This is the Way…walk ye in it

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

Have you heard that Word?

Do you know this is the Way? Then….”walk ye in it”.

Walking in the Christian Way is the real work. It is the going along, taking each step as it comes with the Lord….continually, without growing weary or faint in the steps.

Not becoming impatient, or sleepy…..but just continuing to walk along with the Lord….in His Way.

To walk sets forth the fact of everyday living. The tasks and duties of today, and tomorrow.

We often think of special occasions….of doing some great work for the Lord….when our reality before Him, is in our everyday living to His honor….in our words and in our deeds.

2 Corinthians 4:7 “But we have this Treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”

There is in our everyday paths, the means of the fulfillment of the Way.

If we are born again, we do not need to seek special arrangements, but we just have to be found faithful in what we have at hand….(His Word, the Bible…..and prayer….gathering together….or faithful ministers giving out His Word…)

1 Corinthians 4:2 “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

To be faithful, we need to take stock of our supplies:

Are you ready to give a word in due season to those in need?

Do you know God’s Word?

1 Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear (reverence to God).”

There are many who hunger for reality….for the knowledge that there is indeed God, and that He is Lord.

Do they pass from us still hungry?

Acts 16:30-32 “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

And they spake unto him the Word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.”

Are we showing them that He is our Lord?

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

There are others, shaking their fists in the face of God,…..but cross our paths.

(Can anyone win an argument with God? For God always has the last Word.)

2 Timothy 2:24-26 “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient;

In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”

Philippians 2:15 “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”

(I have found that people may find away around what we say,…..but they can never get away from what God says, through us)

How many people do we meet with…..who God is dealing with….even though we may not know it?

If we wait for great days…..amazing works….or special times…..

…..we may wait….and they may never come.

The twelve disciples followed Jesus for three years. There were miracles, and healings, and many came to hear….to follow for a while…and go away…

….yet the real value of those three years……

…..where most of the twelve were concerned,…

….was their personal, growing affection and devotion to Jesus Christ, and His Word to them…..

…..that Word they were able to preach about the Lord Jesus, after receiving the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.

John 6:68-69 “Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go?

Thou hast the words of eternal life.

And we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.”

What of us? Are we following after the Lord,….and is our affection and devotion to Him and His Word growing?

Are we hearing His Word to us…..and able to give it to someone else?

Well, all we have to do is “walk” in His Way….and He has promised that we will hear His Word to us.

Jesus and the Children.

Matthew 18:12-14 “How think ye? If a man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which has gone astray?

And if so be that He find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoicieth more of that sheep, then of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.”

Jesus thinks children are very important. The training and guiding them to come to Him, is vital.

Jesus would have them all come to Him and be saved.

“..it is not the will of your Father in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.”

And in order for that to happen, He will go out and search for them.

In Mark it says:

Mark 10:13-14 “And they brought young children to Him, that He should touch them; and His disciples rebuked those that brought them.

But when Jesus saw it, He was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God.”

He was displeased that the disciples wanted to keep the children away. He took them up in His arms and blessed them.

Children who are brought up to love the Lord, and know His love for them personally,……may stray far, when they grow older. (My son was one of these.)

But they will be brought back, for He is always their Shepherd.

Matthew 18:12-13 “How think ye? If a man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.”

And why does He rejoice so, over that one?

Because, they are always in His plans and purposes.

Matthew 18:10-11 “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven.

For the Son of man came to save that which was lost.”

The children are especially mentioned when He comes into Jerusalem. He is praised by the multitude; but they fade away.

But the children come into the Temple with the blind and the lame, after Jesus drives out the moneychangers. And they keep on praising Him.

When they are complained about, Jesus says God has ordained them for praise.

Matthew 21:15-16 “And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,

And said unto Him, Hearest Thou what these say? And Jesus said unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise?”

Psalm 8:2 “Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast Thou ordained strength because of Thine enemies, that Thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.”

After Christ arose, and Peter is forgiven his denials of Jesus, and given his ministry for the rest of his life; he was told first:

John 21:15 “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jona, lovest thou Me more than these? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord; Thou knowest that I love Thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.”

