Not willing that any should perish

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

The Lord is not willing that any should perish….but that all should come to repentance.

But, what are we willing?

It is an interesting way of saying it: “…that all should come to repentance.”

How many times does Jesus say, “Come”……here it is come to Him for repentance!

He is so willing to save….He will help you repent….if you will come to Him!

He does not say…..you must give up this, to come to Me….but….

….He says, Come to Me…and I will help you give up this.

Our sin separates us from every good thing….from God, first….but also from true sight….true understanding….true hope and love.

And God is not willing that we perish in our sins….so He sent HIs Son to save all who will come to Him.

Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

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

It is also interesting that God always seeks us, first.

He did in the garden with our first parents….Adam and Eve…when He came down…knowing they had sinned…

….yet giving them the opportunity to come to Him and confess it….

…”And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden….And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?” (Genesis 3:8-9)

And He does with us….He sends His Spirit to wake us up, to our sin….and then calls…

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

So the question still remains…..will you come to repentance…..come to Jesus Christ, and give yourself to Him?

John 6:37, 40 “All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.

And this is the will of Him Who sent Me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day.”

Coming to Christ is believing,…that is in the heart……

….and calling out to Him to save us,…with the mouth:

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

God is not willing that any should perish….will we hear His call to come…..to come to Him?

Revelation 22:17 “And the Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

The longest Day

Joshua 10:12-13 “Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, moon, in the valley of Avalon.

The sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasten not to go down about a whole day.”

A little background is necessary:

Israel was in the five year process of fighting the different sections of Canaan, to inherit the land God had given them.

Five kings got together to come against Gibeon, which Israel had made a league with. Gibeon was a great city, and the men were mighty. (Joshua 10:2)

So these kings thought if they all came together to destroy Gibeon, then the Israelites would be no match for them, at all.

But in this process, they did not take into account, Israel’s God.

Israel had made a league with Gibeon, and God honored the league.

(Actually, it was wrong to make this league. They failed here.

Joshua and the rulers of the tribes “looked” to what the Gibeonites wanted them to see, when they lied to Joshua;…..instead of asking counsel of God. Joshua 9:9-11, 14-15

But their mistake did not annul the league. And God said they had to honor it.

The Gibeonites had been made servants of God’s house, and they believed in the Lord God of Israel.)

So when Gibeon, who was now an ally to Israel, was attacked by the five kings,…….word was sent to Joshua and the Israelites, to come and help.

Joshua 10:6 “And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp of Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us.”

This was a mighty force…..not only a huge army….but warriors of superior status!

(“Gathered together against”…..how many times have we, as His Church, had a mighty force come against us?)

When they got the word, Joshua and his army took a forced march of 20 some miles…..at night,…..to get there;…….so they could honor God and the league,….and then started to fight the five kings and their large armies!

Thankfully they heard from God about the march and the battle.

Joshua 10:8-9 “And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thy hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.

Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night.”

Now I want to add a word of our Great Shepherd here:

John 10:4 “And when He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them, and the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice.”

He goes before….

God has a plan and a way; even when we fail. He is ever ready to lead us into the right way.

Joshua 10:10-11 “And the Lord discomforted them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way…

And it came to pass, as they fled before Israel, and were in the going down to Beth-horon, that the Lord cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: there were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with a sword.”

The Lord “discomforted”them.

If you look at other scriptures that this word is in, for battle, it means: the Lord sent thunder and lightening, scaring the horses.

And then, He sent hailstones! (These, God had reserved for the day of battle. Job 38:22-23)

God had said, “Fear not,…I have delivered them into your hands”. But the day was waning. It would soon be sunset.

So Joshua asked for help. He would need more time, so he asked for it.

To me, this is amazing faith…..(faith always sees God)….for Joshua asked God, for what God wanted….and promised…..the defeat of these five kings.

But what did Joshua ask for? Light and time….to see the job done.

(And we too, can ask for the light we need, to fight our battles,….to see them done. For the Lord wants to fight for us.)

He did it publicly, in front of his men, to encourage them in their faith.

God was with them.

He did not guide from a distance; but was in charge in the battle.

So he asked for the sun to stand still, for twenty-four hours.

Joshua 10:12-14 “Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, moon, in the valley of Ajalon.

And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies….So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hastened not to go down about a whole day.

And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord harkened to the voice of a man: for the Lord fought for Israel.”

