Do we have, what we seem to have?

Luke 8:18 “Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.”

“Which he seemeth to have”…..by outward appearance….he seems to have what he claims.

But by inward obedience….it is not his. He may agree with it, as doctrine….but does not obey it for his life.

The faith Christ places within us, demands certain things from us.

“…for whatsoever is not of faith, is sin.” (Romans 14:23)

That faith will never disappear….but it can be starved by lack of obedience …….becoming faithlessness……and the resulting actions be only outward show.

No amount of religious activity….will ever take the place of obedience.

Like Samuel told Saul….when he returned from the Amalekites:

(God had said to Saul, that these people were to be destroyed…completely.

God did not want “sacrifices” from the best of the spoil…..

……He wanted them completely destroyed because of the wicked way they fought against the march of Israel when they were coming to the Promised Land.

They would come up behind and kill the slowest and weakest of the people and children.)

1 Samuel 15:22-23 “And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the Word of the Lord, He has also rejected thee from being king.”

These verses used to bother me because of the lack of diligent obedience in my life, everyday……

……we are to be obedient….Christ said, “If ye love Me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)

Isn’t that the real reason we hesitate to do His Will, or disobey….because we do not love Him as we should….something else has taken His place in our hearts?

Then these verses bothered me….because of “stubbornness”….

This is to “peck at”….we refuse this command because of this reason….

…..Oh, we would do it (we tell ourselves) except for this person or that circumstance….

…when actually we are being stubborn about having “our own way”

[Praise God for His Word which “bothers us”!]

(My husband dealt with a man once who was having a great many problems….and he asked my husband to pray for him….

….So my husband said, “Yes, I will pray that the Lord’s Will will be done in your life.”

And the man said, “Ok”…..then after a moment asked…..”Can you pray that my will will be done a little bit, too?” )

We laugh at that…..but aren’t we the same way…….we want our will done….”a little bit, too”!

We think we can “give” God “something” to please Him….but He has plainly said…

Psalm 50:13-14 “Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?

Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the Most High:”

No amount of religious activity will take the place of simple obedience.

What does God want from us? Us.

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

Samuel told Saul (it was not his first rebellion to God’s Word)………”because thou hast rejected the Word of the Lord, He hath also rejected thee from being king.”

But notice, it is from “being king”…..God, here, was giving Saul a chance to save his soul by repentance….not his kingship….that was to be turned over to David…

….but Saul could have repented from his rebellion and stubbornness….and turned to God.

1 Samuel 15:17 “Then Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel? And the Lord anointed thee king over Israel?”

When Saul saw himself as a Israelite…..not king over them….God blessed him.

But kingship had changed his attitude about everything…..and he wanted all the praise, and honor that title held….

….forgetting it was just a title….without God’s blessing.

But to Saul…..if he could not be king….then, Forget it!

Saul then said all the right words….”I have sinned”…..but he blames the people…

“…because I feared the people.”

When God would not accept such a confession….then Saul showed his true desire…

1 Samuel 15:30 “Then he (Saul) said, I have sinned: yet honor me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord thy God.”

The Lord “thy God”…..not my God….for to reject God’s Word and authority in our lives, is to reject Him.

Matthew 21:44 “And whosoever shall fall on this Stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.”

Here is the answer for stubborn hearts….for hesitate hearts….for double-minded hearts….

Our Rock.

We can “fall” on it…..leaving the broken pieces of our plans, failures and successes,…leaving our lives….by faith…falling into the arms of God and become broken to the world…..which is our spiritual enemy….

….and letting Him heal us, spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Or we can in the day of judgement see our lives be ground up as nothing.

Deuteronomy 33:27 “The Eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the Everlasting Arms: and He shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.”

Are we loving God….our Eternal God….and being obedient to His Word to us?

“Come, and fall on Me,” Christ says,….”into My Arms…and I will heal you.”

Blessed.

Psalm 65:4 “Blessed is the man whom Thou choosest, and causest to approach unto Thee, that he may dwell in Thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of Thy house, even of Thy holy temple.”

Blessed means twice happy!

God sees us blessed; How do we see ourselves, in His work?

When He chooses us, He causes us to draw near to Him. Would we resist that drawing?

When I was first brought back into the right way, after wandering away from God; I was in awe, that He loved me enough to welcome me back.

My thought was to grow closer to Him. Nearer, Nearer, I prayed. That is what I want.

