Jacob

Approximately twelve chapters…in Genesis deal with Jacob.

What is so great about the dealings with Jacob,…. is God’s grace.

Jacob was so unworthy….he was always working things out for himself, often in unbelief of God’s promises to him…yet God was faithful and amazingly patient with him….loving him, and seeing to him.

Grace is the unmerited favor of power….and Jacob…which means schemer….by God’s grace was first called to be Israel….which means prince with God….and then finally made Israel.

(Jacob is a manifestation of the two natures within a believer….the old nature which works his own way….and the new nature which ever wants to please God.

They “fight, or lusteth” against each other Galatians 5:17….till the Holy Spirit produces His fruit within us….

…..Galatians 6:8 “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”)

God’s grace kept Jacob in all of his schemes and travels….and finally leads him into the apprehending of God’s promise to him.

It is that promise we will speak of:

Genesis 28:10-11 “And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.

And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.”

By this time, Jacob was a grown man. He was a man of the herds,…and growing things. He wanted the “birthright”….or the promises of God to Abraham about the Messiah….to come to him.

But ever, as his name implies….he seeks to get them by ungodly means. First getting his brother to “sell” the birthright, which would have come to the eldest son, for a “mess of pottage”.

Then tricking his father into giving him the blessing of the elder, which included the birthright. It was a trick….but Isaac could not retract the blessing….in fact, saw that it should have been given to Jacob and not the elder as he thought.

All this caused tension in the household…..and so,…

…Jacob was sent to his mother’s brother family to get a wife. (He was not to marry a Canaanite.)…to try and cool down tensions.

So he travels alone….the first time away from home….toward his mother’s family…in Haran.

(…and have not we done the same…..tried to work out the Lord’s will….our way!)

It is growing dark, so he stops and gathers some stones for a makeshift bed….and fell asleep.

But he dreamed.

Genesis28:12 “And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.”

Here we see God’s grace to Jacob, who by his actions have distanced the affections of all but a few. Alone, and asleep.

But in this state….after all Jacob has done, God marvelously appears to him. This is grace….the unmerited favor of power. And this power comes to Jacob in the way of a promise.

The first thing Jacob sees is a “ladder”.

We know this is a picture of Christ.

John 1:51 “And He saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.”

(This ladder is seen “set on earth”….up to heaven….showing that Christ Jesus’ earthly ministry fulfilled our Salvation and Sanctification…..He has made a way from earth to heaven…through Himself.)

The ladder reached down….right where Jacob, the schemer lay…..and reached up to heaven….where the Lord stood.

(Any time the Lord is standing, it signifies He is ready to do for us!

◦ And God in Christ reaches down to us…..right where we are….as we are…”just as I am”.)

Genesis 28:13-15 “And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father , and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou lies, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;

…..and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.”

What a promise! Everything Jacob could want….a man alone, but not alone, for God is with him…..protected by God!…wherever he goes….and guiding him there….and back again into the land God would give him…and his seed.

(The promise of his “seed” is the same promise God gave Abraham concerning the Messiah to come. (Galatians 3:16). Here, the Lord gives Jacob the blessing of the lineage of Christ!)

But Jacob…..how little did he believe! How little did he understand God’s ways! How little did he grasp the wonder and magnitude of God’s Word!

(And are we not the same? How many times God has given us a promise and we do not appropriate the grace of it!

In a promise there is the first benefit of the Word of the Most High….to us. It should instill peace.

The second benefit of a promise is to lead us to look to God…and keep looking.

The last benefit of the Word of a promise is to prove the faithfulness of God to us….personally by receiving the grace to have it….and marking when it is fulfilled….in any measure….and give thanks.)

Genesis 28:16-18, 20-22 “And Jacob awaked…..and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place;…And he was afraid and said, How dreadful is this place!….And Jacob….took the stone he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.”

And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If…..”

(There was no “if” on God’s part….sadly, only on Jacob’s!)

“….If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,

So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God:….

And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that Thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto Thee.”

Bargains are what Jacob was noted for….he did not praise God for His Word to him….but spoke mostly of what he will do!

But God will not desert him for his ignorance in unbelief….

…but will train and teach him…..and fulfill His Word….through many trials….(some he caused to himself)….

…this is God’s great grace….to Jacob….through all his years,…sorrows, victories, and joys.

And this same grace is to us!

The Lord will not leave us….even in our failures; but will correct and get us back in the way of blessing.

As one preacher prayed: “May the God of grace enlarge our hearts to receive His grace for today…..and may He empower us to magnify HIs grace, in our lives.”

(It is amazing the number of times in the scriptures that the “God of Jacob” is mentioned…..to encourage us.

Psalm 20:1 “The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee.”

Psalm 46:7, 11 “The Lord of hosts is with us; God of Jacob is our refuge.”

Psalm 75:9 “…I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.”

Psalm 81:1 “Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.”

Psalm 84:8 “O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.

