The Trumpet sounds

1 Thessalonians 4:15-16 “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

          Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

In the Roman army, there were three trumpet blasts.  As the camp was going about sleeping, or their regular duties….the first trumpet would sound.

       That signified that they were to break camp.  Every tent struck, every fire put out, every wagon loaded.

The second trumpet would sound….and that meant that everyone was to get in the line of march, to move out.  They were just to stand there, ready….till the third, or last trump would sound.

When the third trumpet would sound…they would move out…onward to the next place.

(Matthew 24:31 “And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together HIs elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”)

We are waiting the third trumpet call.   We have been told to “be ready”…to watch for the coming of the Lord…and so we should.

      We are to watch…

Matthew 25:13 “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”

Luke 12:40 “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.”

The Rapture is the next thing on the schedule of God…..and we should be prepared….ready. (“ready” here in this verse,  has to do with inward fitness…not just outward work.)

       How,   for we know not when He will come?

The Lord gave the illustration of two servants…one faithful and wise…and one, who gave way to selfish behavior, because his Lord’s return is “delayed”.

        (He gave this illustration twice Matthew 24:45-51, and Luke 12:42-48)

Luke 12:42-43 “And the Lord said,  Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?

       Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.”

There is a blessing waiting for all the servants of the Lord who are faithfully doing HIs Will…no matter the outward circumstances…

….. we are all called to “teach all nations” (Matthew 28:18-20) “teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.”

(Someone has said,  “When the darkness grows stronger…then even  the small light of our candle, will be a great light…shining on the Lord’s Way…and showing the faithfulness of Christ.”)

While the Lord of the household is away….a faithful servant acts as if He is still right beside him, guiding and directing his work….

…and for every Christian,  He is.

Luke 12:35 “Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;”    

     We are called to work for Christ till He comes again.    “Loins girt about”…ready to do anything.  Lights burning….kept up, and shining bright.

(I love the last words of Paul and Peter….they had their lights shining brightly till the end.

        2 Timothy 4:16-17 “At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me:  I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

        Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me;    that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear:   and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.”

Paul was more concerned that the preaching of Jesus Christ might be fully known…then that he was deserted by friends.

2 Peter 1:14-15 “Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ  hath shewed me.

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

Peter wrote to remind them of the promises and truths in Christ (verses 3-4)….concerned about them remembering what is in Christ….more than his life.

        These are faithful servants….standing ready to serve till the end.) 

Luke 12:45-46 “But and if that servant say in his heart,  My Lord delayeth His coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;

       The Lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for Him, and at  an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.”

There is also a judgment for those that forget that they are simple servants of the Lord…and that begin to  mistreat other Christians….or to misuse the gifts the Lord has given them, selfishly.

        Notice the sin begins in the heart….”If that servant say in his heart…”

The difference between these servants…is the heart.   One keeps the Lord close…in his heart and service…

….the other keeps the Lord at a distance…and becomes content to keep Him far away.

We each have a responsibility to be faithful to Christ Jesus.  And He said that He will come again..

Luke 21:28 “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”

Luke 12:40 “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye think not.”

We do not know when He will come and sound the last trump for us to go with Him…but we can be ready…prepared for that time….as His faithful servants.

   God’s Word is His revelation to us

   A revelation is a revealing…to take off the cover…to lighten, to appear.   

And God’s Word reveals  to us….Himself.

      John 1:1-4 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

       The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.

       In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.”

The Lord Jesus is that Word…and bears witness through the Word.

       The Holy Spirit is in our spirits, if we are born again,…and bears witness with our spirits of His life within (Romans 8:16)

       God the Father bears witness through the gathered saints…the corporate ministry of the local church.   There is a special power when saints are gathered together in HIs name….and a special revelation of His Presence and Will when they are gathered together. (Matthew 18:18-20)

Our spirits are most like God, and most sensitive to Him.

    Proverbs 20:27 “The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.”

Our souls set us apart from all creation…for when God breathed into Adam the breath of life (His Holy Spirit)….man became a living soul…formed to have communion with God.

We have a mind to think God’s thoughts after Him….to understand the Word shown us.

We  have a heart to love Him….and a will to be exercised for His Will and Word.

Our bodies are given as vessels to be of honor to Him.

      2 Timothy 2:15-16,21″Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.

      But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

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

And the Word of God is His revelation to us…revealing…lighting our way…a guide through every work…and the life we are to live here and now.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 “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, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

Psalm 119:92-93 “Unless Thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.

        I will never forget Thy precepts: for with them Thou hast quickened me.”

Psalm 119:130 “The entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.”

Psalm 36:9 “For with Thee is the fountain of life: in Thy light shall we see light.”

