Let Us Go On

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

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

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

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

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

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

He makes claims upon us. He wants us.

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

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

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

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

They need to be drawn to Jesus Christ for themselves.

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

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

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

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

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

They say, in their hearts:

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

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

These imagine that the bargain is struck.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Christ’s life is Eternal Life.

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

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

We receive His nature by the Holy Spirit.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We are called to bring forth fruit.

We are called to walk together with Christ.

We are called to obtain promises.

We are called to witness of Christ.

We are called to know Christ.

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

Not to win salvation: that is in Christ.

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

But to know Christ:

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

This is to “go on to know the Lord”

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

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

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

Mightily Grew the Word and Prevailed

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

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

And how is it, that the Word grew?

Background:

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

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

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

And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Word of God is the instrument of salvation.

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

Now this Word lives and abides.

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

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

The gospel must wound, before it can heal.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And many that believed came and confessed…

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

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

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

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

And the results?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It is in knowing His Will, and doing it.

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

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

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

Every one in their place…

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

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

First, we are to grow in grace…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He does all things well.

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

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

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

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

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

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

….God had a better plan.

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

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

The work itself was to follow their leader:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

….there will be His light shining to others.

….there will be His Word spoken.)

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

….all around the camp of the Midianites….

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

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

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

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

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

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

And take it away.

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

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

….for Him.

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

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

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

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

Are we in our place?

Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord Himself shall give a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”

Matthew 1:21 “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for HE shall save His people from their sins.”

Luke 2:7 “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Luke 2:11-12 “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

I have quoted these verses to remind all of us….that no matter how long it seems we have to wait for God to fulfill a promise…..He will.

God sent HIs Son….on a mission so vital to us….with a message designed to show us our hearts….withdrawn, alone, distressed…

….and draw us to God.

When God sent HIs Son is very important. Israel was barely a nation anymore….they were under Rome….mostly despised….and the people and country trampled under foot of all the soldiers, laws, and trappings of Rome.

Yet God sent His Son to save us…..to manifest His glory and grace to a nation, a people, and a world that had refused His authority for almost two thousand years.

As the song says

“O little town of Bethlehem…how still we see thee lie. Amid thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent hours go by. Yet in thy dark street shineth the Everlasting Light….

….the hopes….and fears….of all the years, are met in thee tonight.”

Christ Jesus was sent…yet He came as a “helpless” babe.

God could have sent HIs Son….full grown and capable of taking care of Himself….but God placed His Son, by the Holy Spirit within a woman….fulfilling the first promise He gave concerning the coming of the Savior.

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

When Christ came He became to us all that was told of Him.

Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called:

Wonderful: How many times have I thought this about my lovely Lord Jesus….about Him…and what He has done for me!

Counselor: His Word comes to us as guidance and encouragement…to come boldly to our Heavenly Father….and to show us the way to go, since He traveled this road, too.

The Mighty God: He has always been in control….for His Word spoke the heavens and the earth into being. And He is in charge now, for me.

The everlasting Father: Christ is one with the Father….and when He was risen, He said, “I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God and your God.” (John 20:17)

And He has made it possible for us to know the love of the Father…”I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved me.” (John 17:23)

The Prince of Peace: Peace is His gift to us….but it also is His element, and way. He is the God of peace….and when He comes to a heart….He gives His peace to “..keep our hearts and minds..” (Philippians 4:7)….as when He stilled the raging sea by, “Peace, be still.”

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

His kingdom now, within us is a kingdom of “righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 14:17)

Isaiah 9:7 “Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”

We started this by reminding all of us of God’s faithfulness in sending Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.

And I will end in reminding all of us of God’s faithfulness to us this past year….even into the coming one.

He will perform…would be enough.

But it says the zeal….the ardor and fervor of the Lord of hosts…will perform it.

Let us praise HIs Name….Jesus, who came to save us from our sins….

….Christ, anointed with fullness by the Holy Spirit and with gladness to do the Father’s Will…to fulfill the Purpose of God for us.

Let us remember and stand with Him in the days, months, and years ahead….and praise Him.

“Glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace good will toward men”

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

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

Now there should come to each of us who truly seek the Lord’s Will for our lives….that transformation of the mind.

Our natural mind should become spiritual. When it starts to, we become aware of our lives as a whole….how we divide them up:

We have our sacred life…..we have our lives with family,…and we have our school and job life,….we have our lives with friends….and we have our lives with strangers—those we do not think we will see again.

But as much as we are called to the joy of the Lord, we must come to the place where one “life” is as the other.

