The Lame man at the gate Beautiful

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

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

Who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked an alms.”

This is days after the giving of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost,….

Peter and John were going up to the temple to pray (remember the church met in the porches of the temple as well as in their houses, for prayer and preaching in the early days)

As they are about to go in, a lame man asks alms.

Now this man, though an Israelite…one under the covenant……had never entered the temple….for from the day he was born, he was lame.

So he begged from those who could.

He was just outside…always just outside….but never having gone in, to come near to God,….or worship

Acts 3:4-7 “And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

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

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

This miracle is done in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth…

(Philippians 2:9-11 “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”)

Then Peter took him by the right hand, and lifted him up….

….notice the confidence of Peter in the name of Jesus.

He does not wait for the man to obey….but reached down and grabbed him….lifting him.

When he is lifted—then his ankles and feet receive strength…..

…….it is when strength was required by standing, that strength was given to stand.

(How much the same way we should be:

We should lift each other up in prayer in Jesus Name.

We should lift up each other in words of encouragement, edification, and exhortation.

How many people’s “walk” would become stronger….being helped from a crippling sin, habit, or resentment….by our faith in Jesus Name, and lifting them up in our prayers.)

And then joy…..and abundant strength is given:

Acts 3:8 “And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.”

This lame man,….lame from birth…..entered…for the first time into the temple to praise God.

Acts 3:11 “ And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s , greatly wondering.”

This man was so joyful….so grateful….so praiseful….

….he held Peter and John…..and would not let them go!

This was quite the sight! Joyful praise from a man, who all knew to be lame….yet he was leaping now….and walking.

Peter takes this opportunity to preach to those gathered:

First, he tells them that it was not their own power or holiness that caused this man to walk…..

Then he tells them that God…..the God of their fathers has glorified His Son Jesus….

….who they crucified….

Acts 3:14-16 “But ye denied the Holy One and the Just,….and killed the Prince of life whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

And His name, through faith in His name, hath made this man strong,….”

This miracle is done in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. This is the name of the Lord when he was here, going about Israel, preaching and doing good.

This is important…..for this is the name they knew Him by…..this is the name used when they cried for Him to be crucified….

And now in this Name,…..this miracle was performed…..proving that He is not dead…..but risen, as promised…..and that He is approved of God.

Acts 3:18-19 “But those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all His prophets, that Christ should suffer, He hath so fulfilled.

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,…”

There is such a scene that the temple guards are called….by the Sadducees.

(The Sadducees did not believe in resurrection. They believed in being religious so God would bless them…in the now. )

They arrested Peter, John, and the lame man! (Perhaps thinking a night in “the hold” would dampen their testimony….and cool their devotion.)

Yet many which heard Peter’s message….seeing the proof of Jesus Name….believed.

The next morning, the council brought them out, before them…..

….and asked a question,…

Acts 4:7 “….By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?”

(We say that God is in control…..and look at this question! Amazing! They asked them exactly what Peter needed to show the authority and power of Jesus’ Name….now…before this council!)

Acts 4:8 “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them,….”

(Jesus said, “And when they bring you unto….magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:

For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.”

So Peter, given power by the Holy Ghost, spoke boldly)

“…….Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;

Be it known unto you all,….that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whole ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole.

This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

What an amazing scriptural message….laying out in no uncertain terms….Jesus Christ was the Messiah…

…..they crucified Him,…even though they were given the ministry of “building” God’s nation by God’s law….

…..yet that Name is still calling all who will believe….even them….for there is no other name under heaven whereby they…..”they” could be saved.

Acts 4:13-14 “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.”

(When the Holy Spirit speaks through us….there is power, and authority in the words we speak.

He brings back scripture to mind, and can plant that seed in those that hear.)

Because the council could not say anything against the miracle….the man standing right there….

…..they threatened Peter and John…..and commanded them not to speak in Jesus name anymore.

But Peter and John are fixed in their determination to serve the Lord….

Acts 4:19-20 “But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.

For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

….and they speak to the conscience of the council right then, if they will hear it—it is right to serve God more than man.

“God is doing this, listen carefully….for we will not stop speaking about what we have seen….though you threaten us…

…we will speak about….

….Jesus crucified…..and raised up….speaking to us, before He went back up to heaven….and the giving of the Holy Spirit…”

The council threatens them again….but lets them go.

And they (I believe all three, including the lame man) immediately go to the gathered church….where they told of all that had happened:

This is a warning of maybe future persecution….and the means of going through it….by the direction and power of the Holy Spirit.

And it showed the love the church had for each other….for they “lifted up their voice with one accord,…” (Acts 4:24)

Their prayer was praise: “…Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven and earth…”

And their prayer was claiming the prophesy of the rulers of the earth standing up against Jesus Christ (Psalm 2 which includes in the last days of the Tribulation Period)…and that it was and will be…..all according to God’s plan.

“And now, Lord,….”

Acts 4:29-30 “And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak Thy word,

And stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of Thy holy child Jesus.”

Boldness is what they wanted….(not necessarily protection from their enemies….but boldness to honor Jesus. What love!)…

….and God’s healing….for the nation of Israel, if according to His Will….and to the individual, in salvation…

…and that in Jesus’ Name….signs and wonders would be done….to magnify His name.

