Death

2 Timothy 4:6-8 “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.”

Death is closing the door behind us, when we come home.

For we must all pass through this door, unless we are alive at the time of Rapture.

Death is closing our eyes here on earth, and that same moment, opening them in heaven with our Lord. (Death for the Christian is called “sleep”.)

Acts 7:59-60 “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge, and when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

(Some have likened it to a river we must ford….then let us remember the Jordon crossing by Israel.

The Ark (God’s Presence) went in first, on the backs of the priests….they walked in the overflowing waters…..

……and as they did, the waters above, backed up….the ground beneath dried up….and Israel walked across dry shod.

Christ has gone before us….and has made the overflowing waters of the fears, regrets, and sorrows…..

……back up….back away from us….as we follow Him into this river of death.

Psalm 48:14 “For this God is our God forever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death.”)

(Eighteen times in scripture it is written the “shadow of death”…

of course we all know Psalm 23:4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me;….”.

Someone has said that when there are shadows, there is always light shining somewhere…..Our Light…..the Lord Jesus through the Holy Spirit within……will not leave us…we are to walk through death as we walked along with Him, since we were born again….it is just a walk with God.)

1 Corinthians 15:54-57 “So when this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

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

Our body lies in the ground, but our soul and spirit rise to heaven….until that time when our bodies, too, will rise in resurrection….a glorified body (at the Rapture)….and we will be united again…..in heaven…..for “corruption hath put on incorruption”. (Resurrection always includes the body)

1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others who have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

This is the Rapture described….the first resurrection.

(There is a second resurrection….when the unsaved dead will rise….only to be judged before God….and sent to the Lake of Fire. Revelation 20:10-15

This will be after the seven years Tribulation, and the thousand year Reign of Christ. Revelation 20:7-9)

I believe death is the last trial we will go through. As with all trials, the Lord beckons us to follow Him into it, trusting Him…going through it…..and out the other side….for He has already had the victory.

Hebrews 2:9, 14-15 “But we see Jesus, Who is made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor: that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that hath the power of death, that is, the devil;

And deliver them, who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”

There is a verse I love from Daniel…..

Daniel 12:13 “But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.”

Daniel, had just see a vision of Christ, and heard of the terrible times ahead for his people……..he had been told to “seal the book”….

….then, the Lord told him to….

…”Go on Daniel….finish your work here on earth….for you shall die….”rest” from the work. But then when I come and establish My kingdom……you shall stand in your place before Me.”

And like Daniel…..here and now….we are called to:

1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

God’s Promise to all of His…..is to carry us through this life….though death…..into His everlasting Kingdom.

John 14:1-3 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me.

In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

Christ Jesus has prepared “a place” (residence, a possession for our rest) for us….(think of it!). That we might be with Him forever.

Psalm 23:6 “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Luke 21:19 “In your patience possess ye your souls”

This sounds odd: surely, we have our souls, don’t we?

But do you?

Are you a person who has an uncontrollable temper?

Do you have a habit you can not give up?

Do you let your feelings “get the better of you”?

Anytime we, as Christians, let something else but God rule in our hearts, minds and wills; we do not “possess” our souls,…….they are being influenced by the World, our old nature which still wants it’s way, or the Devil.

Our souls are our personality: our mind, heart, and will, are it’s faculties.

What we think, influences our personality. (And how often our way of thinking is shaped by what is around us: at home, at work, or school?)

What we feel, influences our personality. (Hurt feelings, unforgiving anger, or inappropriate affections; often get into our hearts and want to stay)

What we will, really influences our personality; for our wills, are the whole of us active.

From an early age, we decide what we will, whether we can carry out our decisions, or not.

How many times have we thought:

“I will do this, no matter what you think.”

“I won’t, even if you want me to.”

How many children (and some adults, too) have indulged in these thoughts; only to find out that they turn into attitudes, when they don’t even want them to.

Rebellion is really in our make-up (from our first parents: Adam and Eve)

We often choose it, instead of yielding to authority.

And yes, this includes God’s Authority.

But when we are born again, then our wills begin to be trained to yield to God, by the power of the Holy Spirit within us, helping us to yield.

This is when we can truly “possess” our souls, with the freedom which comes from the guidance, peace and power of the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 1:17-19 “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him:

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

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

Ephesians 5:17-18 “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

And be not drunk with wine (don’t place yourself under the influence of wine), wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.(place yourself under the influence of the Holy Spirit)”

1 Corinthians 2:12 “Now we have received, not the spirt of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”

2 Corinthians 3:18 “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.”

Romans 15:13 “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

2 Corinthians 13:14 “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.”

Communion means fellowship here. His Presence with us is the help we need at every time.

And as He “helps”, we become more and more able to know, see, act and react in freedom…we can be the personalities we truly are…..freed from the restraints of habits, attitudes we don’t even want, and all that hinders us from coming close to Jesus.