Psalm 114:7-8 “Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob; which turned the rock into a standing water,…”

Psalm 146:5 “Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is the Lord his God:”)

The Scribe Which Is Instructed Unto the Kingdom of Heaven.

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

We started this page for Christians. To strengthen and encourage God’s people to seek, and trust the Lord, in these times.

All given with the prayer that they meet the need of those who read them.

We believe that one of the greatest needs of this Church Age is to understand……and have Christ’s kingdom come within the heart of each of His own.

Matthew 6:10 “Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven.” (KJV)

Notice, here, it is “in earth”,….not on it.

This is His Personal Kingdom coming with in your life. When you make Him King of your life,…..and He reigns there.

When we are born again (John 3:3, 7) and “ye must be born again”….we enter His kingdom as His citizens.

But it is only when we are obedient to His laws and ordinances that we make Him King in our lives.

If we are still “running the show” ; He is not King, Personally.

“Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be done.”

When this becomes a fact in our everyday lives, we are subjects of that Kingdom,…..and expressions of it:

Our Wills are His, and are then empowered to do His Will.

For it is then, He sits on the Throne of our Hearts.

Not that we make others do His Will….but that we do His will.

Then His Kingdom has come,….within us.

It is a great feeling to come to the place where the arguments with God end; and the Holy Spirit–instead of correcting ,…empowers to go forward in peace, joy and faith.

[And How shall His Kingdom come on earth?

Luke 18:8 “I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, shall he find faith on the earth?”

This is “on the earth”.

There are some who believe that His Kingdom will be brought in, when enough of His Own are praying for it.

I do not know if that is true.

But I do know that readiness for His return will be conditioned by prayer:

Luke 18:1 “And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”

Jesus speaks here, of the closing days of the Church Age. Just before He returns. Just how the times will be, and just what we should be doing about it .

Luke 21:28 “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws nigh.”

Everyday we hear and see more of what Jesus said would happen….happen.

And what are we to do about it? Hide our heads….Act out…..wring our hands in fear?

No! That is not it.

Look up! Lift up your heads!

1st turn your eyes away from the world-system.

2nd be actively seeking the joy and peace of God for each situation you need to go thru, till He comes.

We should rejoice in seeing these things come to pass , even as Jesus said they would.

We should be praying. “Amen. Even so Come Lord Jesus.”

And we should be “loving His Appearing”. For there is a Crown of Righteousness laid up for all who Love His Appearing! (2 Timothy 4:8)]

Luke 18:2-7 “Saying, there was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

And there was a widow in that city, and she came unto him saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Tho I fear not God, nor regard man;

Yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge says.

And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, tho He bear long with them?”

If this were a Roman Judge (the Jewish judges, were always in 3’s). He would not care much for the needs of a Jew. Especially one of no importance, like a widow. For she could do him no damage!

But she kept coming back! She was often in his court!

Now he feared not God nor regarded man.

So anything he did , would be on a personal level….without thought of anything or anyone else.

Not because of pressure from someone or something.

But she kept coming! “Avenge me of mine Adversary!”

This is not a request for punishment of her Adversary.

But for a Decree, issued by this Judge, that would give her protection from his injustices.

To keep him from harming her.

Like a restraining order issued today.

Luke 18:5 “Yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.”

“She weary me”; Literally means. “She give me a black eye”

Her always appearing there , in his court, might ruin his reputation!

People might get the wrong idea about him.

This Judge acted from only self-involved motives.

From this consideration–alone–he thought it best to avenge her….and get her out of his court.

And our Lord said “Hear what the unjust judge says”

Because the Lord Jesus wanted to show that: the judge’s motives were personal…yet what this widow sought,……she got.

Then our Lord Jesus contrasts the unjust judge and God. Shall not our God surely do right?

Shall He not avenge His own elect? From their Adversary?

And how are we to ask?

Luke18:1 “And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”

Faint means to weaken in purpose, or spirit; to languish; to just give up.

When we pray, we ought to believe that God is going to hear, and keep at it until we know He does.

Luke 18:7 “And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, tho he bear long with them?”

We are not what we ought to be in this Age; yet He bears long with us.

Wanting us to be other than we are ….to enjoy the peace and joy of the Holy Spirit’s enablement.

To get us out from the Adversary’s injustices.

To know the power of life (abundant life) as obedient subjects of His kingdom now.

He Loves us, So He corrects us, and even chastens us…that we might become full sons…having His authority in our own life, and speak His Word in power.

Luke 18:8 “I tell you (and this is the Lord Jesus speaking) that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, shall he find faith on the earth?”

Yes, He will avenge us…speedily.

“Heavenly Father, Avenge me of my Adversary!”

This is like a restraining order, remember; against our Adversary , the Devil.

To keep him from hurting us.

And we should always ask for such decrees against our Adversary.

He will not only issue such Decrees, He will do so speedily.

Yet , Jesus asked; “shall he find faith on the earth?” Not that He doesn’t know what will be….but to Awaken us to the very dangerous times in which we live.