The song of Nearer My God to Thee, seemed to play in my head, often.

“Even though it be a cross that raises me…”.

The “pig pen” of the world I had experienced; I wanted the “home” of closeness with God.

Blessed I was, and am, for God’s mercy to me.

This Psalm typifies God’s great arms.

Drawing us, even when we run away.

Calling us, even when we have refused before.

“We shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house,”

For Christians, the closer we get to the Lord, the more satisfied we are.

The further away from God, the more opportunity for things to come in between us.

These cause barriers.

The barriers we place, between the Lord and ourselves, cause discontent.

And discontent is to be dissatisfied.

And when we are dissatisfied, we start looking for other things.

There are many temptations in the world, the best place to be safe, is in the “holy temple” of fellowship and nearness to the Lord.

Blessed is the one who is close to the Lord.

Blessed, also, is the one who is given opportunity to get near to the Lord, again.

Most blessed is the one who never looks for any other satisfaction again,…than in Him.

The Family Prayer

Matthew 6:9 “After this manner therefore pray ye:…”

Here Jesus is speaking in the Sermon on the Mount.

He had just corrected their view of prayer:

Do not stand on the street corner to be seen of men….

…do not repeat and repeat something over and over, as though God was hard of hearing.

Both of these were not what the Heavenly Father wanted.

Prayer is a combination of worship, honor, and praise for God,….

….and a bringing of ourselves before Him for our needs (whether it is confession, requests, or intercession for others.)

Then he begins to teach them the right way to pray:

Matthew 6:9 “After this manner therefore pray ye:…”

Luke 11:2 “And he said unto them, When ye pray, say,…”

Jesus said that we should pray this prayer.

It is also a model of the prayers we should come to God about. It has all the elements, briefly stated, that we need to pray.

Prayer is talking to God about His will; to know it, and to get the ability (the grace), and means to do it.

It is telling God our needs, confessing our sins, and asking for help against the many pitfalls and enemies in this world.

“Our Father which art in heaven,”

The first thing Jesus teaches, is that we need to come to God on the basis of relationship.

Our relationship to His Son. We are to believe and receive Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and then His Father is our Father. (John 20:17)

And we can come to Him as “our Father which art in heaven”; He is in Heaven, far above every situation,…..and in charge of them.

“Hallowed be thy Name.” This is to acknowledge His Holiness and give reverence to Him.

His Name signifies all He is, and does; so we are to reverence and to honor it, because it represents Him.

“Thy kingdom come.” This is to pray for His kingdom to come within our hearts, now. That we would be obedient subjects of our King Jesus; and manifest how wonderful He is.

And we should pray for His kingdom to come to this world, which will come at His second coming.

(The world will know no peace, until Christ rules.)

“Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” We are to pray for His will to be done in our lives,….”in earth”;…..that we would know it, and fulfill it.

In heaven it is done joyfully, and speedily.

So are we to pray for it to be done with in us, the same way; and seek to do it in the same manner: with joy.

“Give us this day our daily bread”. We are to ask for our daily needs to be met.

This is not the luxuries; but the needs we have each day.

This teaches us that today we may have plenty; and tomorrow we may be in want. Or the opposite.

Our asking each day, brings us before His throne, with today’s needs.

It gives us the opportunity to realize what He did for us yesterday; and in faith, believe Him for today.

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors”. We are asking that the trespasses we have committed against His Will, would be forgiven us.

They are debts against His Holiness, and goodness. We are to seek forgiveness for them.(1John 1:9)

We are to also forgive others, as He forgives us.

“And lead us not into temptation”. This is asking for the Holy Spirit’s protection against the things which tempt us everyday;……and especially those which we are prone to.

We are asking Him to keep us out of harms way;……and away from those things or people which lead us into harms way.

(Of course, having prayed it, we need to heed the warning given by the Holy Spirit in each situation).

“But deliver us from evil”. Some believe it means the evil one, the devil. We have three enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil.

So we ask for deliverance.

When we have been tricked, and sinned;…..we ask that He will let us not fall any further…..but deliver us from the sin, and the wiles of the devil concerning it.

And it means, to save us from the evil of deceit, the world’s entanglements, and anger.

“For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever.”

Christ received His kingdom….and is set down at the right hand of the Father:

…the power and the glory He had with the Father before He left heaven and came to earth to save us (Matthew 28:18)…

…..and further glory, for fulfilling the Father’s Will in everything.