(For the joy of the Lord is the felt Presence of God in my life.)

When we do, then every act of ours, should be an act of worship to Christ.

Colossians 3:17, 23 “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.

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”

Our reactions….those instant looks and words which come out of our mouths….become actions…willed thoughts and obediences.

Our emotions do not have valleys and mountains…..but are continually going after what God feels is important.

A life of service to God is the result….service which is full of joy,…because full of the Presence of God.

I do not want to confuse anyone…..anyone who is born again, has the Holy Spirit with them.

But there is a difference in those born again….there are those giving God time in the morning and at night, or on Sunday and Wednesday service….

….or there are those giving Him my life to live through.

This is God’s Presence….He is there, in charge and giving us the grace needed for all the things we see, and feel.

Romans 12:2 “…but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,…”

To be transformed is to change from one thing into another. We are to transform our thoughts, attitudes, and character by…

…”renewing our mind”.

What is “renew our mind”? My husband used to say, “It is to think saved. I now belong to Jesus Christ, and since He has saved me, I am saved from sin and the world…..for HIs Will and glory. This is to think saved.”

To “think saved”, while in a scene of chaos and death around us…..can only be done really, as God’s grace becomes our daily bread. We hunger for it…we need it….we know we can not make it through today..now…without His grace (the unmerited favor of power)

HIs grace sustains us….daily weaning our hearts from the things of this world…..and faith in exercise, keeps our eyes looking toward the Lord, in fellowship and union with Him.

Romans 12:3 “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

We are lifted above the things which are seen and we are occupied with “that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

This is to be renewed in mind….which will transform our natural lives into spiritual lives….lived for the glory and will of God.

When the fullness of the time was come…

Galatians 4:4 “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law,”

The whole work of creation is for one purpose….to manifest the Son….to bring about the fulfillment of the Everlasting Covenant.

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

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

(It is interesting that this Covenant is so explicitly set forth here in Hebrews….certainly the writer is writing the Church in Jerusalem….showing that the sacrifice of Christ was and is the means for the perfecting of the believers….both Jew and Gentile.)

1 Timothy 2:5-6 There is One God, and One Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus;

Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”

When the Godhead first decided to Create….They saw by their Omniscience, the rebellion of Lucifer, who became Satan, fighting against all things of God.

They saw the fall of man, and all the evil that man opens his heart to.

They saw the necessity for the flood….giving grace to Noah and saving him in the Ark.

They saw the call of Abram and the establishing of the Jewish Nation….all their obediences and failures….right up to the time of:

Luke 2:1, 3-7 “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.”

(God put out a decree long before this….that all these things should be!)

“And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she would be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”

(Is there “room” in our lives for the Christ of God?)

The Godhead saw all this, along with the obediences and failures of the church…..yet decided to create….

And the beginning of that creation, was the Everlasting Covenant.

This covenant was established on an Eternal Foundation….the saving of a people for His Name’s sake.

“Through the blood of the Everlasting Covenant”.

1 Peter 1:19-20 “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.”

Christ agreed to come as man….made of a woman….as scripture said.

He would be…”very God of very God, and very man of very man”

He would be born under the law….and fulfill that law perfectly….

….so that He would be a perfect sacrifice…”without blemish and without spot:”

He would die as a substitute for us…..taking our sin upon Him….

…and God would raise Him up….accepting His sacrifice.

God, the Father, agreed to give Him a people….draw them to Christ to be saved,….place His Holy Spirit within them to be with them…..and bring them safely home to Heaven, even through battles and failures.

Everything before Christ’s birth was in anticipation of it….preparing a people to believe and trust.

Everything after Christ’s birth was to manifest the Promise fulfilled….preparing a people to believe and trust.

What kind of love would make God the Son, come and place His whole being, as a helpless baby, in the hands of men?

What kind of trust would make the Son of God give Himself up to the hatred of the rulers, the mob of people, the mocking of soldiers, and the pain and separation of the cross….to please His Father’s Will….and give us salvation?

The fullness of the time….is not just a clever phrase…..it is Christ manifested in the flesh for us. (1 Timothy 3:16)

God fulfilled His promise of a Savior…..in His time, and His Way.

Galatians 4:4-7 “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

And because ye are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

And now the fullness of times has come for you.

If you have not received Him…..will you open your heart to Him now, and be born again?

Romans 10:9-10 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

As joint heirs of Christ, will you be found faithful to that which He has called you to fulfill?

