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.”

Ultimate Reality.

I believe our souls are the most precious thing in all of God’s Creation.

Having lost it through the fall of Adam (Romans 6:18-19); He bought it back again, at such a high price: the sacrifice of His beloved Son.

I believe that our souls are our personalities. They are what makes us unique. No two are exactly alike.

They are what the Bible calls “the heart”.

Our souls are the seat of our personalities….all that makes us, us!

When Christ Jesus was here, He set forth a way of following Him:

Deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow Me. Lose your self-life, that you might find your Christ filled life. (Matthew 16:24-25)

Then He added a verse which often confuses us, but it shouldn’t.

Jesus spoke in terms of profit and loss. Showing the value that Jesus placed on our souls. One soul is worth more than a whole world of things.

The question is: how much do we value our own souls?

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

What, of all creation could possibly be of more value than our eternal soul?

What will we give in exchange for our souls, in this world?

For that is what Jesus is asking.

Will it be temptations, cares, riches, or pleasures of this life? (Luke 8:13-14)

In Luke, Jesus says:

Luke 9:25 “What is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, or lose himself, or be cast away?”

Or “lose himself”;……….for our soul is our personality, our mind, heart and will.

When we are immersed in the world, we are conformed to it, and really lose who we really are.

Come to Christ, and have your soul “saved”….freed from all the entanglements of the world,…..freed to be all He has created you for.

Man is an eternal being. He will exist for eternity in one of two places: we will save our soul, and live for eternity with God in bliss.

Or we will lose our soul, and spend eternity with Satan in torment.

There is no other ultimate reality than this.

People have tried to say that God is too merciful to condemn people to hell.

God is merciful: that is why He saves anybody who comes to Him……because He is merciful.

That is why He sent His Son to save us, by the sacrifice of Himself.

He came and lived a perfect life…becoming the perfect sacrifice.

Not in His Divinity, for He always was and is holy.

But in His humanity. And because there was found no sin in Him (Hebrews 4:15); He could give His life a ransom for all, who will come unto Him.

Here then is what Jesus says we are faced with: our souls must choose.

Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior?

Or some attractions in the world?

Romans 10:9, 13 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

For whosoever will call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

In this age for each Christian; to answer the call of Christ, is to come with a life open to and receptive to Him.

This is a continual open door to Christ.

Christ Jesus is still asking all who will follow Him:

Will you bring yourselves to Me? Will you fully surrender your wills that they may be Mine?

Hear My word to you; for My Word is a living Word, it will not return unto Me void. But it will accomplish My purpose in you, if you will yield to it.

I will empower you to do My Will; only get it settled that you will do it.

(And If there is someone faced with that challenge especially at this time; remember time has a way of dimming the value of all things in this world. What we consider “essential”,……….can become sawdust in our mouths,…..though it may not seem like it now.

You can turn your life over to Jesus Christ, and ask Him to make it whole in Him.)

Know the liberty of the Spirit of Christ, in your union with Me.

Hear and your soul shall live.

Only Christ knows the true value of your soul, for He paid the ultimate price to save it,…….He knows you, and loves you.

Amazing love for such as I.

Hold Thou me up

Psalm 119:114-117 “Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in Thy Word.

Depart from me, ye evil doers: For I will keep the commandments of my God.

Uphold me according to Thy Word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.

Hold Thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto Thy statues continually.”

This is a prayer for the keeping power of God to “uphold”, or “hold Thou me up”….in the position that I have obtained through the Holy Spirit.

“There are so many enemies….within me, and temptations in this world….hold on to me, Lord Jesus.

I do not want to fear,….hold on to my peace.

I do not want to be angry,….hold on to my love.

I do not want to go my own way….hold me up by Your Word.”

Christ Jesus taught us to pray: “Lead us not into temptation”. For temptation is dangerous…though we do not often see it’s poison…..

….but dangerous situations call for extra watchfulness and prayers to our God, that He would stretch out His right hand….and help us.

This may not be immediate deliverance;….but His hand…holding us up…out of the mire of this world….

….the attitudes and emotions…the love of money or power…the misery and sorrow of failures (and who does not have them?)…or ingratitude.

Isaiah 41:13 “For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.”

Psalm 17:5 “Hold up my goings in Thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.”

He helps us “hold fast” in His paths….those that are shown us in His Word.

We can not keep from sin, unless we keep to His Word.

Psalm 17:4 “Concerning the works of men, by the Word of Thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.”

When temptations are about…when the world’s siren call comes….and the devil tricks….