The sun stayed up for an extra day, so that the enemy could not escape. It was to stand still over Gibeon, where they were fighting.

(Some believe that God’s might was shown here, so strongly, because these city-kings were sun worshippers.

God was showing them that He was greater than the sun above them. That the sun was at His command. And could do nothing but what He said.)

The battle continued the extra day. “For the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel.”

The territory they took in this battle was large!……More than they had taken so far. “For the Lord fought for Israel”

We often fail. Israel had failed in making a league with the Gibeonites.

Can God get “good” from our failures? Yes. All things work together for good…..it is God’s good…and God’s glory….and isn’t that what we want?

Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”

This showed the Israelites a new power of God in them, and for them….and taught them the faithfulness of God to His people.

It showed them that they are to honor the word they speak to others.

And it showed the Gibeonites that the God they began to believe in, was worthy of their trust and subjection.

Yes. We can learn the lesson our failure teaches us; that to rely on God alone, is true victory…..and then be obedient, honoring Him in it,…..and He will honor us.

Notice that in this battle: Israel fought, but God really won the victory. The “discomfort” of the thunder and lightening. The hailstones. And the sun standing still.

Yet Israel had to hear the call for help, march all night, fight, and keep fighting till the victory was won…..throughout the longest day.

The longest day, was a day of power….God’s power above all,….and the power of obedience to His Word….in them, and by them.

We can learn a lot from this story.

How many times we fail or fall; yet God forgives and restores us to victory,…..by His power, light, and faithfulness.

And He calls us to “Fear not,”…..but trust Him, and be obedient.

Genesis is a book of beginnings…..here we learn the beginning of creation…the beginning of man, perfect and then lost….the beginning to look toward a Savior from sin…..the beginning of Israel.

Exodus is the book of redemption. Israel is redeemed from slavery….for God’s worship.

Leviticus is the book of offerings. (All of which speak of some aspect of Christ’s sacrifice and provision). And the service of the priests for the people….both offerings and feasts. The Day of atonement is there (Lev. 16)

Numbers is the accounting of the people before the Lord….being in their place….and the responsibility that brings in following the Law.

But Deuteronomy is the book of remembrance: Remember what the Lord has said, and done….both in blessing and judgement,…

…and remember the warnings….blessing and curses that God has given, so that they may have the wonderful life God wants them to.

(And are we not told to remember? Acts 20:28-32. “…I have shewed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus,…”)

Deuteronomy 4:32-33,35 “For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it?

Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live?

Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightiest know that the Lord He is God; there is none else beside Him.”

They had seen much….

(How much we have been shown, both by our salvation and deliverances!)

Moses in his last words to Israel, in Dueteronomy, spoke of love….sixteen times.

And he spoke of serving the Lord with all their heart five times

And he warned of serving other gods twenty times.

Moses told them what would happen if they turned from worshipping God to idols…whether of gold or silver or wood….or of their own imaginations….

…..for a divided heart is worthless…

….we “can not serve God and mammon”. (Matthew 6:24)

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey His voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto Him: for He is thy life, and the length of thy days: that you mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers,…to give them.”

Moses is reminding them that God created everything….heaven and earth….and that as the Lord of Hosts, He is in charge of every wind and rain….every neighbor and beast….for their good….or to reprove them.

Deuteronomy 28:47 “Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;”

How much blessings He had in store for them….they rarely had, because….they did not serve the Lord with gladness….come before Him with singing!

They could have….but they chose to look to other nations and follow them instead.

And his last word to them was the way Moses saw them…..a people chosen by God….lead by God….fed by God….and given deliverance by God.

Deuteronomy 33:29 “Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! And thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.”

We, too, have been given great privileges from the Lord Jesus Christ.

They are for our lives….that we might live,…wherever we are….in the knowledge of our God…of Who He is, and what He will do for us.

Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.”

This is the life of the just….the life of faith in God, for now…in patience, and in the place He puts us,…that pleases and glorifies Him.

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

1 Peter 3:10-12 “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”

Israel’s history…..glorious when following the Lord Jehovah…..and terrible when following the gods of the nations round about them….

….was as Moses told them. (Of course, God has never given up on Israel….who will one day cry out to the Lord, and be delivered….and blessed)

But what of us? When our history is written….what will it read?

Will it read?

1 Peter 1:7-9 “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”

Let this be said of each of us!

King Saul’s Final Test of Obedience

Saul had been anointed King of God’s People, Israel. The Lord had given him victories over many of the people that would come into Israel and take their harvests, spoiling them.