We can possess our own souls, for we will know who we are, and where we are going, with the Lord.

The Lord wants us to “possess” our souls; to be free from the influences of the world, the flesh, and the Devil; and be who He has created us to be.

A Certain King made a marriage for His Son

Matthew 22:2-6 “The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,

And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.

Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.

But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:

And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.”

The Lord told this parable about the preparation for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:6-9).

The first servants sent forth were the prophets in the Old Testament….and Israel “would not come”.

God had wanted a Theocracy….where He was their king, but Israel refused to have Him as their king.

The second servants were the disciples which were sent out to preach the kingdom of God is at hand, when Jesus was on earth. (Matthew 10:5-7)

Everything was ready for the kingdom to be set up then….but “they made light of it, and went their ways”….

….”one to his farm”….(farms were quite complete in themselves)….to his own little world, without God.

….”another to his merchandise”….looking for profit from God, not to obey Him.

….”the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them”….John the Baptist was refused, and then beheaded…and he was the forerunner of Christ.

The message having been refused by Israel….God sends Rome against Israel and destroys Jerusalem (70 A.D.) (Matthew 22:7)

God sends other servants to bring in guests to His Son’s marriage supper.

Matthew 22:9-10 “Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.”

Some believe this to be the church sent out into the world with the gospel….

2 Peter 3:9, 13-14 “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for the new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”

….others believe it to be the Jewish believers, sealed and sent out in the Tribulation period….preaching Christ as the true Lord and Son of God, to Israel again.

Revelation 7:3, 9, 14 “Saying, Hurt not the earth,….till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes,…

….And he said unto me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

As the parable says….His servants went out and the “wedding was furnished with guests”.

Now you would think that would be the end of it….but…(and I believe this to be the true message of this parable Jesus is telling, for us today……we are to be ready to meet the King…and there is only one way to be ready.)

There are two calls given by the gospel:

The general call, which is heard by many….who hear it and only respond to the promise of the call….and not to receive Christ.

Then there is the effectual call, which is heard by those who open up their hearts and lives to Christ.

It is termed effectual, because it effects a real change in the Ruler, and direction of our life.

Matthew 22:11-14 “And when the king came into see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

Then said the king to the servants, bind him hand and foot, and take him a way, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Are you wearing the wedding garment which is the righteousness of Christ imputed to all who receive Him by faith?

For when you had an audience with a king….a proper garment was provided to you….you did not go in, with your own garments on.

This man, however, appeared before the king without it….representing all who firmly believe they are ready for His kingdom to come….but are not.

There are many good people….yet their goodness does not lead them to faith.

There are many people who have a knowledge of God,….but knowledge does not give us faith.

All our righteousness is as filthy rags….

Isaiah 64:6 “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

If we trust in our own goodness, kindness, or right living….we certainly will be “taken away” in our iniquities (iniquities is anything unequal to our high calling in Christ Jesus)…

……we can only be “ready” to come before the King if we come to Christ and receive Him as Lord and Savior…..and put on Christ.

Romans 13:14 “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.”

For anyone to be saved, they must turn from their “own ways”, and come to Christ.

Have you heard the call to receive the Lord Jesus Christ, and have you come to Him?

Or are you still making excuses and going your “own way”?

The Helmet of Salvation

Ephesians 6:17 “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God:”

Thinking saved.

(Salvation is four-fold: being saved from the love of sin…conviction. Being saved from the guilt of sin….being born again. Being saved from the power of sin…sanctification. Being saved from the presence of sin…Heaven.)

This is not just: I know I am saved…..even though that is a great and grand truth….but the helmet is made for battle…and God never gives the armor to babes.

(2 Timothy 2:3-4 “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him Who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

“Entangleth” means to be intertwined as a braid….so you can not move forward.)

He gives HIs armor to full grown children….who have come through the experiences of:

Knowing they are born again, and have the Holy Spirit within them. (Ephesians 1:13-14)

Those that recognize that they are seated in the heavenlies, in Christ, and the He is seated in them, here on earth. (Ephesians 2:6)

We are responsible to do the good works God has purposed for us,…to know that He has given us all we need to do them. (Ephesians 2:10)

Knowing that no man’s birth identity is counted in the church….we are all one family….in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:19)….and that we are to keep that unity in practice (Ephesians 4:3)

Knowing we are called to be rooted and grounded in love, and to be filled with the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 3:17, 5:18)

Submitting ourselves to God, to each other, to our parents, and to our bosses. (Ephesians 5:21, 6:1-9)

Then:

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.

It is finally….for God would never cause HIs might to be used by babes in Christ….but by those who have begun to be exercised in their salvation.

That is why the helmet of salvation is so important in the armor.

Our armor is for protection….and nothing protects our minds….our thinking process like having learned to think God’s thoughts after Him.