…..then we must pray…..hold Thou me up in Thy Word…..

….give me understanding to know….and grace to do……so that we may hold out against these temptations…and find His “way of escape” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

The Word is what Jesus used, when He was tempted by the devil. (Luke 4:4, 8, 12)

He could have easily used His deity to defeat the devil….

…..but instead….showed us the weapon we should use, when under attack….”It is written”…the Word of God.

The Word of God is called “the sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17)….for it is by His reminding us of His Word….and by His power through it…that it is effectual for us….against our enemies…now.

(A few verses that have helped me:

1). Romans 14:22 “Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing that he alloweth.”

What we know we should not do…..we should not do, that our conscience stays yielding to the Holy Spirit.

2). 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort:

Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

Our testimonies about what God has done for us….though they seem little to us…carry a great deal of weight with the Holy Spirit….they are reality…and He blesses them.

3). Ephesians 5:16 “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

Each day brings things we never expected….so be prepared in the Lord…by prayer, before you begin the day.

4). Philippians 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”

Praise God for this….and I ask for it often….”work in me, Lord”…..it is both: to will….for I am sometimes “unwilling” in this thing. And to do….for I am often lazy in this thing.

5). Colossians 3:15-16 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts….and be ye thankful.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;…”

We must yield and stand upon His peace,……and HIs Word must be listened to.

6). 1 Thessalonians 5:8 “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.”

In how many scriptures does God call us to stand with Him….in light….in this world?

7). 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

We are to be before Him at all times, wherever we are….then our whole life is in an attitude of pray.

8). Jude 21 “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

One of my favorites…..anytime you think you are drifting from God….pull yourself back….To the one constant in your life….God’s love of us…..even when we are quite unloveable. It is like walking in the sunny side of the street!)

The Psalmist says:

Hold Thou me up…..and I shall be safe…

…my own learning, or experience, or skill will not help in times of temptation…..for we are only tempted by something our hearts are interested in.

James 1:14 “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lusts, and enticed.”

(Lust is….I want this…and I want it now….whatever this is.)

But Christ Jesus has made a way to escape temptation:

1 Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

Ps 119:114-117 “Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in Thy Word.

Depart from me, ye evil doers: For I will keep the commandments of my God.

Uphold me according to Thy Word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.

Hold Thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto Thy statues continually.”

In His hands we are safe….He holds us up….He is our hiding place….His Word guides and enlightens us….and His Holy Spirit empowers us.

Hallelujah, What a Savior!

Give us a King, like Others

1 Samuel 8:5 “And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”

A little background: God had chosen Israel to be His people. A nation ruled and guided by Him and His law.

He was to be their King. He gave them the Tabernacle and the Priesthood, so they could come before Him and remove sins by sacrifice (all pointing to Christ), to get direction, and to joy before Him because of His many blessings.(in the peace offering, the family feasted with the priests, before the Tabernacle, after offering the sacrifice for thanksgiving.)

Some of Israel did. Others refused, choosing rather to follow the idols of the nations round about.

Then God chastened them, and when they repented or cried out to Him, He sent Judges to lead them back into the way. Giving victory over the enemies which had come up against them.

Samuel was the last great judge, appointed by God. He was loved and followed, leading the people for years. But…

1 Samuel 8:1, 3 “And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.

And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgement.”

This gave Israel the excuse it wanted to ask for a king. But the thing displeased Samuel, so he asked the Lord what to do.

1 Samuel 8:7 “And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.”

The Lord told him to do what they ask, but warn them of all that this king will do, and take from them.

So he did: your sons will become soldiers, and servants to keep his ground. Your daughters will be cooks and bakers. Your fields, your vineyards and olive yards will the king give to his servants.

He will take a tenth of your crops, sheep, cattle, etc.

But they refused to be moved. They would have a king, like the other nations.

1 Samuel 8:19-20 “Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;

That we may also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.”

So God gave them what they asked for: He gave them Saul. A man head and shoulders taller than all. (1 Samuel 10:23-24).

Saul’s reign was filled with all that Samuel said.

At first Saul was humbled by the task, but then became vain and greedy for the honor and applause. So in the end, his reign was full of jealousy and disobedience.

(And the kings after him-some good, following the Lord; others terrible, leading the people into gross sins)

So God told them:

Hosea 13:11 “I gave thee a king in Mine anger, and took him away in My wrath.”

When God sent His Son, Jesus Christ to earth: He presented Himself as their King, to Israel, for three years.