But though Saul was king by God’s choice, he did not love the Lord.

He did, however love the power and accolades that it gave him, and his family.

Now, Samuel, the prophet, was sent to Saul to instruct him as to a certain errand God was going to send him on.

1 Samuel 15:1-3 “Samuel also said unto Saul, The Lord sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken to the voice of the word of the Lord.

Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid in wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.

Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, oxen and sheep, camel and ass.”

The Amalekites were to suffer a complete destruction, because of the dispicable way they had killed Israelites, when they had come from Egypt.

The Amalekites would come up behind them and kill every lagging child, woman (old or young), or man.

They seldom fought outright, but killed the weakest without pity.

This, God remembered, and now he sends King Saul to destroy them.

[This is a picture of the commandment to each of us, about our old way of life:

Colossians 3:5,9-10 “Mortify (put to death) therefore your members (habits and sins) which are upon the earth;…

Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him:”]

But does he do as he is told?

He starts well:

He gathers his army and goes to the Amalekites. Seeing the Kenites there, as well, he warns them to depart, for they showed kindness to Israel when they had come up out of Egypt.

So when the Kenites left, Saul begins to do what he was told.

But somewhere along the way; God’s way of dealing with the Amalekites was changed to Saul’s way.

God’s way was to utterly destroy them, and all that they have, for it was defiled because it was theirs.

God’s way would not enrich any Israelite with that which was under His curse.

1 Samuel 15:8-9 “And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.

But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.”

To God, all of it was vile and refuse; but not to Saul, who took the lead in the separation, by saving Agag, the king of the Amalekites.

He would be a trophy of his great victory.

And the sheep, and animals that were spared, would be bounty and spoil.

But God wanted obedience, not trophies.

And God wanted obedience, not spoil.

What to do? How could he show this to His people?

He would speak to someone who would hear Him, and obey. And send him to speak to His king, and people.

1 Samuel 15:10-11 “Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel saying,

It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he has turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandment. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the Lord all night.”

Though Samuel was grieved by the continued disobedience of Saul, he asked for an extension for him, and prayed for him.

Yet when the morning came, Samuel arose, and went to seek the disobedient king of Israel.

He would show him his error, and tell him God’s Word faithfully.

1 Samuel 15:13-14 ” And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the Lord: I have performed the commandment of the Lord.

And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?”

Saul was so self-absorbed, that he actually thought he had “performed the commandment of the Lord”.

He thought that God would not mind that he took a trophy.

And the animals?

Well, God would like a sacrifice, wouldn’t He? That would be his excuse….a sacrifice!

1 Samuel 15:15 “And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.”

Notice two things:

Saul is already blaming the people, not himself, though he was in charge.

(He doesn’t even mention Agag. He is beginning to sense something’s wrong)

And, Saul says: “to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God”.

Saul says……Thy God, Samuel….not my God.

So clear an intimation of Saul’s heart is seen here.

But faithful Samuel spoke clearly God’s Word. (though he never liked speaking this way; 1 Samuel 15:35)

1 Samuel 15:19-21 “Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the Lord, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the Lord?

And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have gone the way which the Lord hath sent me, and have brought Agag the king of the Amalekites, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.

But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal.”

How could he still think he had obeyed the voice of the Lord?

But he did.

Sin blinds us.

So Samuel explains, and it is something every child of God should hear:

No amount of Religious activity will ever take the place of Obedience to the Lord; no matter what it costs the person.

1 Samuel 15:22 “And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”

The Lord’s great delight, is in His people’s obedience to Him. That shows their love to Him.

And that is what the Lord wanted from Israel, and Israel’s king; loving obedience to Him, believing obedience to Him.

1 Samuel 15:23 “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry, because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.”

“The word of the Lord”, here does not mean just this time. Saul had rejected the Lord and HIs word, many times.

Rebellion in it’s root word, means to divide. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.(James 1:8)

Matthew 6:24 “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye can not serve God and mammon.”

King Saul tried to serve himself (first), and God.

He had “rejected” the word of the Lord…..which means it was an active choice, one he had done for a while….now he was just being called out on it.

It was an act of his will against God’s Will.

To rebel is to stand and shake your fist in the face of God. “I won’t”.

(God showed me once, that I was doing that!!

I didn’t believe Him, either.

I said, “I believe in You, I would not be that stupid!”