In Thy light shall we see light.   It is always as we come to Him, in HIs Word and prayer, that we receive  the light for our way.

(And light here means more than sight….it means understanding and grace to do.   

Peter says….”..who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light:” 1 Peter 2:9)

1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

To be cleansed from our sin, is to know deliverance from it.

Our eyes are open and we see the truth….and we walk in that truth…getting our sins forgiven through Christ Jesus…and grace for the victory over our sin and self.

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

As we acknowledge the truth through the Word that He speaks to us….the Lord’s grace will be applied to us.   

(Think of the amazing power in these two words….truth and grace.   Truth…what light it shines in the dark places!

What freedom it gives!  We need not hide or hang our head….we know the truth and it brings us  into closer communion with Jesus Christ, Who is the Truth.  

     Psalm 91:4 “He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust:  His truth shall be Thy shield and buckler.”

     Grace is the unmerited favor of power…for by grace are ye saved.

It is the ability to do.    God gives us many abilities.

He gives the words to say,…and how to say them.   He gives us the strength to do…healing for hurt,…joy in sorrow….and enables us to be content with all the circumstances of our life.)

God needs to reveal to us…everything.   The darkness and chaos of the world, can close in on us….unless we stay in the light of His Word to us…revealed by the Holy Spirit. 

     But He will reveal everything we need to us, as we walk with Him.

John 8:31-32 “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed; 

     And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

(My husband had a conversation with a man once, as they traveled together.   

     This man, learning that my husband was a preacher….used part of the scripture…”the truth shall make you free”….speaking in a general sense about truth.

      He had not used the whole verse….so my husband started reminding him of the rest of the verse….

“If ye continue in My Word…the Bible…the Word of God…the Lord Jesus said…

…if we continue in it…then we are His disciples…under the Lord’s disapline…and then–we shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

     The man was not happy….for many will fight for a general idea of “truth”….while at the same time refusing the Lord Jesus and His Word…which is Truth… for me.)

The Lord wants us to know…Him.  He is Truth,  He is Light,  He is Life,  He is love.   

Ephesians 1:17-18 “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation   in the knowledge of Him:

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

The Lord wants us to know….Him, and He has given us His Word and the Holy Spirit to guide us into that knowledge.

  The Lord’s revelation…revealing…taking the veil off….is for us personally….through HIs Word that we may know more of Him….for that is what He always wants.  

Let us read it,…and He will speak to us through it.

Living our best life….in Christ

Now when we think of possessing our possessions….we think of our ministries,…and the  promises the Lord has given us.   

    That is right….

….but each Israelite had personal land…land that was to be their home…that they were personally to fight for…and live in.

     In light of their personal possession of their home,  let us consider our personal “home” (everyday life)…that we are to possess….and live in.

   When we are born again,  the Holy Spirit comes within our dead and darkened spirits and enlightens them.   

   We are given faith, and peace with God (Romans 5:1)…here is the beginning of our possessions.

      After God gave  the land…now each Israelite must go and build his life on it…so must we.

God has saved us….now we are to have those “spiritual blessings”, which are in heavenly places in Christ…in us.

And there are things we need to get in our lives…and battles we need to fight to keep the personal peace, joy, and love that has been given us by the Lord.

First we need to displace the “Canaanites”. 

    Israel was to “drive them out”..

…Exodus 23:31-33 “…I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee.

     Thou shalt make no covenant with them…

     They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee to sin against Me;…”

They were not to make peace with them….not to leave them in the land, under tribute (Joshua 16:10)…but drive them out because of the influence they would gain over them.

    And we are not to compromise with our old nature which still wants to interfere and rule in our lives.

    So we need to “drive out” every habit we have that is from our old life.  Unbelief and questioning God’s goodness need to be destroyed…or driven out of our thoughts.

    In Hebrews, it is said that the Word needs  to be “mixed” with faith…to destroy unbelief in us.  

    Hebrews 4:2 “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them:  but the Word preached did not profit them,  not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.”

    As born again ones, we have faith….so when we hear His Word to us…we need to immediately take it back to Him and say…”I believe, help my unbelief….do as Thou has said.”

   Besetting sins need to be overcome. (Hebrews 12:1)

   We are to hold on to the peace God gives us, removing all the things which hinder our peace.(anxiety, fear, anger, hurt)

   When we feel our peace is gone…we need to go to God, remove what hinders,… and have Him renew it.

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

 “stay our mind on the Lord…and trust in Him”

We are to build our everyday lives  on the Word of God…to read it, know it, and share it.

     Here is where the everyday living for Christ comes in.