Sometimes I feel that we are like the Israelites in Egypt under the Pharaoh which killed so many children. (Exodus 1:22)

Our Adversary, the devil, is seeking to limit the influence of Christ Jesus,……… to destroy our children.

Pharaoh drowned them in the Nile, and how many children are being “drowned” in things of this world: the internet, peer pressure, violence……

….there are many others,……but all are choking the knowledge of true life in Christ, out of our children.

It does not matter whether they are rich or poor, the answer is as Jesus said, “Bring them unto me.”

(Many say that a whole generation is already gone: Maybe so, and maybe not. But, and let us all pray for those we know, the Shepherd is going out now to rescue these lost ones.)

Proverbs 2:1-2, 9 “My son, if thou wilt receive My words, and hide My commandments with thee;

So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thy heart to understand;

Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgement, and equity; yea, every good path.”

That is what we want for our children, the “good path”, wherein is righteousness and peace.

Matthew 18:12-13 “…If a man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

And if it so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.”

The Lord Jesus loves our children,…..let us love them also,…..with our prayers for their salvation,….and our witness of all the good God has done for us.

Prayer

Prayer is talking to God.

(I have used this definition for many years…because so many felt intimidated to pray.

But as the years have gone by, I fear it is too simplistic….

…and now would want to stress:

prayer is talking to God….with the attitude of coming before His throne of grace.

I add this, for many think of talking to the sky…or to trees…when God is God over all, Almighty….and the heart must bow before Him..even when we can not bow our knees.

Coming before Him…in prayer is an act of faith…for we reach out to Him….and grab ahold on His Almightiness for us or for others.)

But there are kinds of prayer….

There is confession of our sin and iniquity, seeking cleansing from it.

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Our sins were forgiven, once for all….when we were born again….but the Lord requires us to confess our daily sins before Him, that we might see them….and that the fellowship with Him will not be hindered.

We are also asking that they be cleansed. This cleansing is a cleansing of our affections and thoughts, that we will not sin this way again.

We all know about “making our requests known unto God”

Philippians 4:6 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

Here we come before God and tell Him our needs….both spiritual and physical.

Then there are intercessory prayers….which include praying for others, and the circumstances of others….. at a particular time.

1 Timothy 2:1, 3-4 “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercession, and giving of thanks be made for all men;

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior;

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

We entreat God, for the person, and the situation…..through prayer.

Then there is supplication..

Here we pray and continue to pray until the answer or promise is given,…for the Lord has given us a “burden” (and His burdens are light)…to continue in prayer for this person or thing. (Isaiah 62:6)

It usually includes diligent time….as Paul asking for prayers for his work. In other words….continue to pray for me….

“…..for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel….for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” (Eph.6:19-20).

Paul was in prison….yet did not feel the work was done….but endeavored to speak the gospel….everywhere he could: in letters to churches, in witnessing to guards and even before Caesar….

….and he sought prayers for the words and courage to speak.

There should always be thanksgiving in our prayers for the mercies He has given us.

Psalm 34:1 “I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

Hebrews 13:15 “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.

Then there is worship….when our heart is drawn out to God, as we think on Who He is and What He has done….the greatness and wonder of His Person….and we adore HIm.

Psalm 118:14-16 “The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation

The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.

The right hand of the Lord is exalted: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.”

Ephesians 3:20-21”Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

“Unto Him”….Christ Jesus. His life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection laid the foundation of all His conquests now. He has supreme power and dominion.

He is King upon HIs throne…and Priest for us.

He was given “all power” (Matthew 28:18) and is now bringing all things to pass according to His Purpose…”upholding all things by the word of HIs power” (Hebrews 1:3)

Our prayers are sent up to God as the incense ministered at the golden altar in the Holy Place.

The incense was to be placed and burnt up, sending up clouds of perfume in the Holy Place….right outside the veil to the Holy of Holies (this veil was rent when Christ died). Though at that time they could not see the Mercy seat….yet they were to look toward it.