But the Lord kept the pressure up….until, I saw, that is just what I was doing. And He made it clear to me, that it was to stop!

I asked Him to forgive me;

And I stopped.)

So, when Saul is confronted with the truth, what does he say?

Does he ask the Lord to forgive him? Acknowledge his sin and excuses, and submit to the Lord?

1 Samuel 15:24-25 “And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord.”

He asks Samuel (not the Lord) to: “Forgive me, and forget it; let’s get on with what we were going to do.

After all it was the people’s fault, I just did what they wanted.”

Is this asking forgiveness? No.

God will have nothing to do with those who will not bow to His truth.

Samuel turns away from Saul, then Saul grabs his mantle, and tears it.

When Samuel turns to reiterate the tearing away of the kingdom from Saul; Saul again says:

1 Samuel 15:30 “And he said, I have sinned: yet, honor me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord thy God.”

What is wrong with this guy? Does he even hear what he is saying?

I think he finally shows what he really cares about:

“Honor me now before the elders of my people, and before Israel”.

And notice, it is “the Lord thy God”, not my God.

True, the kingdom was taken away; but Saul could have truly sought forgiveness from God, for himself, personally. (There would be years, before David was brought to the throne….Saul could have been forgiven and had a life before God.)

But he did not.

He chose to do his own will, and now, he chooses personal honor from the world, instead of humbling himself, and getting forgiveness from God.

What of us? How many times have we changed what we have been told by the Lord, or in the work given us?

How have we answered the Lord’s question about it?

Honestly seeking forgiveness? Or excusing ourselves?

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.”

The Lord Jesus said that those who brought forth fruit for His glory, were these:

Luke 8:15 “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth with patience.”

It is those who hear God’s word….for themselves.

Then keep it…..obedience is here, of course; but it is the hearts attitude which is also spoken of…to keep it because we love the One giving it.

And we will bring forth the fruit of His life in our life.

Demas

Col. 4:14 “Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.”

Philemon 23-24 “There salute the Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus; Mark , Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers.”

2 Timothy 4:9-10 “Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica;….”

It matters a great deal, in spiritual matters…….Who, or what, we love.

Demas is an example of this.

He was found in the writings of Paul as a fellow-laborer.

If Paul had taken him along with him, then surely he would have seemed faithful.

Yet,…..when Paul was arrested the second time,…..Demas forsook him, having loved “this present world”.

(Paul was arrested two times. Once in Jerusalem, and sent before the Roman governor, where he appealed unto Caesar.

He was tried and released for a while, traveling west. Then arrested again when he came back through Rome.)

Whether Demas was from a wealthy family, or from the poor section of people, it does not say.

He was apparently saved, and joined Paul’s ministry.

He is always mentioned with Luke, so perhaps he was a colleague, or student of his.

Paul had wrote another of his fellow-workers:

2 Timothy 3:1, 10-12 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

Yea, and all that shall live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

But at a certain time, Demas looked around and saw the way things were going for Christians, and decided that he did not love Christ Jesus enough to suffer and die as a testimony for Him.

He was going to leave Paul, and head out. He would go back to the world. He loved it more than Christ.

What does it mean, “this present world”? Simply, Demas wanted his blessings here. There had probably been many wonderful things he had seen Paul do. Many coming to the Lord, and people being healed, lives changed. Wow!

But when it came to himself, and “gaining or losing” here, he did not love the Lord more than what he could get out of life now.

Matthew 16:24-26 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.

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

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?”

Luke 17:33 “Whosoever will seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.”

This life is a short expanse of time. For it is just time. But the everlasting Kingdom and the rewards there, are for eternity.

Demas may be rewarded with good things now.

But Paul will have his good things forever.

2 Timothy 4:16-17 “At my first answer no man stood with me, and all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

Not withstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.”

Picture Paul: alone, standing before Caesar and a crowd of people, who were always around him. Onlookers, or favor seekers; standing and hearing this Paul preach about Jesus Christ, his Lord.

No man stood with him before Caesar.

It mattered who you had to stand with you. If it was a man of influence, then Ceasar might take into account that he might need that man’s influence sometime, and so be lenient on Paul.

But no man did.

Yet Paul did not want any to be charged before God with this sin. He forgave them, and prayed that God would forgive them.

But God stood with him.

2 Timothy 4:18 “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

I must admit, ridicule, slander, and persecution are not things I want to have happen to me, either. But I love my Lord Jesus Christ.