Will we receive that love God has for us…..that peace which will establish us…..in order to complete the work….”make you perfect in every good work to do His will”?

God’s Will will be done…..will we yield to our part of it?

Are we possessing our personal possessions?

Joshua 18:2 “And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance.”

When the Israelites came across Jordan, they camped in Gilgal….as they did in the wilderness, around the Tabernacle.

For at least five years they warred with the main armies of the land to possess it for Israel.

They had fought fortress cities, five kings and their armies, four kings who had an army like the sand of the sea….they had fought and won….destroying their enemies which came against them, taking their cities and land.

Yet there was more land to possess….so the Lord told Joshua to divide the land between the tribes…and let them possess their own parcel…destroying the inhabitants…to cleanse the land.

Then Joshua and the high priest divided the land among the tribes which came to them to get…

….among them was the notable Caleb of Judah….”give me that mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day.” (Joshua 14:12)

Amazing man….faithful and brave. At least eighty-five years old….he declared “..as yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me….if so be the Lord will be with me, that I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said.”

The whole congregation went up to Shiloh and set up the Tabernacle there. Now was everything set up for the nation of Israel….except…

But seven tribes still lingered in Gilgal. They had grown comfortable there….and they were lazy about getting their inheritance.

Perhaps they did not want to get them without the other tribes help….perhaps they just liked being there….they were safe, why rock the boat?

Yet Joshua rebukes them with the question:

“How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the Lord God of your fathers hath given you?”

(And may I ask each of us….are we slack concerning some promise the Lord has given us? Have we “fought” for it, wrestling in prayer….asking, seeking, and knocking….to have what the Lord has set aside for us?)

Joshua sends them out of their comfort zone, and three times Joshua tells them:

“Go and walk through the land, and describe it, and come again to me that I may here cast lots for you before the Lord…”. (Joshua 18:4, 6, 8).

This was an insistence….

“Go”…no one tribe or family, was to be without their inheritance.

“Walk through the land”….see what the Lord has for you…and your heart will want to fight for it.

“I will cast lots for you”….the Lord would choose the inheritance of each….whether fields or hills….many enemies or few….the Lord will choose and the Lord will give it you. Yes they would have to fight for it, but the promise is sure.

(Until we get up out of where we are in our experience….and “walk” into what the Lord has for us….we are not going anywhere.

Like Israel, we may have great memories of the wonderful works the Lord has done for us….but what about now? What about our personal promises? What about the calling the Lord has for each of us?)

Israel was to stay at Gilgal….until the time appointed.

But then it was time to get up and live in the circumstances the Lord appointed for each.

And Joshua was to see to it.

Joshua 18:10 “And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord: and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel…”

Now they were to conquer and live in the inheritance the Lord had given them…personally.

Although Gilgal was a wonderful place, where their foot became assured of God’s faithfulness….yet it was not their personal possession…for that, they would have to leave behind the first steps….and go on with the Lord.

And we, too, have been assured of the faithfulness of God by the wonderful blessing of the Holy Spirit….our first real steps in the life of faith…

….we are born again, and we have the Holy Spirit within us….

Ephesians 1:13-14 “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,

Which is the earnest (downpayment) of our inheritance…”

And we certainly know that in heaven we will have an eternal inheritance, laid up for us:

1 Peter 1:3-4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,”

(Notice the personal “you”)

But we also have an inheritance to be possessed by us, by the power of the Holy Spirit within:

Colossians 1:10-12 “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness;

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son:”

This inheritance of the saints in light….is the grace, and faith, and patience, and long-suffering, and joyfulness to walk worthy of our Lord day by day in our personal good works.

God has “delivered us from the power (authority)of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: (under His authority)”

Will we sit still….content to stay as we are?

Or will we fight for our inheritance, and receive all His promises to us?

Behold, I am at the Door

Revelation 3:20 “Behold I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

What door is He at?

He is at the Church door. In the second and third chapters of Revelation, we have the letters Jesus Christ wrote through John to the churches.

They were a cross section of the church of that period; and of all the church ages.

He speaks very personally with each: telling each age what needs to be changed, what He praises them for, and what He promises those that overcome through these changes.

When He comes to the Laodicean Church, it is not their actions that He corrects; but their seeing and hearing.

They don’t see what they truly are, and they are not hearing Him as they should; for He stands outside the door, knocking.

He is calling to those who will hear inside.

But what are they? They are lukewarm Christians.

First, let me say, that though it is the church door Jesus is standing and knocking at; it is to “any man” (man or woman, boy or girl), that He speaks to.