There are temptations, cares, enemies of God, worldly pleasures, evil companions, …..

All of them can be used by our Adversary to “hurt us”.

To keep us from entering into God’s Best for us.

The Devil seeks to defeat every child of God.

To delay or stop their Progress.

To keep them children , when they should go on to maturity in the faith.

To keep them self-centered, instead of Christ-centered…

That will devour up a whole lifetime of works and attitudes.

Shall He find “faith” on the earth?

This faith here is (in the Greek “pistis”). Conviction of truth or the truthfulness of God. Reliance upon Christ for salvation and constancy in such profession.

Do you trust Christ for Salvation, but not for today?

Shall we not apprehend that for which we are apprehended of Christ Jesus?

Has the Church ever had so much riches as it has today?

With so little results?

Why is it we see so little Reality in a Christian’s Profession?

I don’t know…but I am sure it is a matter of the Heart.

I believe that today many claim the Promise; without having the corresponding experience of that Promise.

They honor the Word, while rejecting the living Lord of that Word.

As Israel of old, they draw near with their lips, to God; but their hearts are far from Him.

For I believe it is a matter of the heart.

Who or What do we love?

Proverbs 4:23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life”

What “life” will you have?

1 Peter 1:3 ” According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, thru the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue.”

He “hath given”. Then why don’t we have it in practice?

Because the personal knowledge of Christ, costs us.

He wants to come and reign in our lives, with that joy and power that comes with Himself.

What takes first place in your life?

To what do you give final obedience….for surely this is your God.

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

He is King. But is He my King?

Who sits on the throne of our hearts?

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

He stands ready to do. To do for you. And Jesus has said God will issue such Decrees against our Adversary when we cry unto Him.

And just what kind of Christians ought we to be; with so much offered?

He is King….Will we make Him our King?

Of One Accord

Acts 5:12 “And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.”

“With one accord”. Here is the real power of this verse.

One accord….the Lord’s accord.

This is to be “gathered”.

Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.”

“Gathered” here, means to be led together in association, companionship, resemblance or union….for completeness.

(This is a wonderful look at what the local church is to be….. the Christians “gathered” together….by the Lord,….

….for the good of themselves…and the others there….for the ministry of the body of Christ for ourselves and to each other.

I may be sad, for some reason….but gathered together in His name….with other believers, the Spirit of the Lord can lift my burden to the right place….namely on the Mighty arm of God.

My eyes may be drawn to the world….worldly affection is a great temptation….but gathered together in His Name….He draws my eyes back to Him…..

….and these are by the manifestation of the Spirit through the corporate ministry.)

Where we are gathered together in His Name,…there He is….in the midst.

To be gathered together in His name is to be impelled of the Holy Spirit. We are there because He has brought us…..led us.

And you want to be there. (We can never discount the heart in our obedience.)

With “one accord”…..your whole spirit, soul (mind, heart, and will) and body wants to be there,….for HIs purpose…..for “one accord” sets forth His Lordship….

…..for the “one accord”….is His accord.

The Vulgar Latin word for “accord” meant….”to be heart to heart with”.

To be heart to heart with the Lord…wanting HIs heart’s desire for this situation.

It is always personally, as we remove all that hinders the Lordship of Christ in our lives….

…and then, it is corporately…as others become heart to heart with the Lord.

There is a lot going on in this fifth chapter of Acts….and it begins….

First….God deals with the hypocrites in the church….Ananias and Sapphira…whose sin was lying to the Holy Ghost.

Others were giving all to the support of the work….in taking care of each other. Ananias and Sapphira had a possession that they sold….but kept back part of it.

It does not say what the possession was….or how much other possessions they had….

But they came and lied about it….presenting the “gift” as all, when they “held back” part.

(How many want to look “good” before people, by words….without the heart’s accord to the Lord?)

As Peter said to Ananias…..”While it remained in your possession….was it not yours? And when you sold it, could you not do what you wanted with the money? Why come, before the Lord, and lie to Him about it?

Oh, Ananias, it was a matter of your heart!”

When they heard the Lord’s Word….they died!

Ananias and Sapphira had hearts that were divided;…..

…..and that always leads to putting something over God.

(Matthew 6:21, 24 “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”)

Then,…is stressed….being of one accord….the Lord’s accord. Here is the way of peace and power.

(And hasn’t the devil been trying to sow discord among believers, since the first? 1 Corinthians 3:3)

Acts 5:12 “And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.”

Again, “all with one accord” is the real power of the work.

Acts 5:32 “And we are HIs witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him.”

There is power when we are “one accord” with the Lord….the Holy Spirit’s power in ourselves….personally. And then corporately, as others are of “one accord” with the Lord.

This is, of course, between each believer and His Lord. Removing all that hinders our hearts from fully following the Lord.

When I was a Child

1 Corinthians 13:11 “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”

“When I was a child”…this phrase suggest that these childish things have been “put away”; that the writer here is remembering what the Lord showed him of the things that needed to be removed, that he might grow up into Christ.