It used to be preached, that as a man thinketh in his heart….so he is

(Proverbs 23:7)

And it is true.

No matter how much of a smile we have, if we hate….or feel resentment….we are those things.

No matter how much we do, to cover up what we think….perhaps very well…

….still God knows….and the devil does too.

We can not stand in the battle when we are double-minded, or unforgiving, or self-righteous.

The armor is not so we can battle our sins…..

…..the Holy Spirit and sanctification does that….

(yes, that is part of salvation…but by the time we put the armor on, we have learned many of those things.)

The armor is so we can stand, hanging on to the finished work of Christ,…..in us.

The battle that the devil wages is to trick us and wile us….out of our possessions in Christ….into misery, and failure….

….if he succeeds,…..then we have not lost what we had…..but we have lost our enjoyment of them….and our strength, to go on into greater things.

Fear replaces peace….distrust replaces stability….and we begin to thing the Rock is moving beneath us.

When actually,….it is us shaking and trembling…on it.

To think saved….is a helmet that protects us by keeping our eyes focused on what is important….Christ and His Will….and His Word….for our minds must always find time in His Word. (It is our sword)

1 Corinthians 9:25-27 “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; (not as a babe in Christ, who is unsure of God’s Word)

So fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. (Useless in the work God has called me to.)

To think saved….is a stability in our thoughts that sees the terrors in the night,…..yet,….is not afraid, for we are looking to the Lord.

Psalm 91:5 “Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;”

To think saved is to see your fellow men as sheep without a Shepherd, not just wicked and evil men:

Matthew 9:36 “But when He (Jesus) saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no Shepherd.”

To think saved is to see…now…..that you are never alone,….though the battle is long and hard,…

….He is strengthening you for the next blow, and your Victory:

Micah 7:8 “Rejoice not against me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall arise;

When I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.”

To think saved…..is to be in harmony with the things of Christ:

Philippians 2:1-2 “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

Fulfill ye my love, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”

The helmet of Salvation protects His soldiers……so we can walk on in the Way the Lord has sent us,…secure, established in peace and love in God’s Word, in our thought life….for the battles of our life ahead.

(In Pilgrims Progress….a book I love….I have read it at least ten times….and get something new from it every time….

…when Christian leaves the House Beautiful….picturing the Church assemblies….he is given Armor.

That is good, for the next thing he faces is the Valley of Humiliation. He must go down into this valley…and he slips a little, for to humble ourselves is hard.

As he crosses this Valley, he is stopped by Apollyon….(the devil) who try’s to convince him to go back to the life he had….

…which he refuses.

Then, Apollyon starts throwing flaming darts…..but Christian has his armor, and manly fights against them.

But the accusations (the flaming darts) come so fast that Christian is wounded in his head (his thoughts)….his hand (good works), and his foot (peace).

This weakens him,….and Apollyon thinks he has him destroyed….so he comes close, knocks him down

Christian’s sword flies from his hand….and Apollyon is about to do him in….

….when (and I love these words…..for they are for every Christian)…

….”As God would have it”….

….Christian reaches as hard as he could, and his hand finds the sword (Word of God)….and He cry’s…

…”Rejoice not against me, O my enemy. When I fall, I shall arise.

And with that, Christian strikes Apollyon in the chest….which makes him give way….and then Christian says,..

“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors, through Him that loved us.” (Romans 8:37,39)

And Apollyon flew away! That battle was over.)

James 4:6-8 “….God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you….”

The Offerings of Sweet Savor

There were three “Sweet savor” offerings….and two offerings for sin and trespass….five offerings in all.

The sweet savor offerings are called a savor of rest. These were all burnt on the altar….showing that the sweetness would not be shown without the fire of trial, or suffering.

They are all “to God”, but one is also shared with the priests (and we are a holy priesthood, 1 Peter 2:5); and one is shared in fellowship with God and the priests and the people who sacrifice, (Hebrews 10:24-25)

The offerings under the Law….all looked forward to the completeness of Christ’s offering….both to God, and for us.

They were like a shadow….Showing a form of the real…..but Christ’s sacrifice was real….for it was effectual for us….forever.

Hebrews 10:1 “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices, which they offered year by year continually, make the comers thereunto perfect.”

Hebrews 10:12, 14 “But this Man (Jesus), after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, set down on the right hand of God;

For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.”

Let us look at the “sweet savor” offerings:

The whole burnt offering:

Leviticus 1:3, 9 “If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will….

….and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the Lord.”

Christ was the whole burnt offering….for He kept back nothing of the full price of redemption, for His own.

He paid every suffering for our sins.

But there is more to this sacrifice,…..

…….This sacrifice, speaks of the Lord Jesus fully giving to God, that glory and subjection, that He deserves.

He did it voluntarily….for the whole burnt offering was….

……”If any man of you….”. It was not a “must”, but a “If you will”.

