real, horrible place. Jesus told a story about a man that went there, and that is what we are preaching about: the man in Hell.

Jesus had just been preaching about covetousness:

Luke 16:13 “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other, ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

The Pharisees did not like this kind of preaching, and “derided Him”. They sneered at Him outright. Many of them were rich, and they thought they could love their wealth, and God, too.

So He told them this story: “There was”, so this man had been real, and now was in Hell.

Luke 16:19-21 “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.”

He had been a rich man, living well. He had let Lazarus come and eat from the crumbs which fell from his table, with the dogs. (Lazarus, I believe, was a relative of this man, for he came to his gate, and begged)

(I do not like this man, but whether I like him or not, it is God’s judgement that counts)

One day this rich man dies. And Lazarus dies.

Prepared or not, it comes to all of us. One day, our life here, with all it’s attending joys, and sorrows is over….and we are brought to our eternal “home” by belief or unbelief in God and His Word.

Luke 16:23-24 “And in Hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and seeth Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom.

And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.”

This is a simple request: he is not asking for a gallon of water…just a drop.

But no, it could not happen. The gulf was too wide.

Abraham points out that he (the rich man) had made his choices. He had “received thy good things”: simply, all the goods of his wealth, he had taken (received) for himself.

Lazarus had “received”, taken unto himself, with no murmuring, the evil things which had come to him, leaving all (including himself) in God’s hands.

[By the way, the law of Moses said, “If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thy heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:

But thou shalt open thy hand wide unto him, and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need,…

Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thy hand unto.” (Deuteronomy 15:7-8,10)]

For this rich man the judgement was in. There would be no mercy, now.

Luke 16:27-28 “Then he said, I pray thee therefore, Father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:

For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.”

The rich man then asks that Lazarus be permitted to be raised from the dead, and go and preach unto the five remaining brothers he has alive, so they might escape Hell.

Now I am going to ask the question: did not this rich man have the “testimony” of the person of Lazarus day by day?

Wasn’t Lazarus and his acceptance of his situation seen by this rich man? Lazarus neither cursed him or flattered him for anything other than what the rich man allowed.

What made him think his brothers would believe Lazarus?

Abraham says that they have the same Word of God all Israel has. They should hear it, and obey it; then they would not come into Hell.

Luke 16:30 “And he said, Nay, Father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.”

We think this way: if some grand and unusual thing happened, we would start really being more devoted to God and His Word.

Really? Maybe for a while.

It is the Word of God sunk deep into our hearts longings, meeting the need, rebuking the sin, and bringing God’s claims upon us that leads us to Christ.

[this next verse is crucial]

Luke 16:31 “And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”

Jesus would shortly rise from the dead. And He was speaking directly to these puffed up Pharisees: Hear the Word of God to you…let it sink in deep, for when I am resurrected, you will not believe that testimony to your own damnation, if you will not believe My Word to you now.

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

We are to hear it, and believe His Word to us; then we will be saved by Christ Jesus our Lord.

Our Resurrection Ground

Life, is what Christ came to give us…..Eternal life, which begins the moment we receive Him into our hearts and lives (get born again)…..and continues to all eternity.

Salvation is all of Christ Jesus.

But the enjoyment and witness of Christ’s life within us…..includes our willingness.

Song of Solomon 2:10-13. “My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.

For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;

The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;

The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.”

All these verses speak of resurrection fruits. The waking up from the cold and bitterness of winter….to the warmth and life of spring.

Life is awaking, and budding, and blossoms appear. The harvest is not yet, but life is there and working…..bringing out a witness to this new life.

(“Rise up”…I love this…..how many times does He call us on with these words. Rise up from where you are….

…..stand….that’s right, on your feet…and then take that next step….don’t worry, I am right here….I will never leave you….but it is time to go on…I will show you the way.

Once a man in our church gave this testimony….he had been recently restored to the Lord’s Will for his life…..and was often discouraged by the consequences for the things he had gotten himself into:

“I was sitting at the desk at work, after a day of trying to solve other people’s problems….

……and I realized that I was drowning in emotions.

I felt that I was floundering…..when I asked the Lord for help…..

….and He said to me, “Stand up, get up! You are drowning because you have set down….up, on your feet and look at things from My point of view.”

Well, spiritually, I just willed to stand with Christ in everything…..and I wasn’t drowning anymore….

… I started to see where I first “sat down”…..and confessed my self-pity….and I began to bring everything to the Lord from that day.