The incense symbolized the prayers of Israel….going up to God in sweet perfume….for they were to be praying at the time the incense was offered.

Exodus 30:1, 6-8, 34-35 “And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon…

And thou shalt put it before the vail that is by the Ark of the testimony,…

And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning:….

….at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the Lord…

And the Lord said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall be a like weight:

And thou shalt make it a perfume…tempered together, pure and holy.”

The incense itself was made up of a compound of spices and …so like our prayers ….

…made up of many parts: cries for direction, supplication for family and friends, interceding for the needs of others, praise for His gracious answers and help, and worship of Him.

So like the golden altar of incense in the Old Testament…. there are these verses in the New Testament.

Jude 20-21 “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

We pray, because we need to talk to our Lord and Savior….we need HIs fellowship and mercy.

We pray, because we know The Lord’s character and that He will hear and answer.

We pray in complete dependence upon Him….because He is the Only One who can deliver us, and hold us up.

We pray because He is the answer we need. He does not just have the answer….but He is the answer.

HIs love sustains us….His peace stabilizes us….His joy strengthens us….He is what we need.

Prayer is talking with God….and as Christians we come in Jesus name and merit.

We come to God, who says our prayers are a sweet incense to Him. When we pray….Christ our Mediator in heaven, intercedes for us….by His preciousness…by HIs merit….by His Word….our prayers are accepted and heard.

God’s Substitution

1 Corinthians 5:21 “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

The substitution taught in the New Testament is two-fold.

He has made Christ Jesus to be sin for us, though He knew no sin.

He was holy in His divine Person; and He was holy and perfect in His humanity as the Man Christ Jesus.

But when He became the Lamb of God, the perfect sacrifice, on the cross; He took all the sin of His people onto Himself.

And because of His Holy Person, He paid the penalty for that sin.

It was completely wiped out.

Because of this, He was raised again and set at the right hand of the Father, with the new administration of all power.

As our Mediator. (1 Timothy 2:5)

“That”, here is the reason Christ Jesus did this:

“That we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

Notice, it is “made” in both substitutions.

God “made”. It means “to establish, or make strong”.

He strengthened Christ to finish the work, by the blessed Holy Spirit, which He poured upon Him, without measure.

He strengthens us to do righteousness by the same Holy Spirit, which He gives us according to the measure we are emptied of self.

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.”

We find our Christ-life, as we lose our self-life, by denying ourselves.

We are filled with the Holy Spirit to the degree we are emptied of self.

And as we deny ourselves, pick up the cross of His will, willingly (for it is “if any man will”), then we are emptied of our self-life, and given more power by His Spirit.

The substitution in us is: Christ is formed in me. We are “made” into His character here. (We are not divine; never.)

But we can do righteousness, as representatives of our Lord, by His character formed in us.

HIs goodness, gentleness, forgiveness, peace, and love.

But, as He showed me (about me); I need to get out of the way, by denying myself.

So the Holy Spirit can work through me:

In words….

Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer everyone.”

In actions…

Colossians 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.”

Colossians 3:23 “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”

In attitude….

Colossians 3:1-2 “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also ye are called in one body; and be thankful.”

The substitution taught in the New Testament is two-fold: Christ became sin for me,

That…I may be made the righteousness of God in Christ.

Spiritual Awakening

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

A spiritual kingdom lies all around us….all within reach of our inner spiritual life…waiting for us to recognize it….to come into our place in it, with the faith and grace….He has for us there.

God, Himself, is here; waiting our response to His presence.

Will we will to will with Him? For God’s Will for His Creation is what this is all about.

I want to mention here that truth does not depend upon our believing it. Christ’s Spiritual Kingdom is very real….and what is real, does not depend upon people’s acceptance of it,….for it to be true.

Christ is above all principality and power. (Eph. 1:20-21).

Christ is highly exalted,(Phil.2:9)…He has been given honor above all.

To His name every knee shall bow (Phil 2:10)…and then their tongues confess that He is Lord.

