The Ark of God.

There are three Arks in scripture:

First:

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

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

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

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

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

Even the earth was becoming spoiled, and wasted.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Second:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Third:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Second, as a Personal Lord and Savior:

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

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

Third, as our Center and Guide:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Guidance

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

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

He is mastered, but by love.

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

He is mastered, but by force of circumstances.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For in Him is glorious liberty of spirit!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And when we look?

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

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

We need to know….

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

I want that gentle instruction of His eye.

How do you want to be guided?

Spiders, and their Webs

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

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

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

Then they are sticky, and cling to everything.

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

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

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

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

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

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

What we imagine, we believe.

What we want, we build to catch.

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

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

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

They….weave the spider’s web:….

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

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

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

Nothing else will do.

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

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

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

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

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

The first thing required of all men, is repentance:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So, what shall we do?

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

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

Priscilla and Aquila

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Son of God came in the flesh,

born of a virgin,

lived a perfect life,

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

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

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

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

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

Would you be a Follower of Jesus?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We just were,…..and that was that.

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

We will be the creature before the Creator.

Letting His choice for us, be our best.

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

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

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

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

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

So, here is a good place to follow Jesus:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Would you be a follower of Jesus?

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

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

The “tree” and “mountain” in our way

Luke 17:6 “And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.”

Mark 11:22-23 “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast unto the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.”

There are many things which can hinder our walk with the Lord….but these two are specifically said to be removed….by faith….by believing the Lord.

Sycamine trees, or sycamore trees are trees with fruit like figs…..with deep roots.

For the emphasis here….in the removal of it…is the roots.

“Be thou plucked up by the root…and be thou planted in the sea…”

(Most trees have as much root beneath them as the limbs coming out from it.)

For the scriptures say,…we need to be diligent in dealing with our “roots of bitterness”.

Hebrews 12:15 “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;”

These points of bitterness, “trouble you”. They spring up at an unsuspecting time, and hinder our attitude, prayers, and love.

We all have these points of bitterness…..something from our past—whether long past…or not long ago—where someone has hurt us….and we have not forgiven them.

Maybe we have tried to “forget it”…..or shrug it off….but the Lord says, “forgive from your heart”…

For if you read the beginning of the chapter…..Jesus is talking to his disciples about offenses and forgiveness.

“Take heed to yourselves:”. Again be diligent

“If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him…”. Tell him his fault, and maybe you will find that it was not a willful act (trespass)….

…but an oversight…a mistake.

….not that it will hurt the less…

…so Christ says, “by faith..the faith of a mustard seed…you can say to this hurt….this resentment which has rooted in your heart and mind…these thoughts against this person or persons which have hurt you…..be thou plucked up and cast into the sea.”

How freeing this is!

Truly, forgiveness is the casting of the injury and sin against us,…the trespass…into the sea…out of our sight….and out of our emotions…

…as the Lord casts our sins out of HIs sight.

Isaiah 38:17 “Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but Thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back.”

Forgiveness is the making the thing broken….whole or healed.

Therefore forgiveness is first for the Lord’s sake….for He wants us to be whole…with nothing between He and us.

Then it is for the other person’s sake….for a sin against their soul, injures it, whether they believe it or not.

Then it is for our sake….for forgiveness is tearing away the bonds they have placed on you…and being healed.

And our forgiveness…is whether they ask for it or not.

We need faith to forgive….for forgiveness is difficult.

Faith lays hold on God’s power…..and when faith is even as small as a mustard seed…it can encourage the other graces within us….under the power of the Holy Spirit….and give us the victory in this situation. (1 John 5:4)

Then there is the hinderance of a mountain.

(Mark 11:21-22 “…whosoever say unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt…but shall believe…he shall have whatsoever he saith.”)

Three times the removal of “this” mountain is spoken of.

(The other two are Matthew 17:20, 21:21)

It is a specific mountain….a hinderance….an impossible, hard, unflinching hinderance.

And it is to be removed! A mountain….that thing that hinders me….removed!

(And three times in the scriptures (Genesis 18:14, Jeremiah 32:17, 27) it is spoken…”Is there anything too hard for the Lord?”)

“This” mountain maybe misunderstanding….which has hindered our hearts from believing the Lord completely.

Mark 8:17 “And when Jesus knew it, He saith unto them….perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?”

When we do not understand the Lord’s Word….our ears are dull to what He is telling us….and we do not follow Him as we should.

“This” mountain maybe grief… Proverbs 15:13 “….but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.”

Psalm 147:3 “He (the Lord) healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.”

“This” mountain maybe a certain set of circumstances….something which is hindering your getting the Lord’s Will accomplished….

…..which often times can be traced back to our unbelief about the work…

…as when the disciples failed to heal a man’s son….

“And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.” Matthew 17:16

“And when the disciples asked Him why they could not….Jesus said, Because of your unbelief:… “ Matthew 17:19-20

We do not often see the gravity of the sin of unbelief….

…that is why we must have faith in God…

….and our faith must be in exercise.

We must keep turning our eyes to Jesus Christ.

You can describe faith (as I often do) as seeing God always before you.

But you can also say that faith….holds on to God.