Hebrews 10:7 “Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of Me) to do Thy will, O God.”

Christ’s was in complete subjection to God,…..

…..and by HIs sacrifice, He made us a way, that we might submit ourselves to God as well.

There was the Meat (Meal) offering….

……which was another “offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the Lord:”(Leviticus 2:2)

It was to be brought with frankincense (the spice of kings)…..and oil.

Leviticus 6:14-16 “And this is the law of the meat (meal) offering…

And he shall take of it his handful, of the flour of the meat offering, and of the oil thereof, and all the frankincense which is upon the meat offering, and shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savor, even the memorial of it, unto the Lord.

And the remainder thereof shall Aaron and his sons eat:….”

This sacrifice was first to be sacrificed to God….a handful, taken and placed upon the altar, with the frankincense and oil….

…..the rest to be given to the priests.

It was to be fine flour…..not the corse grind of regular bread, but finely ground….extra effort was to be made for this sacrifice.

This fine flour represented the beauty of the Lord Jesus to His Father……Jesus was God’s beloved Son.

Matthew 3:17 “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in Whom I am well-pleased.”

All the character and actions of Christ….pleased God, the Father.

He is well beloved in the eyes of His believers (“priests” 1 Peter 2:9) and we are to “feed” on Him, as our bread of life. (John 6:35)

The frankincense and the oil were given in this sacrifice……in recognition of Christ’s Kingship, and the fullness of the Holy Spirit (oil) on Him.

This was the only bloodless sacrifice, for it spoke of Christ’s Person—not His Work.

The peace offering…..

Leviticus 3:3-5 “And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering….the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,

And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them,…

And Aaron’s sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt sacrifice….”

This is an amazing offering…..for it includes God, the priests, and the people bringing it.

The offering they were to bring,….they were to identify with it……placing their hand on the head of it. (Leviticus 3:2)

Then they were to burn part to God,…..

….give part of the sacrifice to the priest that was administering,……

…..and have a party with family and friends for vows, thanksgiving for birth’s, weddings, etc.

Christ has brought peace, by HIs sacrifice…..to those who believe on Him:

Ephesians 2:13, 17 “But now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.”

We can now come, by that peace with God, having fellowship with Him…..and with our fellow believers. We are to rejoice in His Presence….”coming boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help” (Hebrews 4:16)

By the peace His sacrifice wins…..you may come before God in praise to Him, and the joyfulness of your heart…..for His wonderful gifts, to you.

These were all the “offerings of sweet savor unto the Lord”.

All of them showing that glory, that the trials and suffering of Christ, brought to God.

God is Holy….and without the sacrifices of Christ; He would have nothing to do with us….except judgement.

But Christ’s perfect sacrifice changed that….in several ways:

His coming to earth as Son of Man/Son of God, for us…….for we could do nothing to bring us near to God.

His life in subjection as a servant;….for we were rebels, fighting against God and His authority.

His prayers, and example of character and service;…..for we had only laws before….no living example of the beauty of those laws, lived out in life.

His sacrificial death….for by it, He gave us the privilege of becoming the children of God,….

….and. gave us the Holy Spirit whereby we are empowered to live for God,…

….and it gave us peace.

How full was Christ’s sacrifice….to God,…..and for us…

…no wonder they are called the “sweet savor” sacrifices!

Let us praise His beauty of Plan, Purpose, and Perseverance….till all was perfected….both for God, the Father….and us.

Isaiah’s Call

Isaiah 6:1-2 “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple.

Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings, with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.”

This was some sight! But it was not Isaiah’s call.

Isaiah was, most believe, a nephew of king Uzziah. He was often at court, and prophesied during the reign of four kings.

The royal family was allowed to go into the Holy Place, although they could not officiate at the golden altar.

(Isaiah writes of Christ Jesus as a suffering Savior, as well as the exalted Lord; and is quoted more often than any other prophet, in the New Testament.

He preached about a hundred years before Judah was taken into captivity for their sins;…….although he preached that it would happen, if they would not change their ways, and do as the Lord commanded them.)

Before this vision of God, Isaiah had preached against the sins of Judah.

Though they had the Temple and they were still performing the outward duties…some with great show (Isaiah 1:11-13);

…..yet it was just that…an elaborate show. (“The multitude of your sacrifices”)

The Lord had spoken to him about all of this. God wanted the people to do what the law set forth:

“Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings….Learn to do well; relieve the oppressed,…

(And the most important…) Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord:…” (Isaiah 1:16-18)

Isaiah saw the people ruined by twisting the Word of God.

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness….that are wise in their own eyes,…that are mighty to drink wine,…which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!….

….because the have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the Word of the Holy One of Israel.” (Isaiah 5:20-24)

Yet, Isaiah had not much success in his preaching. Some believe he was dejected by the indifference to God’s message.