By the time I was done, I was rejoicing in spirit….it was wonderful”)

Jesus is calling….for us to follow Him into resurrection life.

A life that comes out of the “death” of the cross….our cross.

(If you say to me, that Jesus paid the penalty for everything….I say “yes”. Jesus took all our sins on His cross…..but we are to take our wills on to ours.

It is a matter of becoming willing in everything….

…everything He requires, and leads us into.

…everything of our self lives….willing to put Christ first.)

Matthew 16:24-25 “Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.”

Are you a “whosever will”? Or a “whosoever won’t”?

If you will, Jesus says….then let him deny himself…

….you deny yourself here in the will.

Jesus says to go here….and you will to do so.

Jesus says to “stand still”….and you will to do so.

This is not natural to us,….but a willed response to our Lord, and often there is resistance within us to doing what He says.

Then one day you realize…..Hey, it has been a while since I have argued with the Lord about what He said…..or how to do what He said.

You realize you are no longer resisting His will….but have come to the place where you will do His Will, no matter what.

We begin to lose our life in ourself,….to find our life in Christ.

This is not instant obedience…..but final obedience…

….and once that is really settled….there is liberty and life….the resurrection life of Christ working in us.

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

The word means “work mightily”…..effectively.

It is God Himself in the heart of the believer.

Ephesians 3:20 “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”

We should all….ask ourselves….how much of the power of the Spirit are we letting work in us?

Are we letting Him speak to us about things that have happened?

Are we letting Him guide us?

Are we letting Him show us things, or people?

Are we talking to Him….bringing everything to Him….that He may give us His peace and patience?

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

The Greek here is literally “conformed ones of the Image”……

Christ is the One we are to be conformed to.

His character is our example….

….the mold into which the Holy Spirit pours our lives, that we might be:

“Conformed”….Romans 8:29

“Transformed”….Romans 12:1-2

“Translated into the kingdom of His dear Son”….Colossians 1:13

“That we might find our lives in Christ”….Matthew 16:25

True life is to be found in Christ alone.

Not in the world….or the things of the world….

….or in Christ plus the things of the world……..but in Christ.

All things work together for good to them that love God.

Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Do you love God?

Have you been called according to His purpose?

Then all the things of your life (yes, even the bad things) will work together, as one large mass for good. It is God’s good, for your life, and it is God’s Purpose.

I’ve never understood this verse. How can the terrible things in my life (a lot I have done, and some which has been done to me) work for good; even God’s good?

It is explained in the next few verses.

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

Foreknowledge is always about people. God foreknew you, me, every Christian, by His choice of us, in Christ Jesus. He knew who we would be, what we felt, our own particular besetting sin, and yet He chose us; for His Purpose.

Predestination is about the calling and good works, we are to do. He has given us a destiny before we were even born, which leads us in the way we are to go.

And the way we are to go is: through the circumstances chosen for me, by hearing His Word to me.

Isaiah 30:21 “And thine ear shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”

Be not afraid, He has made provision for us. That is what is meant by “God hath before ordained” in Ephesians 2:10.

“Ordained” means that full provision…everything we need has been made for us…not in general, but in specific; for God is very specific.

Romans 8:30 “Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

And here is the way we become conformed to Him; for we, as Christians, are to walk in the Reality of this verse.

Called; making sure of our calling and election, by doing what we have been called to do: whether ministry, witnessing, praying.

Justified; knowing that our standing before God is in Christ. Therefore we are made new in spirit, and nature. As He walked here on earth, so we should.

Glorified; tasting even of that glory of God, which is yet future.

Walking in Christ’s Triumph; experiencing His Victory by the faith He has given us, in us,…in our circumstances.

Seeing His Will being done where we personally are concerned. Enjoying the blessing of His Presence, everywhere He leads.

Romans 8:31-32 “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”

He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”

He freely gives us all things; with Him. In Christ we have our life, in His Word we have His purpose, in His Spirit we have His guidance and power….what do we lack?

And this is how all things work together for good: it is God’s good, and it is God’s Purpose; for us.

His is an eternal love.

A love which knows us, and our sin; and wraps His arms around the whole of us; to forgive, and cleanse us.

He shows us His love in purifying every area of our lives, to the praise of His glory.

He has seen us in eternity past, loved us in Christ Jesus, and made a way that we might be as close to Him as we can.

We can be conformed to the image of His Son: His character and determination.