His kingdom, now, is a spiritual one….as He said to the Pharisees, when they demanded when the kingdom shall come…

….He said, Do not look here or there…”for behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”(Luke 17:21)

But as we begin to focus upon God….the things of the Holy Spirit will take shape before our eyes of faith.

Obedience to the Word of Christ will bring our God close to us.

John 14:21, 23 “He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will make our abode with him.”

To recognize that we are in dwelt by Almighty God will give us new perception…and we shall begin to “taste” and “hear” and inwardly feel God with us….Who is our life and our all.

This is to have a true Spiritual Awakening….for it is to be awakened to God’s demands on the creature before the Creator.

It is to find our place in His purpose….to place us back into God’s original plan….as God first commanded us:

“…to be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth and subdue it.” (Genesis 1:28)

The Lord certainly requires fruit from us….personally, and in our church and place in the world.

“And subdue it”…I must first be subdued. Here is where the authority and power (grace) is proved….first in me.

And this is: Thy kingdom come. Thy Will be done in earth as it is in heaven.

In me….the whole of my life.

It is not just the things I do….but me.

I must become His Will….a walking, talking, little-Christ (Christian).

As the prophet Joel said of the last days:

Joel 2:30 “And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.”

Pillars of smoke are those Christians who have been defeated by Christ….through the fires of our everyday lives, we have denied ourselves and taken up our cross and followed our Lord….

…..seeing the dross or admixture in our lives…burnt out of our lives, until we become a pillar of smoke.

Weak in ourselves….but empowered and strong in Him.

And subdue it….it is our own “earth” we are to subdue. That particular portion we occupy.

Where we have our everyday existence….our home with family….our church….our job…our friends….and acquaintances.

We are to be God’s Will there….being an influence of the Holy Spirit in these set of circumstances.

What is My Father’s Will concerning this? Where I am concerned, what would He have me to do?

Paul, after many experiences and trials….says:

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)

But he does not say this as a general statement….but in the context of:

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

I know both how to be abased (humiliated), and I know how to abound (to have excess), everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” (Philippians 4:11-12)

How much we need our Lord when we are humiliated by the world or circumstances!

But so much the same when we are in excess…lest we get carried away with the gift and not God, the Giver.

Yet Paul learned….that when he was weak….then he was strong in Christ. (2 Cor. 12:10)….and he learned to glory in his utter dependence on the Lord….”that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Cor.12:9)

So can we. Will we be Awakened to Christ’s claims upon us? And become His Will.

We all can have it….for Jesus is worthy of our all.

The Ark of God.

There are three Arks in scripture:

First:

Genesis 7:1 “And the Lord said unto Noah, come thou and all thy house into the Ark; for thee have I seen righteous before Me in this generation.”

Noah’ Ark proclaimed salvation from the wrath to come, upon the whole world, because of the wickedness and violence of man.

Genesis 6:5, 11 “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

The earth also was corrupt before God; and the earth was filled with violence.”

“Imagination” here means desires and plans….they were always planning some new way of hurting others, gaining from someone else, or destroying something.

Even the earth was becoming spoiled, and wasted.

[God had set a way to meet with Him, in sacrifice as Abel had (Genesis 4:4), but they had refused it.

God had warned Enoch, and he had been a preacher to his generation (Jude 14-15).

And when Enoch was translated…for he “walked with God, and was not, for God took him” (Genesis 5:24)….they knew what had happened…..but still resisted the Holy Spirit.]

Genesis 6:3 “And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man,…”

Later, God called Noah to build an Ark…(he had found grace in the eyes of the Lord Genesis 6:8)….

[It is interesting to note: he “found grace”….had he considered to follow the world, yet was convicted of the Holy Spirit, and found grace?]

Noah built and preached for one hundred years to the mockers, and people who came to watch. (2 Peter 2:5, Hebrews 11:7)

He preached as he brought the animals….a miracle before the people, as well….yet they refused God’s Word.

The Ark was given as a beacon: a revelation to man that God was not mocked (Galatians 6:7-8)……

And a light…..He set a way of salvation, in the Ark, to the world from this destruction…..if they would turn, hear, and believe it.