The writer here is Paul. It is hard to think that Paul was ever childish, yet we have his testimony here, that even the mighty apostle had to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ.

(He was writing the Corinthian Church, who were childishly arguing over “who was who”. “I am of Paul, I of Apollos, I of Cephas,….is Christ divided?” 1 Corinthians 1:12-13a.

This was silly, and Paul was writing them to correct their behavior; to help them grow up into Christ.)

And how do we put away childish things?

By knowing the scriptures.

1 Peter 2:2 “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby.”

It is as we are established in the Word of God, that we are able to know what the Lord is saying to us.

As we read and listen to that Word, the power of the Spirit speaks to us; and He applies them to us.

That Spirit works in the heart, as well.

He works understanding of the Word, and then He works obedience to it, so we will receive the blessing of it.

Peter ends his second epistle with this exhortation.

2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

David said:

Psalm 131:2 “Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.”

David is saying here that he had wanted to stay with his head on the heart of God and let God continue to feed him like he was a baby,…..but that he had come to the place where he had stilled his crying,….his discontent at having to stand and trust.

These are more adult things. To trust that your Father and His might is right beside you, when you have to face trials….is quite different than hiding behind your Father when things trouble you.

Our hearts are naturally drawn to worldly things.

But by the grace of God, the soul is “weaned” from the desire for them.

There are three things which the Apostle Paul says he “put away”.

I spake as a child:

1 Corinthians 2:1-2,4-5 “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech, or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”

Paul did not speak in all the eloquence he could, so people would applaud him; but spake in the power of the Holy Spirit, about Christ Jesus.

We are to do the same.

We are to show forth Christ Jesus.

Whether by testimony (about being born again, or right up to the minute about what He has showed us for this situation.), or by giving the gospel message of His salvation.

[This also has reference to talking to the Lord: Our confessions should not be as children, “It got broke”; but, “I broke it, forgive me.”

When we need direction, we should ask for it.

When we need help, we should turn to Him immediately, and not try and “cover up” our lack of knowledge, or struggle through]

I understood as a child:

Ephesians 4:13-15 “Till we all come in the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of Son of God, unto a perfect man, and the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Speaking the truth in love, may grow up unto Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”

Paul includes himself here; for our “growing up” continues until we get to heaven. We are babes, children, then adults: yet we continue to grow in grace, and get more understanding of Him, as we go along.

To have this understanding, we should work at being steadfast in His Word, and learning how to listen to His Spirit.

We get distracted, we hesitate, we doubt.

But the Spirit is willing to help us with light (knowledge), insight (for the situation), and discernment (about people).

How important these are.

He knows, and He will gladly tell us.

I thought (reasoned) as a child:

Paul wrote about himself:

Acts 26:9-11 “I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.

And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.”

This is Paul’s testimony as to the persecution he lead, before being born again, against the church: “I verily thought with myself…”.

He let his own emotions(anger), lead him into doing terrible things against the people of the Lord.

This is childish reasoning: we react to our own feelings toward things.

[Of course, once the Lord struck him down and got his attention; things were different.

But, Paul had refused the testimony of Stephen about Christ; which began his downward spiral into violence against the Lord’s own.

It was of God’s mercy and love that He did not forget about this man (or us: Praise God for His mercy to me, a thousand times over). But His grace saved him! And gave him the right way of thinking]

Let us, as Paul did, and every other Christian can: “put away childish things.”

Put them away, like we put old toys away; to go on with older, more mature pursuits.

How? By the Word of God, spoken, read, and preached: applied to us by His Holy Spirit, for our help.

So let us grow up into Him, trust Him…..and be all He wants for us.

Forgive me, O Lord, and Restore a Right Spirit within Me.

In Psalm 51, David pours out his heart to God for forgiveness.

He had sinned terribly, by adultery; and then, the fixed murder of the woman’s husband.

Worse, he had refused to seek forgiveness for it, trying to hide it; until God sent someone to show him that God knew, and was very displeased.

Sin is rebellion against God. It is seeking my will over His Will; seeking to have me as ruler of my life, even in just this one thing.

This is what happened to David. It started innocently enough. He had been home from the war with the Ammonites.

And he wanted to stay home; to have a little more rest and relaxation than God wanted. It was the time for kings to go out to war, and he should have been at the head of his army.

2 Samuel 11:1 “And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.”

But instead, he stayed in Jerusalem, and “took time off”. He was sleeping all day, and got up; and went on top of the roof of his house, when he saw Bathsheba.

If he had been at the battle, all the other things would not have happened.

He first lusted after a little more rest. (Was his army “resting”? Did he think because he was king, he could skip his duty?)

Then he lusted after a woman. And when lust was conceived: sin.

Instead of setting it right, he continued in it for months; for Bathsheba told him she was “with child”.

Then, came the choice of a lifetime. David comes up with the plan to dupe her husband into thinking the child was his.

This did not work, so he plans it, that the husband would be killed by the enemy.