I want the Lord Jesus Christ to stand with me; therefore I must stand with Him, even in the perilous times.

It matters, Who or what we love, for that effects every decision we make.

Forgive.

Forgive in Scripture, in the Greek, means: to send away whole.

Plainly,….sin and offenses leave “holes” in our lives; so to forgive, is to make each place healed….as though there was no hurt. (It does not take away the knowledge of the offense….but the wound is healed.)

Matthew 18:21 “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?”

Jesus had been talking about people offending children, and other people. As He said, “it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh!” (Mat. 18:7)

In that light, Peter asks the Lord, how many times should he forgive an offending brother?

Jesus then sets down a clear statement about how we are to forgive.

Matthew 18:22 “Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, until seventy times seven.”

I don’t know what Peter thought of this number…..but I would have thought, “How am I to keep count? I’ll never remember what number I am at.”

But that was the point: we are to forgive, and to forgive, and to forgive, without trying to count to a certain point, because God forgives us and our offenses to Him, without measure.

Matthew 18:23 “Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.”

This begins a parable which shows the willingness of God the Father to forgive us……

…..But that He requires that same willingness to forgive within us, for those who sin against us.

Matthew 18:24. “And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.”

Here is a huge debt! This is a picture of the debt of sin we all have.

(Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”…..a debt to God, none of us could pay)

Matthew 18:25 “But forasmuch as he had not to pay, he commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.”

What was to be done?!

What we often forget, is that God requires payment of the debt of our sins….for He is a Holy God….

….either from us….or from a Substitute. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

To get any amount from this man, this king would have to sell the man and his family, into slavery; and confiscate all that he had, to be auctioned off.

Matthew 18:26-27 “The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

Then the Lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.”

Sometimes we think that we can earn God’s approval by doing better, by becoming religious, or by good works….but we can never pay the debt…

But the only means whereby our debts are removed before God…..is His forgiveness……but God, through Christ Jesus, does forgive our debts….

John 3:17-18 “For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.

He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

And how should we act, because He has forgiven us?

We should forgive those that trespass against us….and there are many.

If you read the rest of the parable, you will find this forgiven servant, went out from the presence of the king, free.

He went out from the place where he might have been put in slavery…….free.

And what did he do with his liberty?

And finding a fellow servant which owed him a very small amount compared to the amount he was forgiven…

Matthew 18:28-30 “…he laid hands on him, and took by the throat, saying, Pay me what thou owest.

And his fellow servant….besought him, saying, Have patience with me and I will pay thee all.

And he would not: but…cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.”

What?!

What unkindness, and ingratitude for the forgiveness he had received!

Did he think he merited to be forgiven? And others did not?

Or was he still thinking that he would somehow pay back the king….and earn his forgiveness?

The fellow servant’s debt was small in comparison to his, and he did not need that money to repay his own debt…..Should he not have forgiven freely, as he was freely forgiven?

(Yet how many times we act the same way to our brothers and sisters in Christ. We get angry and say things. We ask forgiveness and it comes…..but when others say something about us? Do we forgive?)

But the king found out what he had done. It saddened him to hear.

Calling that servant back, he required at his hand the same treatment he gave his fellow servant.

Why?……because he had not “compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee.”(Matthew 18:33)

Jesus was stressing to His disciples the importance of not offending each other…..and if the offense has come:

to forgive, as our Father in Heaven has forgiven us.

Much blessing is given those who do forgive (hard as it seems at the time)….from the Lord, by His Holy Spirit.

And much sadness, depression, and resentment comes to those who do not.

Forgive, as I forgive you, Jesus said. And joy and blessing will follow.

To Fail of the Grace of God.

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;”

Grace is the unmerited favor of power. It is a gift from God to His children. God’s grace saves, upholds us, and strengthens us for the work.

So how can we “fail of the grace of God”…if it comes from God?

Simply, by not using it.

How many times have we asked for help; and refused it, when it came, because we did not like the way it came?

(“I will not take help from that person, they always think bad of me anyway.” Really? If God has sent that person to help you, so what if you don’t like them? Or even if they don’t like you? Wouldn’t that make the miracle of help, so much better?)

How many times has God sent a trial for us to pass through, and we have refused to do so, because we don’t think we can “handle it”?

When you do this, you are failing of the grace that God wanted to give you to go through this trial.

He sends us trials to make us stronger in His love, and faith.