The Ark saved all who entered into it…through rain, flood, and decay; yet all inside were safe…till they came out into a new, clean earth, one year, and two months later…(Genesis 8:13-17).

So our Great Ark, Jesus Christ is preached to a lost and dying world…Come and enter into life….in Him.

Acts 4:12 “Neither is their salvation in any other: for there is none other Name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Second:

Exodus 2:3 “And when she could no longer hide him (Moses), she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s (Nile’s) bank.”

Moses’ ark of bulrushes…. to save one soul, from the most powerful man in the known world.

We need to first remember, that at that time, Pharaoh had planned to kill all the male Hebrew children, because the Israelites were multiplying…and he was afraid of an uprising.

They were often killed, by throwing them into the Nile.

Exodus 1:22 “And Pharoah charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.”

So his mother made a ark of bulrushes, and sent him into the same river that the children had been drowned…hoping no one would hear his crying…and set his sister to watch out for him.

We know the rest: the daughter of Pharaoh saw the ark, and when she opened it….God moved her heart to have compassion on a child her father would have killed. (Exodus 2:5-6)

Moses was to grow up, and was called to be the leader of God’s People to deliver them from Pharaoh, and Egypt’s slavery, by obedience to God.

To lead them to the land promised Abraham and his children. (Hebrews 11:23-29)

[We, too, are like babes in this world of cruelty and anger, but kept safe in the arms of Jesus]

This Ark saved a single soul, and was a hiding place in the storm of fear, and death.

So Christ Jesus came to save all who would shelter in Him…”whosoever will” (John 3:16)

Romans 8:38-39 “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come.

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

1 Corinthians 15:55, 57 “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Third:

The Ark of the Covenant, which was to lead His people, and be the gathering place for the worship of God.

Exodus 25:10-11, 17-18, 21 “And they shall make an Ark of shittim wood:….

And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shall thou over lay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about.

And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold:….And thou shalt make two cherubim of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.

And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the Ark; and in the Ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.”

It was the presence of God in the midst of His people. (The Tabernacle was actually set up in the middle of the camp…with three tribes on each side.)

Exodus 25:22 “And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the Ark of the testimony,…”

The Ark of the testimony was wood…a picture of Christ’s humanity; and overlaid within and without with gold….a picture of Christ’s Divinity, within and without…even when He was the Son of Man, He was the Son of God.

The mercy seat was all gold. It was the lid of the Ark.

It had two cherubim on it. One on each side, looking down to the center. Their wings covering them.

The center of the mercy seat was the place where all looked to pray….and where the blood of the atonement was poured out.

Leviticus 16:14, 30 “And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.

For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the Lord.”

In the Ark, was the two tables of stone on which the Law had been inscribed, sheltered under the blood.

The Ark lead them from Sinai, to the Promised land:

Numbers 10:35-36 “And it came to pass, when the Ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, Lord, and let Thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate Thee flee before Thee.

And when it rested, he said, Return, O Lord, unto the many thousands of Israel.”

The Ark lead them through Jordon, and around Jericho to victory. (Joshua 3:11, Joshua 6:11)

And came to rest in Canaan, first in Shiloh; and then in Jerusalem, under king David, where all were to gather for worship at least seven times a year (the feast days).

All are a picture of Christ, and His work as Lord and Savior:

First, as a Light to the world……for all who will come and believe:

Acts 17:30-31 “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent:

Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.”

Christ is presented as the Savior from sin…..if they will come to Him.

Second, as a Personal Lord and Savior:

Romans 5:8, 11 “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom we have now received the atonement”

Third, as our Center and Guide:

He leads us through “rivers, battles, and gives us rest”:

Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye.”

Isaiah 43:2 “When thou passes through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”

The Arks of the Old Testament showed what the Lord would do for all who came to Him, and put their trust in Him.

Isaiah 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.”

Are you sheltered in Christ Jesus? Are you following His guidance?

Guidance

James 3:3 “Behold, we put bits in the horses mouth, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.”