2 Samuel 11:15 “And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.”

David, even now was not repentant.

You wonder how a man so close to God, could be so overcome with sin!

But, the truth is, we underestimate the power sin has on our life. It’s power grows as we refuse to deal with it.

Had David stopped, and sought forgiveness after the first sin with Bathsheba; God’s power would have easily overcome the power of the lust; and saved him from continuing on to deceit, and murder. (2 Samuel 12:9)

He went on, till God had to send someone to him. First the rebuke, then the chastening.

David was forgiven; but suffered by illness, and rebellion in his children because of his sin.

He was not paying for his sins; but reaping what he had sown.

Galatians 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

Though David sinned terribly, yet he repented greatly. True repentance comes, as we come to God,……without merit of any kind from ourselves, to get an answer from God, Himself.

Not to just be satisfied with the seeking of forgiveness; but the word of forgiveness from God, personally,…..and the cleansing of the heart and conscience.

Psalm 51:1-2 “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.”

David calls upon God for mercy.

Mercy presupposes sin. And David had sinned. And he knew it. He had known within his heart for months, and he had known it by the word of the Lord through His servant.

The rebuke brought about the right results. He sought for spiritual mercy.

It is the benevolence and kindness of God to a sinner, who seeks forgiveness, and salvation from their sins.

In God’s mercy, was his only hope, and so David’s faith reached out to that character of God, and cries for God’s mercy.

It is only in God himself that the wiping away of sin could be found. (For the promise of the coming Messiah, who would bring victory over sin, and sin’s consequences, was known. And all who trusted in God, looked forward to Him.)

David could do nothing. There was no sacrifice for the sin he had committed, “else he would give it”

Psalm 51:16 “For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offerings.”

The mercy he asks of God was “according to his loving kindness”; according to the character of God.

He did not know whether God would hear his cry; for David had turned a deaf ear to God.

He wasn’t asking because he had earned it,…..even with the repentance.

He was asking God to do according as His character was.

And David spoke plainly concerning his sin.

“Blot out my transgressions”, or “revoltings”. These acts he had committed were not “slips”, or just defective obedience. No, they were acts of rebellion against God.

David had revolted against God’s rule in his life, and wanted to do his own will.

His actions were great perversity; the twisting of God’s grace into sin.

God had given David the kingdom, and great help in all that he had done; and with God looking on, David had misused the grace, and despised His goodness.

What would God do with him?

He wanted forgiveness; he would not be able to come before God without it; but he wanted complete removal of all this defilement within.

To be throughly washed from the mass of his filthiness, and iniquity!

Here is a way we can all test ourselves and “our repentance”.

Are we content if we just ask for forgiveness, and not to seek cleansing?

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.”

It is forgiveness and cleansing.

God had sent a man to rebuke him. This was a great grace, not to let him continue in his rebellion.

God had made David willing to confess, so he asks God to finish the work of grace within him. To forgive and cleanse him.

Psalm 51:9-10 “Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”

God’s “hiding” His face from our sins, is putting them away. (Psalm 103:12)

So David prays for a new life.

“Create in me a clean heart” cries out for a new heart within him. David realizes that he will revolt again, if God does not give him clean affections. And God needs to create them within him.

Give me a submissive heart, and make me steadfast to You.

Psalm 51:11-12 “Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and up hold me with thy free spirit.”

Do not leave me to my own way.

Do not throw me away; or take away Your Holy Spirit from me.

David had know the joy of God in His life, and he prayed that it would be restored.

And that he would be kept (“lead me not into temptation, and deliver me from evil”, as the Lord Jesus taught us to pray. Matthew 6:13) from falling into evil again.

To be free from sin is true freedom indeed.

Sin is the worst bondage.

Though some call it “freedom”; it enslaves, by a constant growing desire for “more, more, more”.

With each step forward, the slave is “unknowingly” sinking.

As quicksand does not suck the victim in immediately, but slowly brings him down, till the mire covers his head in death; so sin does the same.

Only God can free us from sin.

First, He brings us to repentance: a “repentance not to be repented of”.

2 Corinthians 7:10 “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

Do we want to be free from our sin, or just the consequences of it?

Second, He leads us to Christ.

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:”

Third, He leads us in the desire for true liberty of Spirit, which is the freeing us from the power of sin over us.

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

David’s faith in God, led him to cry to God, for this forgiveness and cleansing.

For he desired to be able to worship, and come near God again.

Is this what we want, as well?

Christ’s Sacrifice is able to cleanse us from all sin.

Will we seek it from Him?

In the beginning….God

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

Here we meet our Creator…The Trinity…..He was in eternity past….dwelling alone,…complete….

Yet He purposed to create: angels and the universe…and He began the creation by a Covenant:

A covenant is a binding agreement made by two or more persons or parties, where one is promised some particular reward….under obligation to the other of fulfilling some particular thing.

God’s Covenant is called the Everlasting Covenant…..for it was to concern all of creation, eternally.