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

The place was shaken….a sign of His Might for them:

Haggai 2:6-7 “For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;

And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come; and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts.”

God had “shaken” the earth at the coming of Christ….everything changed….for God’s people, Israel, were given the opportunity to receive their King….

….and now again, at the giving of the Holy Spirit, and the power manifested through Christ’s Name….

…..He is going to shake things up….for all the earth…

….for all people can receive His kingdom within in them….”in earth” (Matthew 6:10)….by faith in Christ Jesus.

And He will shake it again,….at the second coming of Christ to the earth to establish His Kingdom….on earth.

The lame man, is lame no more….and more, has faith Jesus…..and is filled with the Spirit with the rest of the church gathered.

He is healed….spiritually and physically…..and praising God…..

….and led into a life of power and prayer.

Habakkuk 2:20 “But the Lord is in His holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before Him.”

There was a time when we read this before each service in our church. A time to bow our heads and consider that we were gathered together to worship God.

It is a good practice to do the same thing, sometime during the day….to bow the head,….and consider the Almighty God.

We often think of His attributes: His mercy, grace, His unchanging love, His power….

….but to contemplate God, in His majesty…in the fullness of His splendor….Who created and upholds the universe, and all that is in it…is helpful.

Psalm 104:1-3 “Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God Thou art very great; Thou art clothed with honor and majesty:

Who coverest Thyself with light as with a garment: Who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:

Who layeth the beams of His chambers in the waters: Who maketh the clouds His chariot: Who walketh upon the wings of the wind:”

For me, it keeps me small.

I can get stuck into the middle of many things….and get to think that all I need to do is keep moving.

But God says: be quiet….stop…let the silence of your awe and reverence for Me, still your soul.

And it works.

Psalm 46:10-11 “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

The Lord of Hosts is with us: the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.”

I love these verses….they remind me of when Israel was standing at the Red Sea…with the most powerful army of the day behind them, with vengeance;….

….yet God says, “Stand still, and see…”

So when I have these verses….I think that God knows what is around me….I must stop….watch, and wait on Him to speak….

….to speak about what I need to deal with.

….to speak about a battle ahead (John 16:13)

….to speak about Himself.

“Be still and know that I am God.”

Psalms 93:1-2 “The Lord reigneth, He is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith He hath girded Himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.

Thy throne is established of old: Thou art from everlasting.”

Our God is the Almighty God….full of power, mercy, goodness, strength, wisdom, knowledge,…

Psalms 91:1-2 “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.”

I believe that “secret place” is the quiet times before Him, when we know He is God Almighty, for us.

Habakkuk 2:20 “But the Lord is in His holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before Him.”

One day the whole earth will do so….the whole of mankind will have their mouths stopped,….from excuses, curses, and lies….(Romans 3:19, Matthew 12:36-37)

….but for us Christians, who belong to Him, we can stop and be still, now…..and know His majesty and power…..

….and find our rightful place before Him: at His feet.

Which gives order and perspective to everything else ahead.

A New Thing

Isaiah 43:18-19 “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness; and rivers in the desert.”

Of course these verses first apply to Israel; but the Lord gave these verses to my husband for our work, years ago.

He told him:

Remember not the former things….successes or failures; neither consider the things of old…they are back there in the past—forget them…

And get on with the Lord’s Will for your life now.

It is easy to get “stuck” in the past….thinking about what should have happened; or patting ourselves on the back for something that went right.

But it is spinning our tires, spiritually, when we do…just making a rut for ourselves.

We should commit each day into the Lord’s hand, asking His Will done in it.

Psalm 37:5 “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.”

This “commit” is “Roll thy way, works, thoughts, upon the Lord”

Proverbs 16:3 “Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.”

We should live each day as if it were our most important time. The past we can do nothing about.

The future we do not have.

But we can live for Him, today.

We should seek His blessing, guidance and His supply for this day.

Psalm 90:12 “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.”

“Number” here means “to weigh out”. Each day has value, as if you were weighing silver. The Lord wants us to see this day, that way.

If we are to truly apply our hearts to wisdom, it will be on a daily basis; with the Lord.

Spiritual wisdom is really practical skill to make pointed decisions.

Jesus had this wisdom, so much so, that people wondered at it. (Matthew 13:54, Mark 6:2). And we should get it from Him

Luke 2:40 “And the child (Jesus) grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.”

James 3:17 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”

(Doesn’t this describe our Lord so well?!)

James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

The Lord will give us the practical skill for this day.

“Behold, I will do a new thing;”. Today is a new day,….and Jesus says,…..Come with Me in it.

“Now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?” I will give the wisdom you need, it will “spring up” by My Holy Spirit within you….and make you to know My Will.

“I will even make a way in the wilderness; and rivers in the desert.”

He will make a way, today, for you…clearly marked with each step you take; and He will supply His Spirit as a river within you,…in whatever desert place you go.

We are in the world, but we are not of it….we are His, and He is ready to work within us in a new way, today.

A new thing…shall ye not know it?

He is asking you: will you know it?

If you will, it will come in constant fellowship, Divine companionship, and His overcoming wisdom in your life, as you yield to Him.

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.