    Dueteronomy 11:20 “And thou shalt write them (God’s Word) upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:”

   On the door posts…that coming in or going out, they would  be reminded that that belong to the Lord.

Paul says that we are “builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:22)  Always showing Him in our lives.

   Their homes were to be a place that said that the Lord was present.     In fact, we are a temple of the living God. (2 Corinthians 6:16)

   The Word was to be on the gates…that those passing by, may see this Word and want to know more of the Lord that is spoken of.

2 Timothy 2:25 “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;”

    And they (and we) are  to “love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” (Duet.6:5)

    God should always be first.   When God is first…everything else falls into it’s place in our hearts and lives.  He is consulted about everything…He is looked to…He is submitted to, and obeyed.  

    We think of big decisions,  but it is in everything:

 Proverbs 3:4-5 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;…(again it is with all our heart to Him)

….and lean not unto thine own understanding.

        In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”

Then, they (and we) were to see that their children know the Word of God.

    Dueteronomy 6:7 “And thou shalt teach them (the Lord’s commandments)… diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

      We might all be surprised how our using the Bible in our everyday lives,  effects others.   (I believe our children first and foremost)   We show that it is very practical…that God speaks for now,…for me.  We show that He is real…and has a real, living influence on me and my life.

      (If you read Deuteronomy 6:20-25, a conversation between child and parent is shown…”when thy son asketh thee in time to come…What mean the testimonies, and the statues, and the judgments, which the Lord…hath commanded you?”

      Then a brief history of deliverances is given….what a testimony that would be!  Ending with, “and it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments…”)

Then they were called to see to the Levite, the strangers, the fatherless and widows.

         Deuteronomy 14:28-29 “At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates:

          And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within they gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.”

        We are called to pray for and be…”kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another.” (Romans 12:10)

        Simply we are be genuinely considerate of our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Praying for them,  and seeking to help them, if we can.

We are called to…”If it be possible, as much that lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” (Romans 12:18)   

       We are not to go along with them….but seek their peace with the Lord Jesus Christ.

God had a great life….full of His Word and blessings…for HIs people, Israel…in their promised land….in their personal home.  

(If you would read the laws concerning their lives in the promised land…there were many times of feasting and rejoicing,  before the Lord…both at the Tabernacle and in their gates.)

God has a great life for us, as well….

       Ours is not a place, but a Person….

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:” (Ephesians 1:3)

…”all”…what a tremendous word…describing the numbers, the greatness, the variety of the blessings we have….in our inheritance….in Christ.

Esau and Jacob

Esau is a sad character. A son of Isaac….the first born, destined to have the birth-right.

(The birth-right was not only the double portion of the possessions Isaac had……which every first born should receive……but the covenant blessing. It spoke of the fact that the Messiah would come through his line.)

Yet, he cared nothing for that part of his first-born privileges. He cared for what would show that he was above Jacob.

Esau and Jacob were twins…but were entirely different. There was a struggle with each other, for preeminence, even in the womb.

Genesis 25:22 “And the children struggled together within her;…..And she went to inquire of the Lord.”

Esau loved being over his twin brother, practically more than any thing else.

Genesis 25:24-26 “And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.

And the first came out red, all over like a hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.

And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel, and his name was called Jacob:….”

But Jacob was also struggling….for preeminence….

…..so the difference was what they wanted.

Esau was a “cunning hunter”….a man of the field. (Genesis 25:27).

He cared for sport….

…..not planting….like his father.

He wanted to be out on his own….not held down by flocks and herds….like Abraham, his grandfather.

The boys divided their family…..their jealousy causing a problem between Isaac and Rebekah.

Isaac loved Esau best…..but only because of the venison he brought to him to eat….it was his favorite.

(A sad commentary of the older life of the promised son. How easy it is to let our spiritual life slide, when we are given everything, like Isaac was!)

Jacob was Rebekah’s favorite…..he was a gardener….and a herdsman. He loved the camp where his grandfather and mother lived (Hebrews 11:9)….and he usually stated close.

Though they are twins…..they are enemies…..sad, but true.

Again I say…..they both struggle for the preeminence……but the difference is in what they are struggling for….

And the thing which brings their desires to the forefront……is food.

Genesis 25:29-34 “And Jacob sod pottage (lentils): and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:

And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with the same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name was called Edom.

And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.

And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.”

The Words in scripture are very telling…..

Jacob is not seen in a good light here….he is sneaky, trying to get the birthright without waiting on God.

But Esau is worse:

He sells his best things….for what? A moments satisfaction!

But then (and to me this is the worst of it), he eats, drinks….and goes on his way….

….his conscience does not even seem to bother him…..that he just treated the best of gifts, with so little value…..

…..he is not seen repenting…or moaning over his sin….