1 Peter 1:5-7 “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”

And how many times have we thought that we are O.K. We don’t need help with this situation. We have done this many times.

And then, because we have refused to take the fresh supply of God’s grace, we fail: either in our speech, or in our reactions to something.

(The disciples thought this, when they thought they would go back to fishing, after Jesus was crucified, and had arose.

John 21:3 “Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.”)

We fail of the grace of God, when we allow the bitterness and resentment to “spring up”.

Hebrew 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;”

There are resentments which are buried in our emotions. Time has passed, and so we think that they are gone. But they are just gone underground. Someone’s actions may bring them all out again.

They are there, because we have not removed them. It is by the grace of God giving us forgiveness for the person that has hurt us, that removes them.

This is hard, impossible in some situations, without His grace enabling us to do it!

But, if we won’t remove them (and of course this is by the Lord’s enabling within us); they will “trouble you”.

They will “spring up” (This is such a good description of how they suddenly appear.)

A little thing can remind us of these. And once it is in our heads again, it needs to be taken to the Lord.

God’s grace is a gift from our Lord, for now. The grace of this day. The grace for this hour, even.

How much we need it!

Let us seek to receive all He has for us, and stop failing of the grace of God.

Let us seek to yield to the Holy Spirit within, and receive His revelations of the things which hinder our walk with Him.

(I know I mention this a lot…but “yield” in the Greek means “to stand beside, to recommend, to aid”…and this we are to do with the Holy Spirit within us.

When He gives patience, we stand beside Him and use it.

When He gives strength, even when we are so weary, we aid Him in the work we are to finish and lay hold on that strength.)

And mostly, let us receive all the “power of God through faith unto salvation” ……..kept from the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil; and kept close to Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1:5 “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

The Leper

Mark 1:40 “And there came a leper to Him, beseeching Him, and kneeling down to Him, and saying unto Him, If Thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.”

The fact that Jesus healed many, was well known. He had been preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God. (Mark 1:15). Wherever He went, He healed the sick, and crippled, as well.

As He went, a leper came asking for cleansing. “Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean”.

Jesus was moved with compassion. Leprosy is a terrible disease. How far along in the disease he was, is not said here….but in:

Luke 5:8. “And it came to pass, when He was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy; who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought Him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.”

This man was “full of leprosy”. In other words, this man’s case was hopeless. Leprosy starts as a “rising,(swelling), a scab, or bright spot” and continues till “raw flesh” appears. (Leviticus 13:2, 14)

It destroys and eats away the flesh, until fingers fall off, etc.

Leprosy is like sin. It begins small–a “swelling”. Wherever it breaks out, it puffs up the flesh.

But it is small–something you could ignore, if you chose to. Till it needs a scab.

That means there has been a open sore. It still could be small…but open, open to the contaminants of the world…..and growing.

And so it goes on, eating up our souls, destroying us; unless it is cleansed.

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.”

Yet, this man cried for mercy from the Lord Jesus;…..and received it.

Not only the Word of Healing;…….but Jesus “put forth his hand, and touched him”.

Mark 1:41-42 “And Jesus moved with compassion, put forth His hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

And as soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.”

Isaiah 59:1 “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it can not save; neither His ear heavy, that it can not hear:”

This was compassion only the Son of Man/the Son of God, could do:

Hebrews 4:15 “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

Jesus touched the leper, and gave His Word, “I will”. That cleansed him.

Jesus heart reached out and touched him,…..a leper, who should never be touched. (Most would not even let them come near them.)

Jesus willed, and spoke the word,…..and he was cleansed.

I am emphasizing this, because we feel that God’s Will, and His Word have different power…..no. What God wills, His power is already sent forth to do….in us, and by us.

What God’s Word says, is certain.

He did not need to speak….but stressed His compassion, by word.

He did not need to touch….but stressed His love, by His hand.

But now the Lord wanted him to do what God required for the cleansing, for a testimony of God’s goodness:

Mark 1:43-44 “And He straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;

And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: Go thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.”

We can not save ourselves from our sin. We must come to Christ for that.

But we can be obedient to what He requires us, afterward, as a testimony to His Love and Word.

The leper was cleansed:

He came to the right person, and in the right way; seeking mercy.

And he was cleansed.

Then he went and did as Jesus required, as a testimony to Jesus as Lord and Savior,….and as the One who healed him.