Faith is the foundation of all other graces….and without the exercising of it, these other graces of hope, love, peace….fall.

Faith is the act of seeing, and believing, and knowing, and reaching out for….

…and it is all toward God….who can do all things.

Lord, increase our faith.

His Pleasure for me.

Revelation 4:10 “The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,”

The glory of having a crown in that day, will be, to cast it at the feet of Jesus.

He deserves all the honor: for He created us, saved us, sustained us, and brought us to the place of all joy: heaven and His Presence forever.

This crown is truly our own; we have “earned” it as a reward for our devotion to the Lord Jesus. We could walk around heaven with it on, if we wanted to.

[There are three crowns for us in heaven, spoken of in scripture:

the crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8) to them that love His appearing;

the crown of life (James 1:12) to them that love Him;

and the crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4) by feeding the flock of God, by being examples to the flock.]

But the real glory of having a crown; is to cast it down at His feet.

He has shown me this verse, I read it everyday:

Revelation 4:11 “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.”

He created all things: By His Almighty Power He made something out of nothing.

And for His pleasure they are , and were created.

“Pleasure” here means determination.

If, indeed, we exist for His Pleasure/Determination, what is His Pleasure where we are concerned?

What has He determined for us?

It is to be reconciled to Him…..in all things.

(Is there something you are not reconciled to God, about? I wish to tell you….He comes to meet us….as we come to Him. [the prodigal])

2 Corinthians 5:19-20 “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and have committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

This is to put first things, first.

And it is in today’s situation that this must be done.

We can not wait for “better” opportunities, or a “more convenient season”.

“Lord, I am here now, by Your pleasure……In this set of circumstances.

May I adjust to them,…..seek Your will in them,…..and see Your will brought to pass in me, by them.

And may I know Your joy and peace in them.”

(How many opportunities have I missed because I thought that this situation was just like before? Too many. )

But we can be “crowned” here, by the Lord, as well:

Psalms 103:2-5 “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all they diseases;

Who Redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowned thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

The “crownest” here, means to encircle for protection.

Here, we are crowned with God’s lovingkindness and mercy for our protection…..crowned also suggests noticeable, for testimony to others for our God.

In heaven, we are given crowns to reward our devotion to Christ…..the joy of which, will be to give them back to Jesus….Who won us to Himself….by His sacrifice and life.

We are created for a purpose. Saved for a purpose. Guided into that purpose, which is His Pleasure/Determination, by the Holy Spirit.

Will we be reconciled to Him in all things,…..and our purpose….day by day?

Let us have the crown of love and mercy encircle us now….and look forward in devotion to Christ, to be able to throw our crowns down at His feet.

Praise ye the Lord

Psalm 150:6 “Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.”

Thirteen times in this psalm….praise of the Lord is spoken of:

“praise the Lord”, “praise Him”, “praise God”.

The book of Psalms begins with God’s estimate of the man that is blessed….which is the man who makes God and His Word, his satisfaction.

Psalms 1:1-2 “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.”

The Psalms ends with a estimate of God’s due….by the man who has found God as his satisfaction….praise for all He is, and all He has done.

Psalm 150:1-2 “Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in HIs sanctuary: praise Him in the firmament of His power.

Praise Him for HIs mighty acts: praise Him according to His excellent greatness.”

Someone has said, that the Psalms are the heart’s response to God’s dealings with HIs people.

In Psalms we see, not just the spiritual history…..but the feelings and thoughts of the people of God.

Some were written by Moses….and placed in this book. (Psalm 90)

Some were written by others….but most were songs and cries from David.

David, the shepherd,(Psalm 23, 100)…..David, in prayer (Ps. 86),….David, the hunted by Saul, (Ps. 59)…..David, the king,….David, the sinner (Psalm 32, 51)…..David, the lover of the House of the Lord (Psalm 84, 24)

In all the situations and trials we come into contact with….we will find a like situation….and feelings in the Psalms.

Moses about the attitude of the Israelites. (Ps.106)

David when his own son was trying to destroy him and his kingship (Ps. 3).

When the psalmist became discouraged about the wicked…how they seemed to have no trouble, yet the righteous had all sorts of trials. (Ps. 73)

David when he gave into the wrong means….and tried to “save” himself from Saul’s hate, by going to the Philistines. (1 Sam. 21:10-15, Ps.34)

All through the Psalms there are passages of great comfort…..exhortations to right means….and the cries of God’s people in distress, trouble, doubt, and correction.

Psalm 102…a prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint before the Lord.

Psalm 102:19-20 “For He hath looked down from the height of His sanctuary; from heaven did the Lord behold the earth.

To hear the groaning of the prisoners; to loose those that are appointed to death.”

Psalm 22….a prophesy of the afflictions and crucifixion of Christ.

Psalm 22:1, 18 “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me? Why art Thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my venture.”

Psalm 110…a prophesy of the coming kingdom of David’s son….Christ Jesus.

Psalm 110:2 “The Lord shall send the rod of Thy strength out of Zion: rule Thou in the midst of Thine enemies.”

God and me….is a great title for many of the psalms….