In this we are to acknowledge His authority and power;…..join with Him in the work of manifesting it,….and praise Him for it.

Matthew 28:18-20″ And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

“Amen”, or “Let it be”. This is to ask, that all the things we have prayed for, will be brought to pass.

Amen for each one of us.

Perilous Times

2 Timothy 3:1 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.”

Paul’s letters to Timothy were exhortations to faith and boldness in the face of declining and absent love to Christ in the church at Ephesus.

Love is the willed tendency of the heart for the good of another. Love to Christ is a true pillar of our lives….it strengthens and encourages us.

And our love to Christ, must be guarded by righteousness in life and faith…or it becomes a mere human emotion and affection….which goes up and down.

(We find in Revelation 2:4 that they were corrected by Christ for “having left their first love”.)

The church at Ephesus had let in those that preached that they should add the law to grace…..and other doctrines other than the doctrine of grace, which Paul had preached.

And now in the second letter, we see that this church….so flourishing in love and grace…..who were devoted to Paul….was now turned away from him and his doctrine….even as he warned them about. (Acts 20:28-30, 2 Timothy 1:15)

True love and faithfulness to Christ….are the barometers of a Christians spirituality.

Then he speaks of the last days….again he is speaking of those that profess to be Christians….for in the world these characteristics are always there.

The thing that manifests the last days….is the indulgence of these lusts….while there is a “form of godliness”.

2 Timothy 3:2-5 “For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

Without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

We often see people questioning the power of Christianity….they say it makes no change in people’s lives….nor does it control the evil of men’s hearts.

But it is only the power of Christ’s grace in the heart that changes men from rebels,…to lovers of God. From running after sin, to running from it…to God.

Many are learning…their heads might be expanding….

….but their personal knowledge of Christ Jesus, and His salvation to the uttermost (for He is Truth)…for themselves, is not. They are “never able” because they are not yielding to the Truth about themselves.

True righteousness is conforming to the Truth for ourselves through HIs Word and Holy Spirit…by God’s grace.

This is Paul’s doctrine of grace…the grace of God which he had experienced so greatly.

It is not an outward conforming to rituals….no matter how right….but an inward salvation (“Ye must be born again” John 3:7)…..salvation from sin and self.

2 Timothy 3:7-8 “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.”

Jannes and Jambres were the Egyptian sorcerers (Exodus 7:11) who, by imitation of the miracles Moses did, kept Pharaoh from seeing the truth.

But their imitations only increased the judgements (they could turn water to blood, but not the blood back to water….they could bring up frogs, but not get rid of them)….they could not give deliverance from God judgements.

So are the imitators of righteousness. They go to church, sing praises,…..but they can not duplicate the power of Jesus Christ’s salvation in their lives…

…for the power of the grace of God through HIs Word and by His Holy Spirit…is not pretense….but true change in attitude, and character.

We have a new nature….Christ’s life is in our life…and we love His Word and Will.

Paul had sent Timothy to Ephesus to correct and reprove the errors that came in….and now, though Paul himself was not going to live much longer….yet he pointed Timothy….and us….to the scriptures.

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, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

Doctrine…or the Truth about Christ Jesus,…and the faith and grace He provides.

(Paul knew this doctrine well…..the Lord Jesus Christ knocked him down when he was going his own way…..gave light and mercy….and instructed him in the grace which never leaves us to ourselves….but continually is flowing from Christ to us….as we yield to it, and use it.)

As we apply this truth to ourselves….we have reproof…the Word shows us where we are going astray.

And with reproof, we have correction….which includes the needed grace (ability) to change.

And with change in character, we receive instruction as to where, and how to walk with the Lord…through all that comes.

That we may be perfect….complete….having all the past seen to, and looking forward to what is next in our walk….with the Lord…

….throughly furnished…made able for every good work….no matter how small or large….we will be furnished for it.

These days are perilous times…..

Let us be warned……not like the Ephesians, who heard Paul’s warning….yet stopped watching; and so were led astray.

Let us be faithful to Christ Jesus….use the grace given, and continue in His Word.

Hebrews 10:35 “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recommence of reward.

For ye have need of patience, that , after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.”

Confidence here is boldness, outspoken, bluntness.

Earlier in Hebrews they were exhorted to “hold fast the confidence” (Hebrews 3:6)….and now they are told to “cast not away your confidence.”