We can enjoy fellowship in Him, and feel the power of His glory and strength for us in the everyday circumstances of our lives.

Power to do. Power to be. Power to stand, in the world we live in.

We can know that all things work together for His good, and praise Him for it.

We can know that all things work together for His Purpose, and embrace it.

We can love God, in life and works.

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

Ezekiel 12:28 “Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; there shall none of My words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord God.”

Ezekiel 36:36 “…I the Lord have spoken it, and I will do it.”

Both in judgement and in blessing….God’s Word will be brought to pass.

(In Ezekiel, a prophet to the people taken captive to Babylon….it is said “the Word of the Lord”….sixty-two times! Ezekiel was to speak His Word faithfully…no matter how they received it…”whether they hear or they forbear” Ezekiel 3:27)

Mostly, he spoke in general to those who said they wanted to hear God’s Word to them, now in this place of burdens and woe…

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

“Warning” here means to enlighten by caution, admonish, teach.

To warn is to make those we are speaking to, aware of the danger they are in.

Ezekiel warned the captives, as God’s people….but he also spoke personally…to the righteous and to the wicked..

To the righteous:

Ezekiel 3:20-21 “…when a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him,….because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin…but his blood I will require at thine hand.

Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned….”

(Let me say here, that sin is our refusal to be in subjection to God. It is the path to death….for we “die” a little toward God, when we sin.

Every sin causes us to walk more and more in darkness.

Romans 6:16 “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”)

To the wicked:

Ezekiel 3:18-19 “When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou gavest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

Yet if you warn the wicked…..thou hast delivered thy soul.”

Ezekiel….and we, as Christians, are to “warn” both the righteous and the wicked…to turn…to Christ Jesus.

Has the Lord spoken anything to you? Has He called to you speak His Words….or warn them from Him?

(Something the Lord has spoken us about is:

My husband, when he was preaching, was told by the Lord that there was no neutral ground in the services. No one could say….that does not apply to me.

For God speaks to each individual…about their situation.

Another Word the Lord spoke to my husband was….(he doesn’t remember what the Lord was requiring at his hand)

…..but he was praying about it….and praying about it…and the Lord said to him, “Do it or Don’t do it, but do not mention it to Me again!” That settled it….he realized this was very serious….and he did it.)

Well, what has the Lord spoken to us about? What would He have us to do?

The days of speaking are here. The days of warning those we are personally responsible for.

[We can not act for them….but we can make sure they know the Word of truth….in meekness and love. (Ephesians 4:11-12, 15)

Galatians 6:1 “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”]

We are responsible for that Word that the Lord gives us…for them. Whether it is warning….or sounding an alarm against the enemy of their souls.

We can not do for them….but we can speak God’s Word faithfully….and allow Him to act for Himself.

God warned those in captivity, through Ezekiel, not look to Jerusalem for help….but to their God,….for He was with them.

To those that “hear”…..this implies the desire to understand God’s Word…and do it.

To those that “forbear”…..(forbear means to be flabby…to desist, be lacking or idle)…those that would not put forth the effort…in this foreign land….to repent and get right with God….and be blessed there.

Today, Jesus Christ stands ready to “save to the uttermost” (Hebrews 7:25 which means to bring to completion through varying experiences)…

…..that means He is ready and Able to help you do anything He requires….within or without.

….will you hear what He is saying to you again….and stop side-stepping it….or putting it off.

Israel was not to look to Jerusalem, or look to their past….but to look to the God which was with them…and preserved them….even through the fires of the captivity…

…for He would bring them through it.

So with us, we are in a world that we really do not belong to. It is one which loves not God.

But we are to live in it, doing good to all we can…according to HIs Will…for Christ’s sake.

We are to speak “a word in due season”…..and “warn them….for Me”.

It is not our Word we speak….but His….

…for as He loved us, and warned us….and we were saved from going astray….or brought back from it (1 Peter 2:25)

…so we ought to speak the truth in love…

1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble minded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.”

Be strong and of good courage…be stablished in the faith.

Joshua 1:6,7,9  “Be strong and of a good courage:…”

      “Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law….turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

     “Have not I commanded thee?  Be strong and of a good courage;  be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

Duet. 31: 6, 23 (first to Israel) “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them:   the Lord thy God, He it is that doth go with thee;  He will not fail thee, not forsake thee.”

(then to Joshua) ” And He gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee.”

It seemed odd to me that courage was only spoken of in the Old Testament.   