God the Father agreed to draw to Christ, a people down through the ages……a people to love, serve and honor Him,…

….if Christ would become the Man, Christ Jesus, born, raised, sent forth with a message concerning His kingdom, and to die as the Lamb of God, a sacrifice to atone for the sins of these people….and raised the third day.

….and the Holy Spirit agreed to come and be with these people, forever.

(I stress this covenant a lot, because it is the sole reason for God’s dealing with mankind in mercy, after the fall.

God Purposed……an amazing statement….

….therefore He will have His Savior come….even though Israel, which was to be the nation by whom Christ came, failed.

….therefore the gospel will be preached throughout the whole world as a witness for those who are saved….and as a witness against those who refuse Christ.

….therefore He will, in mercy, send HIs Holy Spirit to dwell with us…and teach us His Way.

….therefore all that He Purposed will come to pass….up to, and including the Everlasting Kingdom of God….eternity.)

All that are ever saved were thought of in the Everlasting Covenant…..saw there and provided for….for time……and eternity.

2 Timothy 1:9 “Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own Purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began;”

In the beginning God….Purposed His Will and Way for His creation….and “God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31)

Ephesians 1:9-12 “Having made known unto us the mystery of His Will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself:

That in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him.

In Whom also we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the Purpose of Him Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own Will:

That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Him.”

In the now,…..God is calling out this people by the Word (written, and preached, spoken by witness of life) and by His Holy Spirit….

….to be His people….subjects of His kingdom….sheep of His pasture.

1 Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praise of Him Who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

HIs call is still going forth….to all who will.

One day….in the future….all will be silent. There will be no excuses…all will be shown to be as God said it would….

Romans 3:19 “Now we know that what so things soever the law saith, it saith to them that are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”

Before the Judgement Seat of Christ….the born again ones will be judged according to “what sort”(1 Corinthians 3:13-15) of works we have done……

…..whether works of obedience out of love for Christ Jesus……or works we simply thought good.

Before the White Throne Judgement….the lost, down through the centuries will be brought before His Throne….made to bow before Jesus, Whom they could have received….and then judged by the works they have done….then sent into the Lake of Fire for eternity.

We are all guilty under the law. We have all broken His commandments. We have all sinned. We all will be judged according to the Purpose He had for us, in Christ Jesus….and whether we ran the race we were given….or ran away from Him.

(In Esther, there is a telling scene: Esther’s duty for her life and the life of her people [and yes, we all have a “duty” for our life and the lives we are responsible for]….

…..was to go before Ahasuerus, the king….and speak to him about a plot to kill all the Jews.

But she had not been called to see the king for thirty days! And no one could just walk in to see the king (even the queen)….unless they had been called….unless you wanted to die.

But she went….knowing that no one but the King could change the decree of death against herself and her people.

Then something remarkable happened….a miracle…yes….

…the king stretched forth the scepter in his hand….and she came and touched it….giving her clemency from getting her head chopped off…

….and giving her a way to have fellowship with him and get her petitions answered.

God has the scepter in His hand…..which is always stretched out for those who want to come into HIs presence in prayer….for fellowship and to get our petitions answered.

He is God, yet HIs Kingly scepter…….is stretched out for us….will we come?)

God was God in eternity past….

The centuries have not changed Him….He is God, now in eternity present….

…and He will be God….for ever.

Is He our God? Do we come to Him with our duty? Are we having fellowship with the KIng?

All down through the ages God has spoken in wisdom

Proverbs 1:20,23-24,29-30 “Wisdom crieth without;….

Turn you at My reproof: behold, I will pour out My Spirit unto you, I will make known My words unto you.

Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out My hand (to protect and care for), and no man regarded;

For they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord:

They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.”

All down through the ages God has spoken in wisdom….wisdom that is from above as James states so clearly.

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

This is the way God speaks!

First,…..Pure. There is no admixture….it is simply the truth. He does not try and convince….or bargain….He simply is the Truth….and speaks the Truth.

John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.”

John 8:31-32 “Then said Jesus…..If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed;

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

There is nothing so freeing as the truth….for we can never change….or know anything as it really is….unless the truth be seen. (John 1:17)

The Faithful and True Witness has shown the light upon the truth all through history…..are we receiving it?

Then God’s Wisdom is “peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated.”

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

God does not use a baseball bat to get His message across. He speaks…perhaps through a verse….or through circumstances…

…and says, “hey, we need to talk!” “This is the way, walk ye in it…” (Isaiah 30:21).

He does not correct us because we do not know…..but calls us to ask for His wisdom….

“Full of mercy and good fruits”… When we get God’s wisdom, we find it a healthful thing. It strengthens our faith and encourages us.

We know, we see the truth….and we see the great mercy of God in helping us….and this wisdom bears good fruit.

“Blessed are the merciful; for thy shall obtain mercy.” Matthew 5:7

We become merciful to others, as God has been to us. The Lord is seen through us.

“Without partiality and without hypocrisy”. This is God’s wisdom….so unlike the world’s.

