Pride

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

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

We are not like…….them….

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

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

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

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

It was the sin of the devil:

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

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

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

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

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

(The opposite of pride is humility.

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

…but where we are….

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

Pride was found in the first sin:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So simple….they could not be sin.

Such little steps….they could not be wrong.

But they are.

They all play on our desire for pride in ourselves.

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

…..pride in us.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

…..no, he went back to Sodom….

and in his pride of place,…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed.

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

Shortly after there was an earthquake:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(How He does the same for us!)

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

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

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

                 And He took it,  and did eat before them.

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

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

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

                                            

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

                          

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

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

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

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

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

His promise is to come again:  

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

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

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

He is risen,   He is Risen indeed.

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

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

Even so come, Lord Jesus.

Beside Me, there is no God

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(There are only three creations:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For I can not do it, of myself.

But Who do we present our bodies to?

God the Father sets on His Throne.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Psalm 22

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

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

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

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

Satan would bruise His heel, in the crucifixion.

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

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

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

Make you perfect (complete) in every good work to do His Will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hallelujah, What a God and Savior, we have!

A Kingdom must have a King

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The natural man never chooses God….

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Lord trieth the righteous:….”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Revelation 11:15)

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

…..the praise and honor for the Father,

….the provision, physically and spiritually for today,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Let me honor Your name and character)

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

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

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

Give us day by day, our daily bread.

(Supply my needs, spiritually, and physically)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Make Your Calling and Election Sure

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Peter took Him and began to rebuke Him:

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

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

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

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

Peter had been there when Jesus was transfigured before then:

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

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

And Jesus answered him:

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

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

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

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

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

And Peter had wondered then, if it was him.

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

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

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

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

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

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

How many times have we?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2 Peter 1:5-7 “…giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;

And to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness;

And to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity (love).”

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

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

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

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

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.