(And perhaps there are some who are saddened by the lack of seeming success in their ministry….go to God, talk to Him about it, honestly….and let Him speak to you.)

Going into the temple, he sees the Lord, high and lifted up on a throne.

(This is actually a vision of Christ Jesus on the throne, as John 12:41 tells us)

He saw the seraphims, in their proper place of reverence….and he heard their cry:

Isaiah 6:3-4 “And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.

And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.”

You might think that he would have been rejoicing to see such a vision.

But…

When this happens, Isaiah,….a spiritual man….one which wanted to honor the Lord….

…gets a good look at his own heart.

Perhaps, Isaiah saw that he too, was not without selfishness or pride….

And he cries, “Woe is me! For I am undone;”.

“I have been brought to silence….before our Holy God.

All my words, which I spoke…which were right and good…nevertheless they have brought me into judgement. I am guilty, for I am not worthy to speak for the Lord.”

And the reason he knows this? Because Isaiah was spiritual. “For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”

All he has done……is nothing in front of such a King!

He saw the Lord upon a throne—a throne of glory: think of the light that was shown Isaiah….

……before which Isaiah bowed his heart.

A throne of government: kings come and go,…….but The Lord is always in charge.

A throne of grace: And Isaiah is about to find that out (remember this is the Lord Jesus, Isaiah is seeing).

Isaiah 6:6-7 “Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:

And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touch thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.”

( It was said of Jesus, Matthew 3:11 “…He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.”)

Depressed and discouraged, Isaiah came to the Temple, and met The Lord….and repented of his own sins.

(This is what the Lord Jesus requires of all of us…..repentance and faith…for ourselves. Getting right with God ourselves….then giving His Word…faithfully.)

He had heard God’s message to Israel,……and spoke it faithfully.

But now…under convictions from his own sins….

…..he is given the opportunity to know the Lord of Glory’s mercy and grace….for himself.

And then is empowered by that grace….to show this for his people.

Isaiah 6:8 “Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”

Here is the call of Isaiah. “Who will go for us?”

And he answers. “Here, I give You myself; do as You will;…..send me.”

Then, and only then, the Lord gives Isaiah the general message of his preaching. There might be specifics which would be added, but the general message was:

Isaiah 6:9-10 “And He said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see indeed, but perceive not.

And make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and convert, and be healed.”

The Lord warned Isaiah what would happen when he spoke to them…..

As Isaiah would tell the people what God said,…….their eyes would glaze over,…….their ears would feel like they were going drop off,

…..their minds would quote the promises God has given…..

…..but refuse His threatenings….

The people would refuse the message, and be hardened in heart.

And if they chose this, God would let them be blind. (2 Corinthians 4:4)

(It was a picture of what happened when the Lord of Glory came to earth as man. Matt 13:14-15, Mark 4:12, Luke 8:10, John 12:38-41)

How sad that we forget that God is as faithful to His threatenings, as He is His promises.

Isaiah 6:11 “Then said I, Lord, how long?…”.

“How long will Your message be rejected before You act?”

In fact Isaiah was to die before it happened. For over fifty years he was to preach and prophesy tirelessly to Judah.

Most believe that Hezekiah’s son, Manasseh, had him killed because of his preaching against the wickedness and idolatry that Manasseh set up.

He had seen the King, the Lord of Glory, high and lifted up,….

…..yet spoke of Him in His most humble state (Isaiah 53), in poetic beauty.

He was the one to tell of the Lord being born of a virgin.

He followed the Lord’s calling to the end; and manifested Christ’s coming again and again….both in humility, and in power.

Isaiah 9:6-7 “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….

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 judgement and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts shall perform this.”

Isaiah 40:10, 25, 28 “Behold, the Lord will come with strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him: behold, His reward is with Him, and His Work before Him.

To whom then will ye liken Me, or I shall I be equal? Saith the Holy One.

Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of His understanding.”

Yet he also spoke a word to the remnant of true believers; encouraging them in to hang on and obey their God.

Isaiah 41:9-10 “Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art My servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.

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

This has been a long message, and how many of us would say, “If only we could hear the Lord, as he did….then I could do anything for the Lord…”

But He is the King, the Lord of Glory…High and lifted up.

He is speaking today, not in the same way as He did to Isaiah….

…but He is still calling, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?”

If you have heard His call? What is your answer?

He has a message for me, He has one for you….but are we hearing it?

What will you give in exchange for your soul?

Matthew 16:26 “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

We know this is the summary of Christ’s call to follow Him. (Matthew 16:24-26)

It is a call He gave all…(Luke 9:23-25)

Here, the Lord Jesus puts into perspective the choice we truly make….Him or the world.

If you had everything, and lost your soul, of what value could it be?

(Let us speak for a moment of losing our soul: it is not just going to Hell and then the Lake of Fire….although that is the end result.

No. We are in subjection, as mankind,……..to something.