There are two ways to break a horse. Gently, over time, getting the horse to accept you, and your weight on him; till the horse and you become partners.

He is mastered, but by love.

Or severely, which makes the horse accept you and your weight—now, by wearing down it’s resistance.

He is mastered, but by force of circumstances.

How would you like to receive your guidance from the Lord?

We can be brought to the place that we are directed by the force of circumstances; which is like the bit and bridle.

We must do, because we have no choice in the matter.

But this is not what the Lord Jesus Christ would have for us.

Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way that thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye.”

This is gentle guidance. Remember one look from the Lord sent Peter out weeping.

The Lord would have us, all look to Him for our guidance, if we would just see Him as He is. The Creator, and Sustainer of the Universe is our Lord and Savior.

He loves us, and wants us to enter into—with Him—all the joys of service to Him.

For in Him is glorious liberty of spirit!

True freedom is freedom from the power of our sin, and self.

The bondage of…..I have to do this (which can be any addiction),

…..and the bondage of…..I want to do this (how many “things” we want: no contentment, just want).

We can be free from these, by the liberty of the Holy Spirit’s control.

The closer to God we get, the more freedom we have.

I will instruct and teach you, in the way that you shall go.

What this means, is that He will go with you in each step, showing you what to do, and helping you do it.

So often, we refuse the gentle way, for one reason or another.

We fight with Him,……even though we want what He is leading us into.

I have found that no one likes to be told what to do….and obedience is the first lesson we must learn….obedience, without knowing the way….but knowing Christ;

Obedience, without our “two cents” being added….just bowing to His Way.

We need to understand that the Lord must lead us(or we will surely go the wrong way). But how will He lead us?

Psalm 32:9 “Be not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee (or trample thee).”

The “something” which hinders, is our unbroken will. Like the horse, or mule; we must be broken or mastered, to be usable.

It is the method of the breaking which is spoken of here.

He wants us to yield to Him, which is what we do when we “look to Him”….

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

For the look of faith and trust, in Christ Jesus our Lord, is yielding.

If we are looking to Him, we are looking away from other things. Choosing Him.

And when we look?

Ephesians 1:18 “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.

And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power,”

We need to know….

….and we need this mighty power in our everyday walk; instructing us and teaching us in the way we must go.

I want that gentle instruction of His eye.

How do you want to be guided?

Spiders, and their Webs

God has three verses which talk about spiders. I believe they are a good illustration of us, as sinners;…..unsaved sinners,….as well as saved sinners.

Spiders spin their webs from inside of themselves. Building a “home” from what comes out of them.

It is connected to things around them. Some large and elaborate; others small and inconspicuous,….till you tear it down.

Then they are sticky, and cling to everything.

Job 8:13-15 “So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrites hope shall perish:

Whose hope is cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider’s web.

He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.”

The “hope” of a spider is it’s web. It builds it to feed itself by the things it catches in it. It nests there wrapping in it’s own web to anchor it in wind and storm.

But it comes from inside itself; and although an amazing creation, it will not endure.

So is every person born. We fashion a life, without God; from within ourselves.

What we imagine, we believe.

What we want, we build to catch.

And we surround ourselves with a protection, which holds for awhile; but does not endure the trials of life.

Our minds become unproductive;…..our affections run wild;…..and our wills become hardened.

Isaiah 59:4-6 “None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for the truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.

They….weave the spider’s web:….

Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands.”

God has promised that like the spider and it’s web, the works of all who trust in that which they build themselves, without Him, will not cover them.

The nakedness of the soul of man; can only be covered with the righteousness of Christ.

Nothing else will do.

All else,…….is as the spider’s web;….blown away, or swept away by cleansing storms, or the bristles of a broom. Easily torn down, and stepped on.

So what can we “spiders” do, to have a permanent “home” with God?

Proverbs 30:28 “The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings palaces.”

(Some use this verse for the hypocrite. Certainly there are many hypocrites in the church. People pretending to love God, but weaving a garment of their own making, for show.