        But courage means “to be alert, steadfastly minded, stablished”…and as Christians,  we have been called to be stablished in the faith.

Colossians 2:6-7 “As ye have therefore recieved Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him:

        Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”

At least six times Joshua was told to be strong….and.. to be alert, steadfastly minded, stablished….in the Word of God….and in faith that God will do as He said.

         He had the job of leading Israel over Jordan and leading them in conquering the promised land.  There were many temptations, enemies, and trials….

…..but he was to be strong…not afraid or dismayed.   

         This is internal.  Fear  is a snare, and to be dismayed is to stop looking to God’s Almightiness….but to our failures. (Joshua 7:6-13)

And he was to be courageous.  He was to remain alert…and be stedfast and stablished in obeying the Word of God, in which he was to ” meditate therein day and night” (Joshua 1:8)

When David gave Solomon charge to build the house of the Lord,  he said concerning the work:

1 Chronicles 22:13 “Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the Lord charged Moses with  concerning Israel:  be strong, and of good courage;  dread not, nor be dismayed.”

(You will notice that strength and courage…being established in the faith…has to do with our “taking heed” to the Word of God…and trusting in the Lord)

In Corinthians 16:13 we are told to:

“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”

There are four things we are to do:

    “Watch ye”…remain alert.  There are many warnings in the Bible….and we are to be alert to the Holy Spirit, for He will warn us of things to come. 

“Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come.” (John 16:13) 

    “Stand fast in the faith”….we are not “beating the air” (1 Corinthians 9:26)….or running in circles…but we are to “run with patience the race that is set before us,  looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;…”(Hebrews 12:1-2).

   We are to “Be ye also patient;  stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”(James 5:8)     We are to fulfill the work that the Lord gives us….and working to possess the promises He give us, for ourselves and others.

    “Quit you like men”.   Let us not continue as babes in the faith….but go on from “the sincere milk of the Word” (1 Peter 2:2)…which helps us grow in grace…

…to become adults…

    “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age,   even those who;  by reason of use   have their senses exercised   to discern both good and evil.”(Hebrews 5:13-14)

    “Be strong”….”be strong in the Lord and in the power of HIs might” (Ephesians 6:10)  We are to be strong in the Lord….getting the grace we need for each situation…

We are to  hold  the ground that the Lord has won for us, and given each of us to stand on…our place in HIs kingdom.

   “Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:13) 

2 Thessalonians 2:15-17 “Therefore, brethren, stand fast,…

        Now  our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlating consolation and good hope through grace,

        Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.”

First, we are to be established in the faith.  What exactly does that mean?   Does not every Christian have faith?   Yes, for it is a gift from God.   Faith removes mountains, and shields us in the battle, and takes us through the darkest night into the light.  Faith does that….in us,  then wonderfully it works through us, into the circumstances of this day.

        But  to be established in it, is to know that we can not do anything that will please God, if faith is not in it.   We are to always be looking to the Lord….for faith, even weak faith, looks to Him.

         (It is true….and I think of this often….

                   Oft upon the Rock I tremble

                       Faint of heart, and weak of knee,

                   But the Steadfast Rock of Ages,

                       Never trembles under me! )

We are to use our faith in God, for He is Truth…and in the Lord Jesus Christ,  for He is our Redeemer and Life….and in the Holy Spirit, for He is our Helper and Guide.

Then we are to be established in  our hearts.  And the only true foundation for our affections and emotions is Christ Jesus.  “I held Him and would not let Him go…” (Song of Solomon 3:4)   

        (It is true…that it is not our hold on Him that saves….but His hold on us.  But when it comes to being established [courageous], we must hang on to Him in our affections….not letting every emotion which comes decide our course of action or thought.  “…It is a good thing that the heart be established with grace;…” Hebrews 13:9)

And then,  we are to be established in every good word and work.    We are to read, and  know the scriptures, and  hear what they say to us….and be obedient…..and then speak His Word faithfully….to those we are responsible for.

To Joshua, the Lord said, “Have I not commanded thee?  Be strong and of a good courage;  be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”  (Joshua 1:9)

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

          Whom resist steadfastly in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

          But the God of all grace, Who hath called us unto HIs eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” (1 Peter 5:8-10)

The Lord calls you be strong in Him, and to be courageous or established on the Rock of our Salvation.

Not so, Lord

Peter was staying at a believer’s house, and had gone up on the roof to pray.

There, he saw a vision.

Acts 10:11-15 “And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

Wherein was all manner of four-footed beasts, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air:

And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter, kill, and eat.