We do not rule our destiny….we can not…..for circumstances, people, times and seasons, and places are all factors we can not rule.

In fact, we can not rule ourselves…..our souls, our personalities.

We can be phony….pretending to like or love things we do not….for “profit” or advantage in the world.

We can “learn” to like things….making ourselves over in the image of someone we want to be like….but we can never be them….but just us—like them.

We can not, at times, subdue our anger, or our affections….both fly away where they want.

But we can, as Jesus Christ said, come and let Him rule in us.

If you refuse this…..as many people mistakenly think this liberty is bondage….then the simple answer is:

You will be ruled by the world, the flesh or the devil.

The world’s thoughts will be yours.

You will always be frustrated, because your way is not being done.

The devil will trick you into real bondage of some sort.

You have lost your soul…..and you are not in Hell, yet.

There is still hope…..you can come to Christ Jesus, and let Him bring you into His kingdom.)

Jesus asked, “Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Many things in this world, say, “Don’t worry about your soul’s well being….after all your young….or after all your intelligent….or after all you go to church.”

Matthew Henry said in his commentary on the Bible: “If your religion is worth anything, It is worth everything.”

Christ says we must lose….to gain Him.

We must “Come”……leave where you are…….and then, “Follow”.

Colossians 1:10-13 “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful unto 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 is what is promised all who come to Christ….who are born again:

Being fruitful…..increasing in the knowledge of God….strengthened with all might….with joyfulness….partakers of the inheritance….delivered from the power of darkness….translated into the kingdom of His dear Son.

It is in the walk we have with Christ….bringing all that we are and have, step by step, and placing it under His control.

By a deliberate act of the will….placing all things at His disposal.

Here, Lord is my anger….I am mad and feeling it worsen….But it not just the anger….it is my resentment toward these people,…..my frustration at the lack of appreciation,….my frustration to You, even.

(By this time, when I pray, I am usually agreeing with the Lord, and giving up the feelings….they are not worth having anything come between me and Jesus.)

Now, Lord, I am sick….I am full of grief….I am weary, so weary….

What ever it is, it is….

…..and must be dealt with by bringing it all….Yes, bringing it all to Christ….to be delivered from this darkness….and no longer under the influence of the Adversary……into Light.

As Christians, we have the ability to bring ourselves into subjection, by the Holy Spirit’s power within us….by our deliberate act of our will.

(I remember talking to a man who was having some difficulties,….and he said:

“I just need more of God in my life.”

Now, I thought that sounded good….and praying for him, the Lord said to me, “What that man needs is a whole lot less of himself.”

God showed me, that He was there for that man….and His power was there for that man….but the man was not letting Him rule……

….pray for that.

And how many times the Lord has reminded me about this….for myself.)

Matthew 16:26 “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Jesus tells all who will follow Him…..it will be the world….or Me.

Which will it be?

To Know the Love of Jesus

Song of Solomon 1:2 “Let Him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth: for Thy love is better than wine.”

I have often wondered how we , as Christians, who say we know Jesus loves us; can be so indifferent to His love, and to the fellowship of believers.

I have come to the conclusion that it is not “knowing” His love in our minds; but it is receiving it in our lives, that is the problem. Because to truly receive His love, we need to receive Him….and to love Him in return.

(Most of us like the idea of love, who would not? But to receive Jesus’s love truly, is to receive Him into our lives.

There used to be a illustration of a husband and wife, just married, and the wife says to her husband: “OK, dear, I will see you Wednesday night and Sunday. Bye for now.”

So is our relationship with Christ Jesus, if it is not everyday.)

And what hinders us from opening our lives and receiving His personal love to us?

You know how a child has a fit about something, and is corrected.

Then the parent tries to gently explain why they were scolded; the child wiggles and turns away, not wanting to receive the parent just then.

The child rejecting the love shown them, to “hurt” them as they were seemingly hurt.

We are the same, as children of our Heavenly Father.

We wiggle, and turn away from the very love we want, because we did not get what we wanted;…..or because we did not want to be “wrong”.

To kiss someone on the mouth is a most intimate form of affection. You can only kiss one person at a time, this way.

This is the affection that the believer has, who is longing to receive a closer relationship with Christ Jesus.

They want more of Him. They want Him for themselves. They want to “kiss”. and “to be kissed”, by no other, but Him.

This sort of love has gone beyond, “I know I am saved, and that is enough.”

It is: “I know I am saved, and I want what the Lord has next for me:….I want to know Him as much as I can;…..to come as close to Him as is possible, here on earth.”

As Jesus said about Mary, who sat at His feet, wanting to catch every word He said:

“But one thing is needful; and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”(Luke 10:42)

This is to know Him, as He truly is…..for to know Him a little in this way,……is to want to know Him more.

This is personality to personality.