God sees all the same…..sinners in need of a Savior,….lost sheep in need of a Shepherd to guide and keep them.

God says….”all who come and seek My wisdom may receive, and gain the Truth.”

The world says….”We are smarter, more brilliant than you,….our philosophy, reasons, inventions make us great. No matter the Truth, we lead by our own thoughts about things….we are “wise”.

(Ecclesiastes. 7:29 “Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.”)

But no matter what the world says…..they can not see what is ahead….they are unprepared for so many things…..and the wisdom of the world….fails us.

But God is never surprised….never unprepared for even the twists and turns of the circumstances.

The winds blow, the storm appears….yet the Lord…”..Who maketh the clouds His chariot: Who walketh upon the wings of the wind:” (Psalm 104:3)…

….is unconcerned….for their is nothing He has not seen and prepared a deliverance for.

(1 Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able;…”

…and here is why…

……”but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”)

(Later in this chapter in Psalms, The Lord is praised:

“O Lord, how manifold are Thy works! In wisdom hast Thou made them all: the earth is full of Thy riches.” Psalm 104:24. If you read this chapter….it is an amazing acknowledgement of God’s control and power in the Universe! He is Wisdom…and He will give us the wisdom we need to do and live.)

James 3:18 “And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”

God’s wisdom leads to peace within…..a settled knowledge of God’s Hand in and on everything in my life.

Proverbs 1:20, 23 “Wisdom cries without; she utters her voice in the streets:

Turn you at My reproof: behold, I will pour out My Spirit unto you, I will make known My words unto you.”

God’s wisdom has been sounding out…

….what a promise!

“I will pour out My Spirit unto you…..I will make known My words unto you.”

If you want to know…..Jesus Christ, by His Holy Spirit within will give you the wisdom you need….for now.

Matthew 13:23 “But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the Word….

….and understandeth it;….

….which also beareth fruit and bringeth forth; some an hundred-fold, some sixty, some thirty.”

His Word to us, guides us….it is how we get understanding…

….and when we have understanding….we know.

We do not all produce the same amount of fruit….but all that received His Word, produce fruit.

(There are two kinds of fruit: the fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22-23….and the fruit of a Christian, which is another Christian.)

To “understand” is to have experience in the matter:

For instance….what is full surrender?

It is coming to the place that we are not making any conditions to the Lord…

….none.

It is now His Will, HIs Way….whatever comes.

(My husband used to say….”When you come to the place you no longer resist the Lord’s Will….you may not like it, agree with it,….but you will do it….because it is His Will, for HIs sake…that is full surrender.”)

To get here….we need to come to that place that we will let nothing interfere with Christ in my life.

Luke 9:59-60 “And He said unto another, Follow Me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead; but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.”

This man’s father was not dead,….yet. But rather he was seeking permission to stay home till he died…for he was old…..so that he may do the son’s duty and bury him.

The urgency of the kingdom….the urgency of the call to the kingdom….was what Jesus stressed. HIs kingdom was life…..let him preach that kingdom and life….rather than wait for the dead.

Luke 9:61-62 “And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee;…”

If he had stopped there…great.

“…But…”. (How many “buts” do we give to God, when He tells us to do something?)

“….but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home, at my house.

And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

What would be wrong with going home and saying goodbye?

Well, the Lord must be first….and any consideration that places Him second….is wrong.

Sometimes, it is very reasonable….to our mind…

…or maybe we ought to think about it.

But any “but…” is making conditions. “Looking back”, here, is desiring something other…than what Jesus Christ has said…any work, any way…or another time.

There must be a full surrender to His call….for what He really is asking….is that you give up your rights to yourself……

….to God’s rights as my Lord and King.

When we give way to….”yes,..but”…

…we are yielding to the reservations….or hesitations of reasons or emotions.

There needs to be a act of the will. “I will follow You, Lord.”

There is a old saying: Nothing is ever settled, until it is settled right….and nothing is ever settled right, until it is settled with God.

We may try and “settle” things with ourselves….like trying to talk ourselves into or out of, something.

Or we can come to Christ….and lay everything out to Him…..

…every emotion, every reason, every want….tell it to Him…with the determination to do what He says….

Isaiah 1:18-19 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow: though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.”

Matthew 13:23 “But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the Word and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit and bringeth forth; some an hundred-fold, some sixty, some thirty.”

If you read the parable of the sower….none but the good ground hearer, bears fruit.

The rest have the Word given…..but something interferes with it….in their hearts (for that is what the “ground” typifies….our hearts)….

…are we receiving the Word He is speaking to us…and bearing fruit, for His sake?

God is Nigh unto them with a Broken Heart.

Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart: and saveth such that be of a contrite spirit.”

This is a promise from our God.

Often the broken heart thinks that God is far away….but not so. He is near.

This broken heart is found in all places.

We are broken in heart by our sin and many failures to such a Good God.

We are broken in heart, often, when we are in troubles and afflictions.

We are broken in heart by people’s cruelty, and circumstances which seen out of control.