(Now, I say this is the worst….for I have failed….badly….but I always feel bad….stricken in heart… troubled till I confess it)

Neither Isaac or Rebekah, like Esau’s life style. It is pretty much….what he wants, he does…without seeking God’s blessing, or theirs.

He takes a wife of the Canaanites, which grieves both of them….for they are godless and idolatrous.

Later Jacob tricks Isaac into officially blessing him, with the covenant blessing….because he dressed up like Esau…like I said, he is sneaky.

Furious, Esau says he will kill Jacob when Isaac dies….

(You would think now would be the time for Isaac to stand up and speak of God’s will (Hebrews 11:20)……but though he recognizes that Jacob was suppose to get the covenant blessing…..he only emphasizes that he could not take back his word.)

To save Jacob,….Jacob is sent on a journey, back to Rebekah’s family, for a wife.

Now, in all of this, God seems to be silent. Neither informing, or correcting.

Why?

(God is often silent when we, ourselves are not seeking Him.

Abraham was a man of altars…five times in scripture Abraham is said to build an altar……but Isaac is said to have built only one.)

Neither do they seem to inquire as how to raise the boys…or correct their faults.

Again, a sad commentary on how life can get away from us….if we are not diligently seeking God’s Word and direction day by day….for ourselves and our family.)

But now God is going to speak. And get Jacob’s attention.

Jacob, by himself, has left the camp of his youth, and set out on a hazardous journey….which would get him the wife he went for….but at a price of almost twenty years of service.

But on the way, God speaks to him…..Jacob is the schemer……but,…who wanted the birth-right….who wanted the Messiah to come from his line….the greatest blessing.

Genesis 28:12-13,15 “And he dreamed, and a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou lies, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;

And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.”

This is a promise that Jacob will need….and will use especially when he is brought back into the land…….when he is brought face to face with Esau again.

You will notice, that it is never said that God speaks to Esau….

….Esau has chosen his way….a way which does not want God…..only the worldly blessings.

So, that is what he ends up with……wealth….but without personal knowledge of God.

A life, lived…..with lots of things…..but without true meaning in the purpose of God.

After his time of serving Laban, Rebekah’s brother for his wives……Jacob again hears God.

Genesis 31:3 “And the Lord said unto Jacob, return unto the land of thy father’s, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.”

So Jacob returns to the land given Abraham and Isaac and himself from God….but is afraid to meet Esau.

Jacob and Esau meet, but not as Jacob imagines…..for God has seen to Esau, and he does not kill him, but is glad to see him…..telling Jacob all that he owns.

Then he tries to get Jacob to follow him home…..but Jacob excuses himself….and goes another way….not trusting Esau.

Later Isaac dies, and after Esau and Jacob bury him together….they separate….never to work together, or be together…..for they have chosen separate paths….Jacob with God,…though with many failures….

…and Esau to the worldly treasures….all ending in death.

(If you read Genesis 36, you will see his offspring. Taking titles, and seeking wealth, in Mount Seir, which God gave them.

Later when the children of Israel came to claim their inheritance, the children of Esau would not let them come through their land (Numbers 20:17-21)

…..how sad that they still wanted to show superiority over Jacob’s children….which shows how jealousy and envy are easily passed to our children.

The final judgement for Esau’s children came…..hundreds of years later….with the same jealousy and strife….they joined Israel’s enemies and cut off an escape for some of the people of Judah, when Nebuchadnezzar carried Jerusalem into captivity….

Obadiah 3, 13-14, 10 “The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitations is high (Mt. Seir); that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?

Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity, yea, thou shouldest not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity;

Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress.

For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off forever.”)

Jacob (the Lord changes his name to Israel)…..goes on through many failures and losses to be the third patriarch…..adding his name to the line of the Christ….

…and at the end, this is what he is looking toward.

Genesis 49:10, 18 “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh (Christ Jesus) come; and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be.

I have waited for Thy salvation, O Lord.”

He tells his children to bury him in the burial place Abraham bought (for at the time he was in Egypt)…..where Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, and Leah lay….in the land that God gave them….looking forward to the promise of God….though it were years off.

The way we go…..the journey we take….the people we meet…..all comes down to the choice we make.

It all comes down to what we want…..

…..do we want God in our lives…..are we “building altars” and having communion with God….the God Who will not leave us until He does all that He has spoken to us….

Or are we seeking to settle down in this world….to get our blessings here?

Jesus said, “Follow Me”……and in order to follow Him, we must “leave” everything (our jealousies, personal strife, our relationships)…..including ourselves……in His hands:

Matthew 10:37-39 “He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

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

He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for My sake shall find it.”

What are we choosing?

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.