This kiss is not the kiss of repentance on the feet of Jesus, though lovely to the Lord:

Luke 7:38 “And stood at His feet behind Him weeping, and began to wash His feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed His feet, and anointed them with the ointment.”

Or,

This is not the kiss of the Father for the Prodigal; though the beginning of a renewed life:

Luke 15:20 “And he arose and came unto his father, but when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”

Or,

This is not the kiss of the traitor Judas, which was only a sign for betrayal:

Mark 14:44-45 “And he that betrayed Him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I will kiss, the same is He; take Him, and lead Him away safely.

And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to Him, and saith, Master, Master, and kissed Him.”

But this is the kiss of a heart that wants to show Jesus all her love,……and also, to receive all His love to her.

Again, the kisses of the mouth are intimate,….one to one.

A relationship like that keeps growing, from here to heaven.

Are there hinderances to remove? Or obstacles to overcome?

Of course,……but continuing to grow in fellowship,…..we continue to receive the power and personal authority of His Name, and move into a more intimate fellowship with Him, as King, Who orders all things for His own.

Song of Solomon 1:3-4 “Because of the savor of Thy good ointments Thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love Thee.

Draw me, we will run after Thee: the King hath brought me into His chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in Thee, we will remember Thy love more than wine: the upright love Thee.”

Continuing to receive His love in this more personal relationship, there is joy, and rejoicing.

We begin to understand what His Name signifies for me. (His name given in any circumstance, shows what He will be there,….for us.)

It is our recognition of His loveliness,…..both in person and His name;…..but it is “the King”….our King, who brings us into joy and rejoicing.

For, in this fellowship, we come to honor the Lord, not just as our Savior, and our Friend, but as our King. Praise God that He is for us!

Do we want this?

Forgiveness

Matthew 6:11-12 “Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors,”

As Christians we are in need of so much help from God. And God is more than willing to give it.

But He has said that our sins block His blessings to us.

Isaiah 59:2 “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.”

So when we ask for God to “give us”, we should also pray “forgive us”.

We are kept day by day, in Christ. And we need to keep the channel of blessing open.

“Forgive us our debts”. God created us as responsible creatures. Therefore, as Christians, we are to use our faculties of mind (we are to think what God wants us to), our heart (we are to love God above all else), and our wills (we are to will to do God’s Will).

Our sins here, are seen as debts: unpaid duties or failures to do God’s Will.

◦ Christ Jesus made full payment of our debts at Calvary: on the Cross our sins and guilt was canceled.

But in the practical working of the Holy Spirit within us, we can stifle the Spirit, by our sins, which we do not take to Jesus and confess.

This causes us to feel far from the Lord, for with every sin, unconfessed, a little of the light of God is overcast.

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.”

When we confess our sins, He forgives us in practical cleansing. We do not feel them, or the darkness from them. We feel as though light has been given to our souls.

We are cleansed. The burden removed, and a settled peace comes within us.

We can draw near Him again with joy and a clear conscience; because He has forgiven us.

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

His Word to us is always: “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.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

If we are ever feeling burdened by coming to Christ, sin has come between us.

Confess it, and get the peace that He has for you. Continual cleansing by His blood, as we walk in the light He shines for our path.

1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Moses and the mountains

In scripture, mountains represent two things….impossible difficulties, which only God can surmount (and we all have those in our lives)….

….and places of close, personal dealing with God; where we grow intimately closer to Him.

Moses had several such experiences in the mountains.

Exodus 3:1-3 “Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.”

Here Moses “turns aside” from his everyday routine……and meets God.

He hears His Voice in a bush which burned, without burning up….on a mountain.

This was his calling….”come close to Me, and go for Me…..and deliver My people from the bondage of Pharaoh”.

Moses is given God’s Word….and told…”return unto thy people”.

(Our calling is often among the people around us…whether in our own home or church, or town…..though it may lead elsewhere.)

Moses did that….bringing them by God’s Word, out of Egypt….and across the Red Sea, on dry ground.

Three months later:

Exodus 19:1-3 “In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.

….and there Israel camped before the mount.

And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying….”

Again Moses hears God’s Voice,….this time with a promise for His people….

Exodus 19:5-6 “Now therefore , if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people; for all the earth is mine:

And ye shall be unto a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. Those are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.”

Sinai was where God entered into a covenant relationship with Israel….there they became a nation, not just a family.

Four times Moses went up into the mountain:

(Exodus 19:19-20) When God came down on Mt. Sinai, Moses was called up in the mountain for instruction to the people.

(Exodus 24:12-13) God called Moses the first time to receive instruction for the Tabernacle and to get the Ten Commandments written on stone….these tablets he threw down and broke, when the people sinned, worshipping the golden calf…Exodus32:19.

(Exodus 32:30-33) Moses went up to God in the mountain to intercede for Israel, because of their sin with the golden calf.