How much trouble does it take, for us to be weary in well doing? How much anxiety, disturbs our peace, when things do not go as we think they should?

The Hebrew Christians were under persecution, and troubled from enemies….there had been a famine, and many were suffering. The fire and zeal of the early days….was being overcome by these….and Paul wrote to exhort (wake them up!)……and to edify (build them up in their faith).

(My husband received these verses once when he was becoming discouraged about the attitude of those he preached to.

There should be repentance and confession from sin….

….but there also should be joy and peace in believing…..reaching forth for what is next in faith….and yes, boldness to stand with Christ against the onslaught of the world’s ways.

He was discouraged that there was not much zealousness, not much joy. Yes, people seemed to be trying to be obedient….but the fruits of peace and joy were often missing….leading to a quenched Spirit in the services.(1 Thes. 5:19)

What is the problem?

My husband received two answers….one for himself, which was these verses…”Cast not away therefore your confidence….for ye have need of patience,…”

And one for those we preach to:

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

This repentance is from the lukewarmness of our attitude.

Doing enough….but not all.

Singing songs…but not praising God for all situations.

Looking at the circumstances…but not to God’s lesson.

Praying….but not having the vital fellowship that each child of God needs.

After receiving this, my husband’s discouragement ended….and he went on and preached….in confidence, boldness….leaving all to God to see to.)

Do not cast away your boldness….outspoken against these things….bluntness to show the truth.

Paul, though understanding of the Hebrew’s trouble….did not mitigate his message….but wrote this letter to his beloved countrymen to stir them up…

….to seek the Lord and His faith (there is a whole chapter about this: Hebrews 11)…..for them to see HIs provision in Christ….for them in HIs sacrifice and in heaven for them….

….and then for them to “hold fast”….. “cast not away the confidence” or boldness God gives us. Trust Him.

Things in this world can discourage us, frighten us, and cause us worry and to be anxious…

….but we are in Christ. Yes, we walk here,…but He offers joy and peace in believing. This is mentally, spiritually, emotionally. He fills our lives with Himself, if we let Him.

Are we experiencing this?

(And believing is not just for salvation….but for life. Believe is to place our full weight upon….to completely give Him, HIs rule, where are lives are concerned.)

And all of this is in light of:

Hebrews 10:37 “For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry.”

Christ is coming again….first in the Rapture of the church (1 Thess. 4:14-18)….and then as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, to reign upon the earth. (Revelation 19:11-16)

Cast not away your confidence….and be patient, that after having done the Will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Let us

Hebrews 10:24 “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works:”

“Provoke” here, means to stir up…..to incite…to nudge someone….to come along….into the things God has for us.

All through the book of Hebrews….and I think this is wonderful….the writer says, “let us”….

It is not: you guys need to do this, or that……but “let us”.

(“Let” is an interesting word…..I did a message once on how many “Let” there were in the Bible….a lot, beginning when God, by Christ, speaks……”Let there be light” Genesis 1:3….

…..to the end of the Bible, when God by His Spirit says…..”And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

When God says “Let”,….it is a beseeching imperative….

As God, when He speaks, He commands obedience.(Period)

He is not asking our approval.

But,….”let” is also beseeching us to yield, to go along with Him, to submit to His plan for us….and be blessed.

When we say “let us”…..we are acknowledging that we, as well as those we are speaking to….need to keep these truths before us.)

The first “let us” is….

Hebrews 4:1, 11 “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”

Simply, we should be “afraid” of losing out on a promise that God wants to give us…..

…..like the Israelites did when they refused to go into Canaan the first time.(Numbers 14:28-31).

That whole generation lost the Promised Land…..their part in it….because of unbelief….

….and we, too, should “fear”…be afraid of losing those promises God has given us in His Word….

….and that usually means a battle with our unbelief.

The term “let us” suggests that we, as Christians, have one goal….to follow on till the end.

The writer does not say he has been made so spiritual, that he does not need to be encouraged to “hold fast”….but he includes himself in all of these exhortations…..he is saying, so “let us”.

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.”

This is a promise we may all have…..Let us….come boldly….not in fear that our prayer will not be heard…..but boldly, because we have access to His throne, as His beloved children.

We can come into His presence any….and all times, for our needs…..some we do not even know….till that moment….but at that moment we may come.

Romans 5:1-2 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

By Whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

Hebrews 6:1 “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God.”