We, too, are in need of cleansing: from small sins or large sins. We need forgiveness and cleansing.

But we can come to Jesus for His mercy……bowing down to Him, we can be cleansed of all our iniquities….receiving His grace (the unmerited favor of power).

The Leper was no longer a leper…..that is what he sought from Jesus….and what he got, by Jesus will, word, and touch.

Christ Jesus has the same, for all who will come to Him.

John 1:17 “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”

Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Faith and Hope

Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

Faith is the substance of things hoped for….so it is reality….it is real knowledge of God, for ourselves……for faith always sees God.

Faith is the evidence of things not seen….for with faith, we prove within us that what God says….will be. (Hebrews 11:1)

If you are born again, then you have this peace with God by Christ Jesus,….and we are ready to proceed further.

Romans 5:2 ” By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

“Access”, think of the doors of heaven opening;….and help, strength, encouragement, whatever you need; coming down to you.

This is this access that faith in our Lord Jesus Christ gives us. For it opens into “grace”.

“Grace” is the unmerited favor of power.

Grace is the power of God to save, of course.

But it is also the power of God to keep, change, to do what He has called you to do in your life.

Zechariah 4:7 “Who art thou, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.”

2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”

This is the grace we have access to, through faith, by our Lord Jesus Christ.

This is the grace that empowers us to stand.

And if you are experiencing this grace, you should also be experiencing:

“And rejoice, in hope, of the glory of God.”

This hope is from the Holy Spirit…you can’t work it up, it is given.

It is the confident expectation that God will do what He said.

He will work glory out of my life, as I yield to Him, and stand with Him.

2 Corinthians 12:9 “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Paul was rejoicing in that power, even though it meant his prayer was not answered the way he wanted.

Romans 5:3 “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience;”

(When you are kept–sustained is a better word. Kept is taken care of like we are still babes in Christ.

Sustained is upheld, and that is for maturing Christians.

Our Rock is Christ…and He is always strong for us.)

So when you are sustained by this faculty of hope (that confidence from the Holy Spirit that God will do what He said), you can indeed glory in tribulations–for you see that they are all to the glory of God.(though you may not see how at the time)

Tribulations work patience within us. These tribulations aren’t just those which lead to martyrdom. No, they are also the trials, which are really trials of the way.

Places so hard to overcome (they are often called mountains in Scripture) that they are seen as impossible to us.

But they work patience within us, by waiting on God to do the impossible.(and how many times He has done so for us!)

“Worketh”. That doesn’t mean we will be instantaneously patient—Oh, No.

But worketh patience.

If we are having a “fit”; or rebelling against a certain set of circumstances; you need to go back and “access” more grace.

Grace is enabling; and how much we need enabling in our work, and life.

God does do the impossible,

If not for us, the way we want…….then in us, to yield in a mighty way, to these circumstances…..and have the victory in them.

Romans 5:4 “And patience, experience; and experience, hope:”

And how much experience we will have in our walk with God!

That patience that He has worked within us, will gain us experience.

Knowing what God will do for us; because He has done it before.

You will know, as you receive from your Father’s Hand all that comes to you; His grace abundantly, and His love.

Romans 5:5 “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

This confidence that God will do what He says,….is being proved again and again;…..and the Holy Spirit within us lights up the love of God for us,…..so that we are blessed by His Presence, in all our circumstances.

We are not ashamed of our God and His working in us, though the way be rough or smooth….God’s love encourages us.

We begin to have more of His boundless joy, peace,….and Presence.

All of this is by the Holy Spirit within.

Stifle not the Holy Spirit.

Yield to Him, and enjoy His gifts of faith and hope.

Miriam

Micah 6:4 “For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.”

God acknowledges the place He had put these three….let us consider Miriam’s place:

Moses the leader….Aaron the High Priest…..Miriam, an example to the women.

Miriam was the older sister that hid the ark of bulrushes, with the baby Moses in it….in the Nile. When he was discovered, she quickly spoke up (brave, since she did not know what would happen)…and recommended Moses’ mother for a nurse.

Exodus 2:4, 7-8 “And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.

Then said his sister to Pharaoh’s daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?

And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child’s mother.”

Miriam was also front and center leading the women with praise for the Lord’s Victory and Redemption at the Red Sea.

Exodus 15:20-21 “And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbres in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbres and with dances.

And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea.”

I want to say here:

For some of us….we are to be supporting helpers…..not out in front leading,……but being the first to follow…and helping others decide to follow God’s Will.