But it also lends itself [and Bunyan used it the second Pilgrim’s Progress] to the “spider”, who takes hold of Christ Jesus; and because of it, is in the Palace of the Great King.)

The first thing required of all men, is repentance:

Acts 17:24,27-31 “God that made the world and all the things therein, seeing as He is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from everyone of us:

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent:

Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.”

To repent: to change our minds, affections, and wills about Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives, and receive Him.

John 1:12 “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.”

To turn to Christ, and away from the world, and self.

To repent: to turn from trusting ourselves, or the things within ourselves,……..and to turn to the Lord Jesus Christ.

To repent of the desire to “catch” for ourselves a life, other than His Will, (how independent we are from God)……instead of choosing His guidance.

So, what shall we do?

Keep weaving “webs” from ourselves, and having them knocked out from under us?

Or “take hold” of Christ Jesus by repentance and faith in Him….to have what He has purposed for us? In this life, and the one to come.

Priscilla and Aquila

Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding.”

Proverbs 31:30 “Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.”

Priscilla and Aquila were husband and wife;…..and partners in their tent making, and their spiritual work. (They are always mentioned together)

It does not say that they were converted by Paul, so they might have been born again before meeting him.

Whether that is so, or they became believers in Christ Jesus after meeting Paul, they became a strong, spiritual ally in the work Paul did; and in the early church.

Paul met Priscilla and Aquila in his second missionary journey, (they were tent makers like Paul.)

Yet they had a helpful impact on him throughout his ministry….he speaks of them in his last letter to Timothy (2 Timothy 4:19). They stayed true to the simple gospel of Christ, and to the believing workers which they met.

Acts 18:1-3 “After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;

And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla, (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome) and came unto them.

And because he (Paul) was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.”

Paul spent one year and six months in Corinth….”teaching the Word of God among them.”

All this time he also worked, looking after his needs and the needs of those workers with him, by tent making.

His preaching was successful, though there was opposition, for the Lord told him: “Be not afraid,….hold not thy peace: for I am with thee,….for I have much people in this city.”

It was not a likely place for the gospel to come; for it was a great city, having hundreds of thousands of people living there. They were notorious for sin….some using as a slang for wonton behavior, elsewhere,……they were “Corinthians”.

Paul went into the synagogue first, to listen…then when the opportunity was given, he preached about the scriptures in the Old Testament about Christ….then finally he preached that Jesus was Christ. (Acts 18:5)

That the One: Jesus Christ, that was crucified at Jerusalem, had been raised from the dead, and was even now at the right hand of God.

And all that would believe on Him, would be saved….fulfilling all the promises that were given their fathers.

When the synagogue rulers cried out against the message….he went to the gentiles….and preached there for a year and a half.

When he left and came to Ephesus; Priscilla and Aquila went with him. He did not at this time stay for long…..though he preached in the synagogue there….but left Priscilla and Aquila to encourage those that believed.

In Ephesus, a man named Apollos came. He had been baptized by John the Baptist and believed that the Jews were to repent and prepare for the Messiah. He was eloquent in the Old Testament scriptures and preached diligently the things John had said about the Lord.

When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and showed him all the things of Jesus Christ; and the Way that Jesus’ death and resurrection, had opened up salvation for all who would believe on Him, by faith.

Instantly he believed, and became a powerful preacher, not just in Ephesus, but in Corinth. (1 Corinthians 1:11-12)

Paul came on his third missionary journey back to Ephesus, and stayed two years:

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

Paul mentions Priscilla and Aquila, and the church at their house in Ephesus, when he writes 1 Corinthians 16:19.

Priscilla and Aquila returned to Rome, after that, and began a church in their house:

Romans 16:3-5a “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my helpers in Jesus Christ:

Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

Likewise greet the church that is in their house….”

When Paul wrote the Roman church, he includes a special tribute to these two helpers, he knew there. He knew that they would read his letter to the church in their house, and pass it on to others in Rome.