For it is His Voice which is heard, within.

This fact, that we are within the Church, is important.

He is not calling, in this way, to the lost in the world.

He is calling to those in the Church; to those who should recognize His Voice. (John 10:4)

What should they do to open the door?

To “open the door”, or to answer His call, in this Laodicean Age, is not an answer of words (even at some altar, though it may start there), but an answer of a life open to and receptive to Him.

In this age, we have mostly forgotten Christ as Lord.(As “A Lord”, yes. But as our Lord, no.)

For the Lordship of Christ is mostly thought of as: One day He will be Lord of All.

Of course that is true, because He is Lord of all, now. (Matthew 28:18)

But when we speak of Christ as Lord, we mean that He is our Lord. That He commands and we will do, that He can do what He will with His own; meaning me.

It is a surrender of the whole man, active, to Christ. All our faculties are brought into subjection to Him.

So to open to Christ is to give our life to Him, a once done act.

And live our lives to Him, receiving every word He says, because we receive Him.

(Have you received Christ? Has He a place in your life?

You may say, He is in my heart. How much of your heart does He have?

For your heart signifies your life: your thoughts, feelings and affections, and actions.)

He is standing.

And when He stands, He is ready to do for that individual who will hear Him.

Ready to come in and impart power, power within us and power through us; and to have that fellowship which is the backbone of power.

Daniel 11:32b “…but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.”

We can do nothing without Him. The real power of life is Christ’s life within our lives.

His fellowship, then is paramount.

It is the “sup with” us, that speaks of the kind of fellowship. For in Bible times, you could never eat with an enemy.

If someone came into your house, and you fed them, they were worthy of your best, both in food and conversation.

If we are not fellowshipping with Him, we are lukewarm.

We think we are just hot enough to get by, He can’t possibly refuse our prayers, our service, our activities.

We are warm. We are O.K.

But that is not the way God sees it. (Revelation 3:15-17)

And He sees everything.

(There used to be a children’s song “Be careful little eyes, what you see. Be careful little feet, where you go. Be careful little mouth, what you say….For the Father up above is looking down in love, so be careful little eyes, feet, mouth”

Children were trained to know God saw them every where……what they did, what they said, what they saw; and that He loved them, so they should stay close to Him.

It has been stressed of late, that we might be scaring our children, by such language.

No, no, no.

Where love is, there is no fear.

1 John 4:16-18 “And we have known and believed the love that God hath for us. God is love: and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him.

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgement: because as He is, so are we in this world.

There is no fear in God; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

Caution is a good thing. A little preparation, is better than a lot of sorrow, especially where our children are concerned.

To know they are being seen, yes, if they are going to get themselves into trouble, is good.

But to know they are being seen when anything is going on. God loves them. He knows, He sees.

If they are Christians, this is powerful stuff, for God is powerful for them, as well as in them.)

He is standing at the door of the Church, and His voice is calling us to “open to Me”.

If any person will:

First, hear His Voice.

Second, Open your life to the Lord Jesus Christ.

You might say you did this when you were born again.

Yes, you should have received Him then (John 1:12). But have you somewhere shut the door to part of your life?

For those who realize they are lukewarm; His call to come, is for you.

Come, and open your life to Him, completely.

Think of the doors in your life you have shut to Him, and bring them to Him, and open them to Him.

Remember His love to you, and talk to Him about it. And keep talking.

He is Standing ; Ready to do, for you.

Even so, Father, for so it seemeth good in Thy sight

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 seemeth good in Thy sight.”

Jesus had just upbraided or rebuked the cities that He had done many works in….because they repented not.

(Repentance is a change of mind, heart, and direction for our lives.)

Then Jesus turns away from them….turning His eyes to the Father and His Will…and gives thanks. In Luke 10:21, it says “…Jesus rejoiced in spirit,..”. How beautiful

Jesus saw that His Father’s Will was being done….those that did repent and believe….were not “the wise and prudent”…..but “babes”.

“Babes” here means….not speaking, an infant, a simple minded person.

Most Israelites were not versed in the scriptures….they could not say, “Well in Isaiah it speaks of exactly what Jesus is doing”….

…but they could hear, and believe on Him….and this many did. They were the babes.

Chorazin (a city near Capernaum)….Bethsaida (many around there were healed Mark 6:45,55-56)…..and Capernaum (the place Jesus lived after leaving Nazareth Matthew 4:13)….were all great cities…..Jesus had preached and done many miracles in them….

…but the many people, though amazed at His works….repented not.