“Let us go on unto perfection”. We have begun in Christ….by the gospel preached to us….

….let us go on….not going back to “wallow” around in those dead works you did when you were lost…..but yielding to the faith that you have….take a onward step into….

“…those things that accompany salvation…” (Hebrews 6:9), which are the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)….

….and the promises of God to us (“…those exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers…” of God’s character….escaping the world’s corruption. 2 Peter 1:4-8)

Hebrews 10:22-24 “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;)

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:”

How hard it is, sometimes, to persevere till the end! That is what we are being reminded of here…..”hang on, God is with us”.

The writer is stressing the only means of doing this:…..drawing near with our hearts to God in faith,…

…and holding fast to the gospel of God….”For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;…” Romans 1:16.

Our salvation encompasses being saved from the love of sin, guilt of sin, the power of sin, and one day the presence of sin. God’s salvation is complete and powerful,….let us draw near Him.

Then he exhorts that we should help others hang on, by encouraging others to love the Lord, and do good to others.

(I had the Lord show me, once, a lot of batteries….all connected together, so they were putting out a steady power.

When one battery in the connection started to grow weak….although there were lots of other batteries there,…..they all started to grow weak….for the one battery started to draw off from the others.

The Lord said, we are like this….either keeping each other strong….or drawing off from each other.)

Hebrews 12:1, 28-29 “Wherefore, seeing we are also compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

For our God is a consuming fire.”

Now the writer points down the road….to the place where we will be in heaven….the end of the race, and asks….

….can you see all the saints of the Old Testament….and the New Testament, that have gone before us….

….they are standing in their places….in heaven.

They stood here with the Lord God,….and now they are waiting for us to complete the race set before us….to finish our work, which is a part of the Great Purpose of God.

Scared? Afflicted?….then remember Who we serve:

We serve a King….Who has taken us into His kingdom…..a kingdom which can not….and will not be moved….no matter what enemies come against it.

And our God…..our King is a consuming fire…..

….fire that will purify for Himself a people without spot or wrinkle….He will see to us….whatever the fear, trouble, or sickness….if we will….

….”let us have grace”.

You must use the grace given….by the Holy Spirit within….use it….you can not spend more than He is willing to give….use it….like you were a citizen of the Great King Jesus….for you are.

Hebrews 13:13, 15 “Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach.

By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His Name.”

Jesus was crucified outside of the city…”suffered without the gate”. (Hebrews 13:12)

If you read the gospel accounts….the women that follow and ministered to Him with their substance were at the cross…..John was there….Mary, Jesus mother was there…..these followed Jesus in His reproach……to the foot of the cross.

Now, another invitation comes to us……”let us” follow Him in this time of His reproach by the world in which we live……wherever we are….how ever it comes against Him now……..we can stand with Him, in it.

1 Peter 4:14 “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye, for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified.”

And “let us” give thanks to God…..giving thanks to His name, for all that has, and will come to us. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

“Let us” is a call to “come on”…..we can all work toward Christ’ goal and purpose, for us.

“Let us go on…”

The Hearing ear will hear.

Proverbs 20:12 “The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them.”

The first thing I want to stress is the Lord hath made even both of them.

So you see we are responsible to hear because He has given us hearing ears.

Notice how He speaks to us Laodiceans:

Revelation 3:19-20 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.”

For all who hear His rebuke and repent….a great deal is promised. Constant fellowship and overcoming authority.

But what is it that we need? And how is it that we repent?

What we need is Reality, and where we need to repent is our lukewarmness.

Do we want His constant Presence? Or would that interfere too much with our thoughts and plans?

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

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

If we close our eyes….we can not see. If we put our hands over our ears…we can not hear.

But, If we will but seek the Lord, even though we are wicked (rebellious)…and unrighteous (sinful)……yet mercy is offered…and abundant pardon.

To seek the Lord is to stop seeking the world and the lusts thereof, and turn by prayer and searching the Bible, for His Word to us.

The Lord will have mercy….our God will abundantly pardon.

Paul thought Eternal life (which is a condition of life, now….as well as for eternity with God)…..was worth the loss of all things.

Philippians 3:7 “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.”

Paul had lost his old life, his standing and prestige, the moment he stood up for Christ.

But he did not look back or yearn for them….but counted them but refuse/garbage/dung….that he might have Christ.

Philippians 3:8-9, 11 “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.