Paul tells that they risked their lives for him….willingly laying aside their safety, putting “their own necks” in danger. (Quite a descriptive phrase, since in the end Paul was beheaded in Rome)

And in the end of Paul’s life, (he was arrested, sent to Rome,….released, and arrested again,….then executed)….he wrote to Timothy that if he could, Timothy should come and bring a cloak (how cold it must have been in prison); and some parchments.

He asks that Timothy salute Priscilla and Aquila, which it seems, had returned to Ephesus in Asia…..and had a church in their house there.

(Perhaps they were sent by Paul, because the churches in Asia were turning away from his instructions….he had warned Ephesus:

Acts 20:29-30 “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”)

They were not in Rome when Paul went before Cesear the second time.

They and another Christian, had remained loyal to the simple gospel Paul preached, when others had begun to assert their own authority, and added philosophy to the gospel….corrupting it. (2 Timothy 1:15)

As Christians, we need to know the gospel of Jesus Christ:

The Son of God came in the flesh,

born of a virgin,

lived a perfect life,

died a sacrifice to God for the sins of the world,

was raised again the third day by the power of God,

and sits at the right hand of God the Father in power, as our Mediator for all who believe on Him, by faith.

We should be able to tell it to others;…..and encourage other believers in the Word.

Priscilla and Aquila were just two people who worked and lived in the time of the early church….but they became a force for God’s Will, and Paul’s encouragement….always having a church in their house….always giving the gospel of Christ Jesus to all who would hear.

Would you be a Follower of Jesus?

Matthew 16:24. “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.”

This is for born again ones, for they have received the Holy Spirit, and His grace.

If any man will come after Me. What does it mean to come after Jesus?

First, it means that you get up from where you are in your life and leave it. To come after means leaving; But not in the physical sense.

It is a “leaving” of the past attitudes, past sins, and past pursuits to come after Him.

2 Corinthians 6:17 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, “

Second, it means you follow Christ, by being obedient to His commands on your life.

John 14:23 “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”

Third, it means to suffer for, and because of Christ. Every follower of Christ will, sooner or later, come to the place where they must choose the world or Christ, and if you choose Christ; the world will make you “suffer” in some respect.

Fourth, it means to stand with those for whom Christ died: other Christians.

John 13:35 “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

Matthew 16:24 “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.”

You deny yourself and take up your cross and follow Him. You need to “bear” your cross, to the place in your experience that you no longer resist His will in anything.

Your cross is anything God has required, which cuts across your will. There you need to say “no” to your will; and do God’s Will for your life. This is to bear your cross.

This is a very personal thing, between you and your Lord; for He says, “if any man will”. It is not any Church, any group, any family, even; but any man.

The personal aspect is important. The necessity of it dates back to our beginnings:

We were not consulted in our creation: Where we were born, in what family, or when we were born, and the person we were born as.

We just were,…..and that was that.

As Christians, we are to come to the place in our experience that we don’t just acknowledge God’s Creative Right, but we submit to it.

We will be the creature before the Creator.

Letting His choice for us, be our best.

For some of us, we must acknowledge, we have been having a fit with God about ourselves, in some realm, since we knew God.

Maybe it was our family: Why put me with these people?

Maybe it was our abilities: Couldn’t you at least make me great in something?

Maybe it was our looks: My nose is too big; my eyes not blue enough; You could have made me prettier than “them”.

Whatever it is; we are not satisfied with our circumstances, or (often) ourselves.

So, here is a good place to follow Jesus:

Matthew 11:25-26 “At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight.”

Jesus came to do the Father’s Will, and never tried to do otherwise; even to His shame and death.

Jesus said He came to give life, and to give it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

If you are a Christian, He offers this abundant life within the life He gave you in your beginning;……and in what He gives you now as His servant.

In this abundant life there is joy of spirit, peace of heart, courage in peril, love of others, and a personal relationship with the One Who loved and saved you. (More personal than any other relationship you will ever have: for He knows everything about you,…..and loves you.)

Would you be a follower of Jesus?

Then come after Him, by denying yourself, picking up your cross and following Jesus into your abundant life.

Not without troubles,……but always with His presence and power by the Holy Spirit to help.