We are broken in heart as we go through this weary world…..by grief, and loss.

Isaiah 32:2 “And a Man (and that man is Christ) shall be as a hiding place from the wind and a culvert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as a shadow of a great rock in a weary land.”

“Broken” here means “burst, to break in pieces.”

But we have a promise: The Lord is near us. I don’t know about you, but the greatest joy of my life, has been His Presence.

I’ve known it since being born again,…..and though I have failed and wavered (often),…….He has not.

He has loved me; and helped me.

Yes, I can say it has not been always the way I wanted.

But I can also say, it has been what I needed.

My broken heart, (by loss, by hate, by hurt feelings, by money troubles, by other troubles) was not always miraculously healed, but always mended.

(And “mended” means “to fasten upon, to strengthen, to cure, repair, make courageous”.)

Ezekiel 34:16a “I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which is broken, and will strengthen that which was sick:..”

“And saveth such that be of a contrite spirit.”

When we are broken in heart by our sins, and contrite (bruised)…….when we remember that we have rebelled against our Loving Lord; then God is well pleased….and is more than ready to save us.

Our sin crucified our Lord. He died for me.

Psalm 51:14, 17 “Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”

Isaiah 57:15 “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”

Jeremiah 30:17a “For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord;…”

When our hearts are broken by loss, hurt, or grief; He is not there just to comfort;……but to restore.

He supports us, so we go on through the sorrow, together; and not be overcome.

(He never dismisses our loss; but seeks to hold on to us, through it.)

David felt this way, for he knew many losses, enemies, and troubles; and turned to the Lord:

Psalm 69:2, 20, 29-30 “I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.

Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I look for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.

But I am poor and sorrowful: let Thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.

I will praise the name of God with a song, and I will magnify Him with thanksgiving.”

Christ Jesus has carried our sorrows;……so we can receive His joy and peace.

His joy lifts us up out of the depths of despair.

His peace surrounds us, in His arms.

Isaiah 53:4 “Surely He had borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.”

He did that for us. Receive His comfort.

Jesus quoted this promise when He was here on earth:

Luke 4:18-19 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor;

He hath sent Me to heal the broken-hearted,

to preach deliverance to the captives,

and recovering of sight to the blind,

to set at liberty them that are bruised,

To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”

He has promised. He will give it. Ask for it.

Look to Jesus, and He will heal your broken heart;…..no matter how it got broken.

Reality, is it for you?

Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

This is a real invitation to us from the Almighty God. “Come boldly”: to obtain, or get for us, mercy and grace to help in this time of need. Whatever that need is.

Christianity is an ideology (a body of ideas reflecting the social needs and goals of a group or people).

To a great many people, it is nothing more than that, for they have never been Born Again. It takes the element of faith in Christ Jesus our Lord to make these things of the Bible, real to us.

If it is only an ideology, then we are left up to our own means and power to bring His Will to pass in our lives. That is impossible.

Only by God’s enabling, can we do His Will.

God’s plan for us is the fullness of the Spirit: The Holy Spirit of power.

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

This is how we have the fullness of the Holy Spirit. And His kingdom must first be set up in our personal heart.

If we are citizens of His Kingdom, God is honored and obeyed by us. And that can only be done as we voluntarily submit to His Rule over us, in His personal direction for our lives.

Jesus said, “ If ye love Me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)

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

Every promise in the Word, and every promise given to you personally is there: ready for you to enter into it by faith. (The Holy Spirit gives you hope: or the confident assurance that God will do what He says. We feel it! Hallelujah!)

There can never be true faith without obedience.

Faith takes us by the hand and guides us to do, what we believe.

God may have given you this promise, and this…and this, but until you have these promises in your experience, they are only promises.

True and Sure; but like money in a bank, sometimes not used.

The writer says “fear” coming short of the promises God gives us.

Fear means to be alarmed! To wake up to what you have in God’s Word, and reach out for it.

In praying, “Thy Kingdom come.”

(And notice it is a complete sentence, all by itself. It is not a part of God’s Will………It is God’s Will: that His Kingdom should come to each and every child of His, and that by it, they will enjoy communion and fellowship as they come into all that God has for them.)

We are to pray for His Kingdom to come within us, and submit to Him. We are praying for the Power and blessing of the Holy Spirit upon the Word; when we hear it, read it, and on the preaching of it.

We are praying that we may understand and know His Will; and willingly do His Will. (Philippians 2:13)

We are praying that the Word of God will be spread abroad by believing ministers, and that their lives will show forth God’s praise. (Matthew 5:16)

We are praying that His Kingdom which has come within us, may go on and influence those around us. That we might be a sanctifying influence to those we come into contact with.

This is the furthering of Christ’s Kingdom here. It always begins with us: getting by faith what God has for us, and sharing Christ and His Word to others.

For this we should come boldly to the throne of grace, God’s Throne, and get mercy (that help to sinners in need) and grace (the power that we need) for this time, and the next time, and the next time….onward.