When we get out of our place before God, and seek another place….or other ministry…..we cause strife, envy, and contentions. (1 Cor. 1:10-11)

(Contentions means to quarrel with the view of gaining something.

Proverbs 13:10 “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well-advised is wisdom.”

We lose a lot when we listen or give in to pride….or ambition against another Christian’s work.

For pride “puffs us up”, even in our own minds…and it is quite the shock when the Lord “pops” that pride….and humbles us back into our place.

Praise God when He shows us the graciousness of this humbling.

James 4:5-6, 10 “Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.”

He shall “lift you up” in the place He has for you…..lift you up in joy and peace, and in usefulness….far more than in any other position.)

But out in the wilderness journey, Miriam becomes “miffed”….letting pride get the better of her.

And what is in the heart….usually will show it self in our actions and words.

No wonder James says…James 3:5 “Even so the tongue is a little member and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!”

Numbers 12:1-2 “And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.

And they said, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? Hath He not spoken by us? And the Lord heard it.”

Most believe that this is Zipporah, the Midianite’s daughter, whom Moses had married in exile.

Miriam speaks to Aaron….probably privately….about Moses wife,….trying to find some fault in Moses.

“Has God only spoken through Moses? Has He not also used us?”

For Miriam to say this is ridiculous. The scriptures are silent where she is concerned….since the singing at the Red Sea.

As for Aaron…..he was not seen in a good light, especially at Mt. Sinai….but still God chose him and his children, for the priesthood.

Yet, her emotions were leading her….(a warning for all of us, when we are frustrated or emotionally worked up….to not to speak to others, what we would be afraid to speak to God.)

Numbers 12:4, 6-10 “And the Lord spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out.

And He said,….If there be a prophet…I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision….

My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.

With him will I speak mouth to mouth….wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?

And the cloud departed….and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow:….”

Let me say, leprosy was the worst disease. This was a very serious judgement.

And they did not know whether it was permanent.

Miriam spoke against Moses….but so did Aaron, yet she was the oldest and had probably led in this harsh speech…because she is named first.

This speech….although it seemed against Moses and his wife alone……

….was really against God’s choice.

And how many times do we speak against the way God leads or who He chooses to use.

Aaron was rebuked….but Miriam chastened. Yet it is Aaron which confesses…

Numbers 12:11 “And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.”

Aaron acknowledged the foolishness of speaking “privately” against Moses….God hears our every word….our every thought.

And he acknowledged it was sin.

Moses “cried out” to God….”Heal her now, I beseech Thee.” Again, they are not sure this will not be permanent.

But God is not mocked…..He was going to give a lesson….to all of them.

You can not sin, and then…..only be sorry for the chastening.

Numbers 12:14 “And the Lord said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? Let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.”

The Lord chastens that we might learn…..that the sin we have gotten into might be seen, as sin…..and put away.

He forgives, but often sends us a brief embarrassment, or trial….that we might learn the hard lesson….He knows best…His Way is best.

“If her father had spit in her face….she would be placed outside the camp for seven days…..can not I do this as well?”

This, too, is a merciful lesson. If God had left her to continue to speak….destruction would have been the end result.

But He corrected and chastened that she would not have to be destroyed with the wicked that was always speaking against Moses.

But there are often corporate consequences to our personal sin….whether in our family, our work, or our church.

Israel had to wait…..stop in their journey because of her sin.

(It is interesting to note that in the very next chapter…..was the evil speaking of the ten spies [Numbers 13:32]…..and of the people, [which is in the following chapter]….about rejecting God’s promised land and Moses as their leader.

Notice God said to Moses…”I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against Me.

Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the Lord, as ye have spoken in Mine ears, so will I do to you:” [Numbers 14:27-28]

“As truly as I live”…He was very much a Living God…Who hears and protects all who believe Him,….and Who hears and rejects all who reject Him.)

We often forget that our words are very important to the Lord…..even the ones we speak “privately”. For our words are what show what is in our hearts….to others.

Matthew 35-37 “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”

We shall be justified….seen as righteous by our good words…and blessed for them…

…or we shall be condemned….before men….for our wrong speaking.

Miriam was foolish….letting her mouth speak the frustration and envy that she felt….when she should have brought her thoughts to the Lord….and saved herself from sin,….increasing her usefulness….in her place.

Let us….

Psalms 141:3 “Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.”