(Mark 1:14-15) “The kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”

Even up to the last week: (Luke 19:37-38) “Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.”

Would they receive their true King? Sadly, no.

John 19:15 “But they cried out, Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.”

What about us? Jesus Christ is Lord of Lord and King of Kings: but is He our King?

Jesus says we should pray:

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

The Apostle Paul wrote, about his experience:

1 Timothy 1:15-17 “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all long-suffering, for a pattern which to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting.

Now unto the King Eternal, Immortal, Invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”

He is the King. That is fact. But He is only King in our personal experience, if we have made Him so.

Does He rule and reign in your life? Do you come to Him not just for help, but for guidance? Does He fill the void in your heart; or is there something (or someone) else that satisfies, and rules there?

Christ Jesus, today, is still presenting Himself as King. And calling all who will come, to repent of the other “kings” in your life, and follow Him.

The throne we establish in our hearts for Him is one of love, built on the foundation of faith, given us by the Holy Spirit within.

Will we not only proclaim Him as King, but make Him so?

Seek ye the Lord

Isaiah 55:6-7 “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near:

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteousness man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”

Isaiah was a prophet called to prophesy to Judah……he was about one hundred and fifty years before they were carried away captive….

….yet he was called to speak to them concerning the people’s “turning away” from God.

For every backsliding begins personally…leaving the personal relationship with God….for the formal religious appearance….

….and when that does not satisfy (for a mere formal relationship will never satisfy the heart of man)…

….they turn to idols….of some sort.

Isaiah 1:2, 5 “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.

Why should ye be stricken any more? Ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.”

The “ head is sick”….sick here means anxiety. (There is no peace without God’s peace. Isaiah 57:21)

The “whole heart faint”….ready to give up. (Where God’s Will is not our purpose….we are lost)

Without a personal relationship with our God, who are we?

We are one of the masses of people looking for “something”……a statistic only….for we have given ourselves over to seek the world’s goods.

But our personal relationship with Christ elevates us to stand before Him by faith….we are conquerors….and sufferers for His Name sake.

He knows our name….and calls us to deny ourselves and personally follow Him…

Without a personal relationship with our God, we may think we are free from the restraints of serving (for yes, we are called to serve our God)……

….but we are actually just placing ourselves under the bondage of another master….sin.

Isaiah 5:20 “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

Isaiah 30:1, 12-13 “Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of Me; and that cover with a covering, but not of My Spirit, that they may add sin to sin:

Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this Word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:

Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.”

And what is the remedy?

Isaiah 55:6-7 “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near:

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteousness man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”

Seek ye the Lord….

The name “Lord” here is Jehovah….the ever existent, ever becoming One.

The Lord was in eternity past, and will be in eternity future….yet He becomes our need, in the now.

This is Jehovah….this is the One they were called to seek.

And we are to “return unto the Lord”.

We are to forsake our way….this is a big deal!

How many of us are seeking “our way” in these days?

How many of us are saying to God…..if You will not do it in a certain way, I will not believe?

“Call ye upon Him while He is near:”

God comes “near” to us….when He warns us of danger. He does not just walk away from His children….but comes near….with His Word, by the Holy Spirit.

God comes “near” to us….when we call to Him in confession for forgiveness and cleansing (1 John 1:9)

God comes “near” to us….when after repeated warnings….we turn away from Him….He comes and “gets our attention”….to try and head us in the right direction.

All this is from His mercy….His kindness to those who are sinners. (And kindness never has anything to do with letting us go on in sin….that which will destroy us.)

If we “return”…..He will abundantly pardon. Forgiveness and cleansing, and restored fellowship and joy! Abundantly!

We all know the Prodigal Son…..filling his days with “riotous living”, till all was spent…then begging for a job with pigs.

What he was going to do, after living in a pig pen for a time?

Luke 15:18-19 “I will arise and go unto my Father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.”

And what the Father did, when the Prodigal did return:

Luke 15:22-24 “But the Father said unto his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

For this my son was dead (in sin), and is alive again: he was lost, and is found, and they began to be merry.”

God knows how to do “abundantly”!

But it is “return unto the Lord”. If Christ Jesus is not Lord of our lives….if He is “put up with”, only for our own benefit….

…..then, we have not returned at all.

Isaiah 30:15 “For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; in returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength:

And ye would not.”

The question is….will we?

Have we gotten caught up in the world’s idols?

Or gone out of the Way seeking satisfaction other than in God?

Return….return ye backsliding children….for He has abundance of pardon for us.