But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.

And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not common.”

“Not so, Lord.”

Can Jesus Christ really be Lord, if we are saying, “Not so”?

You see Peter was thinking like a good Jew. They had been commanded never to eat these “unclean” things; yet God is using these foods as a lesson to His disciple.

They had been called to go out to all the world and preach the gospel to “all nations” (Matthew 28:18-20)

They were to preach of a crucified and risen Savior, Jesus Christ.

And they were to teach others in the commandments that Jesus had given them.

But so far, no Gentiles had been preached to.

“Do not call anything common or unclean, that I have cleansed.”

Peter was about to be sent to a Gentile’s house. To preach Christ Jesus to these “unclean” people.

Yet Jesus has just told Peter that if He sends him to preach to a people, whoever they are; they are not to be considered “common or unclean”.

The important thing was: has the Lord “cleansed” them.

It is to be “Yes, Lord”; instead of “Not so, Lord”.

Yet Peter learned his lesson, and when the time came to go, and preach to this Gentile house; he did.

What did he preach to them? Jesus Christ, of course.

Acts 10:38-40, 42-43. “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.

And we are witnesses of all these things which He did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

Him God raised up the third day, and showed Him openly;

And He commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is He which was ordained of God to be the judge of quick and dead.

To Him give all the prophets witness, that in His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.”

And these Gentiles received the good news of Christ Jesus, and was given the gift of the Holy Spirit; and was baptized.

Acts 10:44-45, 48 “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them that heard the word.

And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.”

It is as we say, “Yes, Lord”; that His good news is spread abroad.

Let Us Go On

Hosea 6:3 “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth”

To know about God; that there is One, that He is up there “seeing” to things; is enough religion for some people.

Religion and everyday life are seen by these, as two separate and distinct issues.

Though they may not come out and say it, they agree with those that keep religion on Sunday,……and their real lives, the rest of the time.

Let me tell everyone who names the name of a Christian:

Jesus Christ interferes with life;……namely our life.

He makes claims upon us. He wants us.

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

Matthew 10:37-38 “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more that me is not worthy of me.

And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me , is not worthy of me.”

To know only about God is a knowledge that does not save.

They need to be drawn to Jesus Christ for themselves.

Luke 18:9-12 “And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

I fast twice in the week, I give titles of all that I possess.”

The attitude of some is: that God should be God, and I’ll be me.

They say, in their hearts:

“God,….You stay up there in heaven, watch offer me, keep me from harm, care for me, and take me home to heaven when I die;

I’ll stay down here and do nothing too terrible. I will go to church, read my Bible when I need to and pray whenever I’m in trouble.”

These imagine that the bargain is struck.

So off we go completely convinced, like the Pharisee, we are on good standing with the Lord.

But this is a religion that never touches the heart….that never rises above what is good…..for “me”.

Luke 18:13-14 “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

We have talked of “humbling” before. It means to abase yourself…..place yourself (everything of your self)….under Christ.

Some people reject Christ…..not as Savior….but as Lord.

But the truth is….that it is the Lord Jesus Christ that saves….completely and eternally.

The sincere follower has heard the call of Christ; and has left any bargaining behind. He has decided to follow Christ whithersoever He leads.

Matthew 16:24-25 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”

And this decision has far reaching consequences, both to ourselves, and any we come into contact with.

Christ’s life is Eternal Life.

It is Him we receive at new birth, He is our life.

Eternal life is a condition of life, here and now; as well as for eternity.

We receive His nature by the Holy Spirit.

He places the love of God and His Word within, as well as a desire for holiness of life.

Faith, joy, peace, all the graces of God, are at our disposal.

Philippians 3:8-14 “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

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

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

The prize? This high calling of God in Christ Jesus. This calling is to everyone who is born again.

We are called to bring forth fruit.

We are called to walk together with Christ.

We are called to obtain promises.

We are called to witness of Christ.

We are called to know Christ.

To know Christ: this is the goal of any true follower of Christ.

Not to win salvation: that is in Christ.

Not to win heaven: that is the end of those who belong to Christ.

But to know Christ:

For to know Him is the real gain of all things. Real satisfaction, real joy, real peace.

This is to “go on to know the Lord”

When you do, you will also find His going forth with you in power and loving presence.

To follow on. To go on. To seek. These are words we need to activate in our everyday lives.

And the One we need to follow after is the Lord Jesus Christ.