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

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

The excellency of the knowledge….this is the way Paul thought about knowing and hearing Christ….what of us? Is the knowledge of Christ….and His Word to us worth anything?

Do we want His constant presence and grace?

Ephesians 3:17-19 “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Many people mistake the promise here. It is a promise of constant fellowship….both with Christ Jesus….and with other Christians….and the power (grace) it gives our lives.

“Dwell” means to abide, to become part of the life….not just on Sunday….but become a part of everything, where I am concerned.

“Rooted and grounded…in love” means to come to the place where love to Christ and His people…strengthens you. It does not take from you….but gives to you. (Notice, we are filled with the fullness of God…as we know the love of Christ more)

We need to get honest with ourselves…and with God!

We receive as much light as we are obedient to….

…when we stop obeying for whatever reason….the light becomes dim. But when we repent and obey….the light becomes bright again.

Again, we must get honest with ourselves and God….in our prayers, in our thoughts, and in our actions…and reactions.

John 1:16-17 “And of His fullness have we all received, and grace for grace.

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”

Christ came, lived, died, and was risen again, that we might become His….of His fullness have we all received….the fullness of righteousness, of mercy, of faith….

….and grace for grace. Grace is given…and as we use that grace in our lives….more grace is given.

Moses gave the law…and it showed us our sin….how far we were from God.

But Jesus Christ came to give the Truth….and as we submit to the truth about ourselves….grace (the unmerited favor of power) is given to overcome.

Will we hear Christ? Will we see what He has for us?

Well, the hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made both of them.

Let Us Go On

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

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

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

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

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

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

He makes claims upon us. He wants us.

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

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

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

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

They need to be drawn to Jesus Christ for themselves.

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

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

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

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

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

They say, in their hearts:

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

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

These imagine that the bargain is struck.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Christ’s life is Eternal Life.

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

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

We receive His nature by the Holy Spirit.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We are called to bring forth fruit.

We are called to walk together with Christ.

We are called to obtain promises.

We are called to witness of Christ.

We are called to know Christ.

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

Not to win salvation: that is in Christ.

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

But to know Christ:

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

This is to “go on to know the Lord”

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

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

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

Mightily Grew the Word and Prevailed

Acts 19:20 “So mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed.”

Prevailed here, means had a force or power in the lives of those that heard.

And how is it, that the Word grew?

Background:

Paul was in Ephesus. He had been preaching there for about two years….”so that all they that dwell in Asia (Minor) heard the Word of the Lord Jesus…”

He had also, by the Holy Spirit, worked miracles.

Acts 19:10-12 “And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they that dwell in Asia heard the Word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:

So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs and aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.”

When we hear the Word…it makes demands on our life; which we either yield to, or refuse.

All, in this area, had heard….God was making demands on their lives about His Son, Jesus Christ…

And by Paul, the Lord was healing many from spiritual and physical illness.

Paul not only preached the Word of God, concerning Jesus Christ,….but that Word had prevailed in Paul….so it could prevail, through Paul.

But when God does a work, then there are always those that seek to mimic it, especially for money…..some were even using the names of Jesus and Paul…

Acts 19:13, 15-16, 20 “Then certain…took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them and overcame them….so they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

This was known to all….dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

So mightily grew the word of God, and prevailed.”

The Name of the Lord Jesus was magnified….for God showed that He will not honor the use of His Name,…… except by those who believe and receive Him, as Lord and Savior.

His Name is powerful only to those who shelter beneath Him, in believing obedience.

The Word of God is the instrument of salvation.

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

Now this Word lives and abides.

If it is not a living Word to you, you have not heard it aright.

If the Word does not make demands on your life, you have not heard it aright.

The gospel must wound, before it can heal.

It wounds our pride: for we are sinners, like everyone else.

It wounds our reason: we can do nothing to save ourselves.

It wounds our hearts: it points out our secret sins.

“And the Name of the Lord Jesus was magnified”.

Here was the prevailing influence. He showed that He would honor His obedient servants…..

……but not those who did not know Him, and only wanted to use Him (Matthew 7:21)

“And fear fell on them all”….the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom….and it drew many to hear the Word…..believe on the Lord Jesus,…..

…..for it amazed them that Jesus Christ knew their heart’s motives, as well as their words.

Acts 19:18-19 “And many that believed came, and confessed, and showed their deeds.

Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.”