…and so, in the end,….through all these situations and deliverances…

…there is only one thing to do:

Praise the Lord! For all His wonderful works! For all HIs mercy!

Praise God! From the sanctuary to the heavens above…..give glory and praise to our Lord!

From me to Him…..let my heart, and mind, and whole being….praise the Lord.

Rain

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

Christ Jesus, when He comes to us by the influence of the Holy Spirit, is like a shower of rain, to a dry and thirsty ground.

When we are without Jesus in our lives, our hearts are hard, and nothing seems to soften them or make an impression on them.

(We may feel many emotions….which come and go….bring thoughts to lift or depress…..but our hearts are not softened by them….only used….in and out….never becoming the fruitful garden full of beauty and usefulness to the Lord.)

When we are born again….the Holy Spirit comes within us…..like a gentle rain, He softens us…..to feel the impressions of the Word of God for our lives.

But when we fall into sin after becoming Christians,(and sadly this can happen)…..we can again become “hardened”.

So we need to turn to Him again, and pray for showers of His mercy and grace to come to us, and soften our hearts in repentance, and cleansing in His blood.

Wherever Christ comes, the rain of the Holy Spirit and of grace, comes to our souls;…..and we are turned into a well watered land.

Fruitful and beautiful, for we drink Him in;…..and by His Spirit’s influence, we are changed little by little, into His character.

As rain is a free gift of God to the earth……to poor and rich alike, the rain falls.

So Christ is offered to all who will receive Him.

The rain is most necessary to all the parts of the plants: roots, trunk, branches, leaves, and blossom.

So Christ is necessary to every part of us: our understanding, our will, our emotions, and our memories.

He strengthens us in good things, and enlivens us as we grow.

He increases our peace, and love for Him and others.

He preserves us within, by His Spirit; and without, by HIs Word.

As rain sometimes comes amid thunderstorms, as well as the gentle warm rain; so Christ comes to us to warn us, as well as to encourage us.

As rain satisfies the dry earth, so Christ comes and satisfies us.

He gives us the fruit of His Spirit within us.

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

Psalm 16:11 “Thou wilt show me the path of life: in Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.”

If we follow on to know the Lord,…..He will come unto us as the rain, the former and latter rain, upon the dryness of our souls.

1 Corinthians 3:10-11 “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

Paul says he is a masterbuilder….an ambassador of Christ.

Simply he has gone about preaching the foundation of salvation through grace and faith….in Christ Jesus.

All is through Christ Jesus….but we must have the foundation of being born again…..then we too may build upon Him our part of His Purpose. (Matthew 7:24-27)

We are to be be watchful, as we preach and teach the kingdom…..to build on that foundation….all the things of Christ.

Titus 2:11-12 “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lust, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;”

Oh, the fullness of the grace of God that bringeth salvation….from sin, and ourselves, and the world! There is saving grace…Hallelujah! And there is enabling grace….Praise God!

Paul preached grace…and often sought in prayer a greater supply of grace for the churches…..that Christians might be spiritually awakened, and vigorous….in a healthy and obedient state….that they might be “to the praise of His glory.”

(You will notice here, it is the denying of ourselves…first,…in anything that opposes God (ungodliness)….and in anything that runs after the world’s attitudes and opinions (worldly lust)…

…that we might live…unto God.)

Soberly here, does not mean sadly…..

…it means concentrating on the things of the Lord….not letting things distract us.

(Some people say Christians are sad and mournful.

But Christianity….though often full of trials….is a joyous life….a life of:

“Turn my eyes upon Jesus….look full into HIs wonderful face….and the things of earth will grow strangely dim….in the light of HIs glory and grace.”)

Righteously,…walking in the light of HIs Will….keeping safely close to Him….and turning others to His light.

Godly, means reverent….honoring the Lord in word and life…..being a faithful servant to our Lord…..a faithful brother or sister in Christ.

(The word, “reverent” has somehow gotten to be spoken of in a bad light in this world….

….but reverent is a sweet term showing the hearts awe of our wonderful Lord. It is placing Him above and first….and laboring to give glory to Him in character, as well as words.)

This is how we should live….eyes to Christ, walking in light, and our hearts full of honor to God.

Titus 2:13-14 “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.

Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

Paul’s heart wells up….as he is thinking of the goal of all our lives…

….to be in a ready state….for Christ’s return.

To be ready for the reign of Christ on the earth….by having that kingdom within us now! (Matthew 6:10)

For Christ Jesus gave Himself for us…..He became the sacrifice which would once take away our sins! (Hebrews 10:10, 12)

Christ now purifies us….by HIs blood and His Spirit….that we might be…

(It is “might be”….for the power by His Spirit is there….will we use what He paid the price for?)

…that we might be a peculiar people…zealous of good works.

We understand the good works….

…and we understand to do them in the chaos of this world…we need zealousness….or to be boiling hot!

But peculiar people? This simply means….”being beyond usual….special”.

He wants us to live up to our privileges as HIs son and daughter…to gain every promise….come to HIs throne of grace and get grace and mercy…

….and live obedient, joyful lives.

And as we look for Christ’s return for us…..let us also live for Him….and build on the foundation of Christ….those good works He has for us to do.