(Exodus 34:1, 4) God called Moses up to the mountain to receive a new tablet containing the Ten Commandments….and saw His glory.

Each time God spoke to him, giving Moses His pattern for access to Him.

(And often our mountain experience is when we have new insight from God for our lives….which brings us into a closer relationship with Him.

Like Moses we have often prayed…..”I beseech Thee, show me Thy glory.”

But we notice, Moses had to leave the people at the bottom of the mountain….and even Joshua, his minister….was left at a low level.

He had to travel up….alone. Most of the time, we too, need to leave the crowd, to gain closer union with God.)

The next mountain Moses climbed was about thirty nine years later….that mountain was mount Hor, for it was time for Aaron, the high priest (Moses brother)…..to die.

Numbers 20:25-26 “Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor:

And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there.”

All three went up the mountain, but only two: Moses and Eleazar, now as high priest, came down, to continue to minister.

It was time for Aaron to die….and that shows that there is a time for all of us…whether sickness, or accident….death will come to those we love. He was not alone….Moses and Aaron’s son were there….and God, of course….to take his hand.

And they mourned for Aaron for thirty days.

(Sometimes our mountain experience is grief…..grief is one of those things that is very hard to deal with…for often we do not know how it will affect us.

I have seen solid people fall apart….in grief.

I have seen the faithful….question God for a time.

I have seen children, bewildered….because parents lack the courage to speak about these things [instead of giving hope and confidence in God to these little ones, they give vague answers….which are not answers.]

Some cry and mourn out loud….and others silently.

Some grow angry that there was not more time….thinking of things unsaid, or things undone.

But grief….is our heart’s feeling, when a loved one goes away [in the Hebrew it means “to carve”….and their loss will “carve a place for them that is empty…unfilled in us”.]

It hurts us, for we will miss them, and their voice….speaking to us.

But, like all “hurts”….there is our Beloved Physician, Jesus Christ…..who fills their loss with good: good memories, good courage, good peace….

…..and it is good, if we like Moses and Israel here….take time to mourn.

“Mourn” means to pour out your hurt (that means the hurt is gone, but not the memories)…and for us Christians….we should pour it out to God.)

The next mountain that Moses climbed was Pisgah.

It was on the far side of Jordon….for he could not go into the land because in his anger he disobeyed God, the second time he brought water from the Rock.

(The Rock symbolized Christ….giving life giving water to His people. Moses struck it once in Horeb (Exodus 17:6)….this showed that all the blessings we receive, are because Jesus was smitten for us.

…..the next time he was to bring water from the Rock, Moses was to speak to it…showing Christ Jesus in ascension glory, giving blessing to His people, from heaven, when we ask.

But Moses, in anger struck the Rock again….having a fit, and disobeying God.

After all God had showed Moses, his temper-tantrum barred him from Canaan. Deuteronomy 32:51)

On Pisgah, God showed Moses the land:

Deuteronomy 3:27 “Get thee up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold it with thine eyes: for thou shalt not go over this Jordan.”

Deuteronomy 34:1, 5 “And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho: and the Lord showed him all the land…

So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord.”

This time the mountain brought him, not just to see the Lord’s glory….but to the Lord Himself in heaven.

His work was done….now his ministry he had accomplished by shepherding the second generation, would be blessed….but under Joshua (who was Moses helper. Exodus 24:13) all Israel went in to possess the Land.

(This is a great mountain….for when we die, as Christians, we are in the hands of God….our spirits and souls go with Him….but our body stays here(Deuteronomy 34:6) for a while….one day it will be raised to a glorified body, as well.

Moses work was done….and he had prepared others to go on…..are we preparing for our final journey….and for others to go on without us?)

But there is one more mountain for Moses: and this is a Hallelujah one!

Luke 9:28-31 “And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, He (Jesus) took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.

And as He prayed, the fashion of His countenance was altered, and His raiment was white and glistening

And, behold, there talked with Him two men, which were Moses and Elijah:

Who appeared in glory, and spake of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem.”

Jesus is praying on the mountain, and His Father sends Him Moses, representing the Law….and Elijah, representing the Prophets to talk to Him….

……about “His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem”.

Moses finally got into the Land, in his glorified body,….standing on a mountain, talking to the Son of God/ the Son of Man, Jesus Christ, face to face.

And what other subject would they have?….but the great work Christ would accomplish for Salvation at Jerusalem….what a conversation that would have been!

(And this mountain show us that, in heaven, we will be able to talk to Jesus face to face….in our glorified bodies….and with other believers.)

The “mountain” experiences of our lives are there to bring us closer to the Lord…to give us a desire to grow even more closer.

What of us? Are we “turning aside” from our everyday lives, to hear God’s voice…even on the more difficult mountains of experience?

Are we seeking a closer view of God, no matter what others feel about Him?

God has mountain experiences for us….do we want them?

Moses did….and had them….do we?