And many that believed came and confessed…

God requires honesty….getting right with Him….and your brethren.

And showed their deeds,….to know the healing power of forgiveness from these things.

Acts 19:19 “…and burned them before all men:…”

This was an act most necessary to have done with it all.

And the results?

Acts 19:20 “So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.”

God’s Word was being shared….neighbor was telling neighbor…..and it was having the victory in the lives of these people.

Do we want to know the power of the Word of God?

Then we must give ourselves to God….to be prevailed upon.

If we, in believing obedience act upon what I know He requires of me now….I will know that prevailing power for myself.

There is for each of us that believe on Christ Jesus…..that power that is “exceeding, abundantly, above all that we ask or thing….according to the power that works within us”. (Ephesians 5:20)

Are we born again? Are we sheltered under Him, and obedient to His Word?

Then that Word will prevail in us…..and through us.

It is in knowing His Will, and doing it.

And as His children,……we are as responsible to know His Will,….as to do it.

In our progressive walk before the Lord, we must always leave the better…..for the best.

This must always be done if the Word of God is to prevail through me…..it must prevail in me….where I am….with the circumstances I am in now.

Every one in their place…

Judges 7:21 “And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the hosts ran, and cried, and fled.”

Before we deal with the historical setting…..I want to talk of the work of the church….and every Christian, “in their place”:

First, we are to grow in grace…

Philippians 1:9–11 “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgement;

That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and with out offense till the day of Christ;

Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.”

Second, we are to pray for, and edify one another…..”till we all come”….no one that belongs to Christ, is to be left out….or “unimportant”……it is “we all”:

Ephesians 4:12-13 “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:”

Third, we are to stand, holding the ground Christ has won and given us…..

1 Corinthians 16:13 “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”

Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

And, then….we are to shine our lights, that all those that see us….can see Jesus….whether they receive Him, or not.

Matthew 5:16 “Let your lights so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which in heaven.

In all of these, we….as His children and soldiers…..are to be in the place the Lord has given us.

He has chosen you…and He wants to bless you in your place, doing your task.

John 15:16 “Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye may ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you.”

He does all things well.

For we are ordained for the work He has called us to…..and we should all bring forth fruit to Christ.

(Ordained means that all the provision we need is set aside for us.)

Judges 7:21 “And they stood every man in his place round about the camp; and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.”

Israel had sinned….and God was allowing them to be invaded by the Midianites….which would strip them of their crops….the bread they needed.

But God also was calling a man to lead an army to force these enemies out of Israel!

And when Gideon answered that call….thousands showed up to help…..but they were quickly sent back to their tents…

….God had a better plan.

God chose…..three hundred men….chosen, and separated for the work….(Judges 7:2, 5-7)

The number is small….so the glory to God is great!

The work itself was to follow their leader:

Judges 7:17 “And he (Gideon) said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do.”

(As His church, we should follow our great example….Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:21)

They were given trumpets….to blow…to wake everyone up!

They were given lamps and pitchers…..so they could break the vessel and shine at a particular time!

We know that they were also equipped with Words….how important they were….again….at the right time.

Judges 7:20 “And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in there left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the Lord and of Gideon.”

(How much this is like the church’s work….for we have been chosen to be His witnesses on earth, now:

….there will be awaking to Him, by the Holy Spirit.

….there will be His light shining to others.

….there will be His Word spoken.)

Gideon’s men got into place….and when all was right….Gideon, himself blew his trumpet and shouted…..and they all did as he did…..breaking the pitchers, so their lamps might shine brightly…

….all around the camp of the Midianites….

There is no fighting yet….for God “fights” for them…..bringing panic to the enemy….

….when they hear the trumpets…..seeing the lights all around….and hearing the shouting….

….in the dark, these Midianites, fight one another….uncertain of who was who.

Then, Gideon’s men come down and fight….driving the enemy out of the land.

This battle was about bread….food for God’s people.

The Midianites would come and loot all they could take….of the grain, grown.

And take it away.

Are we ready to stand and shine and speak for God and His Word?

Christ is the Bread of Life…..and in this world people are starving….

….for Him.

Are we ready to stand in our place, that the Bread of Life would be given to His people….wherever they are?

The Lord has chosen us….and ordained us….that we might bring forth fruit…to His honor and glory!

The Lord ordains….by His Spirit….by His grace (the unmerited favor of power)….by His guidance….

….giving us all we need….when we need it.

Are we in our place?