Jesus message was “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17)

….and He thanked the Father that His Way was being accomplished….not by the “wise”, who should have seen, heard, and known He was the Messiah…

…but by the simple people….who heard, saw and believed….and repented.

Matthew 11:27 “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.”

This is the way we know God….Come to Christ Jesus…and He will show you.

And here Christ Jesus gives a call…again….to come to Him….and have “rest”….”to repose, to lay your head on His strong shoulder.”

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”

All our answers are: “Come unto Christ”.

But He calls those that labor or are wearied because of their labors….both physically and mentally….

…and those that are laden down….”over burdened…with spiritual anxiety”….from darkness around, and confusion within.

(At this time in Palestine, there were many who had given up the goal of life….distress and despair….was commonplace.

Yes, there were many who still sought God in the temple and in the sacrifices…

….but the Roman occupation, and the lack of value in their lives…along with the cruelty and greed of their own rulers….was destroying all hope.

But Salvation came…peace came…in the person of Jesus Christ….for all who would receive Him.)

This is a spiritual call….for our sins and iniquities are real burdens.

Jesus said:

“Come unto Me….don’t stay away because of sins, illnesses, grief or despair….Come unto Me…I am the One who is salvation.

…then, “Take My yoke upon you”.

I take away the yoke and burden of sin….and give you a yoke which is always connected to Me…you will have My strength….we are in this together….no matter what comes up….

….and this is real rest….to repose or lay your head on My strong shoulder.

My yoke, unlike the one which is labor and weariness….is easy. Union with Me makes it easy to go forward in all the steps I have for you, and learn of Me.

My burden,…and their will be burdens, for in this life we must be faithful….but they are light. They do not weigh you down….they give you purpose….that goal of God’s glory returned, with joy and peace.

Come unto Me. This is the call to any who recognize Who I am. This is to all who recognize who they are….and want to repent.”

Come….get up from where you are in your thoughts, actions and life….and receive the Lord Jesus Christ….believe on Him….trust Him.

This call is still going out to all the world….and to you, who are burdened.

Today, if you will hear Him…receive Him and believe.

A Scribe which can be Instructed

Matthew 13:52 “Then said He unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven, is like unto a man that is a householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.”

We mostly consider scribes as wicked men; they certainly were to Jesus. Some of them only sought to discredit, or mock Him.

But there were others who sought to know the truth:

Matthew 8:19 “A certain scribe, came and said unto Him, Master, I will follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest.”

Mark 12:28, 34 “And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, Which is the first commandment of all?

And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, He said unto him, Thou are not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask Him any question.”

Scribes, (they were usually Levites, the family of the priests), were assigned at the beginning of their history, for good: They were to write out the law and teach it to the people who might not come to the Tabernacle or the Temple.

All were to know God’s law, and they were assigned the job, to write and pass it out, by teaching it.

Jeremiah was assigned this job by Josiah, the last Godly king of Judah, who led a revival there. (2 Kings 23:25)

Also Ezra was a “scribe in the law of Moses” (Ezra 7:6), and led many of his countrymen back to the land after the Babylonian captivity.

He led a revival there (Ezra 9-10), and also helped Nehemiah with the first reading of the law to those returned (some of them had never heard it before. Nehemiah 8:5-6, 8).

Scribes were given to make people understand what God wanted them to do, using His Word to show them.

Though some corrupted this; yet Jesus said, “…every scribe instructed unto the kingdom of heaven, is like”:

He said that if you know the scriptures, My words, then you can bring out of them, things new: that which you have discovered by the experience of them, and share them.

And things old: what others have written or testify from them.

Both are food for us, as Christians.

We need to know what Jesus has said:

John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye love one another:”

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

We need to know what the Word says:

1 Thessalonians 5:8 “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.”

1 Timothy 6:6-7 “But godliness with contentment is great gain.

For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”

We need to remember the examples taught us in the Old Testament, for they are lessons to us. (1 Corinthians 10:6)

And we need to awake to the warnings of His Word, against the enemies within us…and around us in this world:

John 7:24 “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgement.”

Ephesians 4:26 “Be ye angry, and sin not; let not the sun go down upon your wrath:”

Galatians 5:24-26 “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”

1 John 5:21 “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”

These are some of the verses the Lord has dealt with me about through the years (there are lots more), and I share them with you, letting the Holy Spirit speak to you about them, as He will.

God has given us His Word. Let us hear what the Word says to us, and be instructed unto the kingdom of heaven…..

And pass it on.