The Battle of the Ages: Christ must Reign

There are two principles at work in all the Universe.

God’s Principle of Obedience.

And the Principle of our Adversary, the Devil; which is that of Rebellion.

The battle of the ages, for me is:   Who will rule in my life?

As Christians we can be obedient to God’s Will by the determining of my will to do it;  and the power of the Holy Spirit within.

When we are, we are standing with God in the battle.

2 Timothy 2:6 “The husbandman that laboreth must be first partaker of the fruits.”

This is the first verse the Lord gave me after He called me to preach.

He told me, that before He could require the Word that I preached to others;  I must get it into my experience first.

The experience of Spiritual Life is always: first in me, then by me and then through me.

And His power is Life.  Life flowing into me, and helping me in everything I do.

His power must be at work in me, before I can see this power used through me, in the calling God has given me to do.

He showed me these verses:

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 “Though we walk in the flesh,  we do not war after the flesh:

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (childish),  but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;  

Casting down imaginations,   and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God,    and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

If I am to think God’s thoughts after Him, then His thoughts must prevail.

And for this to happen, our minds must be transformed by His grace;  so that our natural and normal way we think, becomes Spiritual.

We are to pull down the strongholds. 

These are strongholds of reasoning.  They are the reasonings that prevent us from believing God, and acting on what we believe.

Like this:

“That is impossible.  Yes, I know God is God…but He just won’t do that for me, even if I thought He would do it.”

Or…

“That person will never be saved.  There is no use in witnessing to them.”

We are to pull these down by our willed obedience, even when we do not see how God will do these things.

We are to cast down imaginations.   Those flights of fancy which come across our minds.  

We are not to give them credence,  or continue in them.

This is what got a man of God in trouble:  He sat down and started thinking of all that he had just done (and it was miraculous) and was killed because, in doing so;  he put aside God’s warning to get out of the country immediately!

(1 Kings 13:8-9, 14-22). He was tricked, because he was not thinking as he should;  and then he was dead.

We all have thoughts which come into our head:  What would I do if….?

But it is what we do with our thoughts, that counts.

Do we bring them to the light of Jesus Christ,  or go ahead and fly into fantasy?

And we are to destroy every barrier which is raised against the genuine knowledge of God.

And there are a lot of barriers.

Such as the barrier of:

“I can’t read the Bible, because it is too complicated.   I just do not understand everything there.   I just let others explain it.

But I am not really sure they are right either.”

This is a barrier which the Holy Spirit can easily destroy.    He can give you understanding and light for your path, through the Word of God.

You may not understand in the original language.

But you will understand what the Holy Spirit tells you.  He speaks clearly. (Sometimes too clearly for some.)

Taking captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

This is stop thinking angry thoughts; continuing to be angry, because we want to be right…or are right; and others do not agree.

This is to start thinking that the awful neighbor is not to be hated, but to be prayed for;  or ignored.  It is to be at peace with them.

All our thoughts lead us to Christ;   Or to the world’s way,  which is influenced by our Adversary, the Devil.

It is really siding with Jesus about what comes into our heads;    And staying with Him, through it all.

Spiders, and their Webs 

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

Spiders spin their webs from inside of themselves.  Building a “home” from what comes out of them.  It is connected to things around them.  Some large and elaborate; others small and inconspicuous, till you are in contact with them.

Then they are sticky, and cling to everything.

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

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

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

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

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

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

What we imagine,  we believe.

What we want,  we build to catch.

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

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

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

They….weave the spider’s web:….

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

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

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

Nothing else will do.  

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

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

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

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

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

The first thing required of all men, is repentance:

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

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

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

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

To repent:  to change our minds, affections, and wills about Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives, and receive Him. (John 1:12)

To repent of the means within ourselves,  which we looked to and trusted, instead of Him.

To repent of the desire to “catch” for ourselves;  instead of having His Will for our lives.

So,  what shall we do?   

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

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

If Thou Wilt

James 4:13-14 “Go to now,  ye that say,   Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city,  and continue there a year,  and bye and sell and get gain

                            Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow.   For what is your life?   It is even a vapor,  that appeared for a little time,  and then vanisheth away.”

Only God can say “So be it”.  For it is His Will alone,  that stands every test.

We, as Christians,  may say,  “If God wills”,  we will do this or that.

How many plans have been destroyed or laid aside,  because we have not considered what God wanted with our time?

That we should not walk through life “Willy nilly”:  this way, then that way.  

We should have a definite goal to head toward,  and find out God’s way to get there.

Philippians 3:12-14. “Not as though I had already attained,  either were already perfect:  but I follow after,  if that I may apprehend that for which I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

                                 Brethren,  I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I  do,   Forgetting those things which are behind,  and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

                                 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Paul “followed after”; not knowing what lay ahead.  But knowing that Christ Jesus did;  and that whatever was ahead, was prepared for.   Grace was laid up for him to get through each situation.

This should be the goal we are headed for:  what Christ Jesus has saved us for.

We are to grow up into Him.  For we are all called to go from babes in Christ to full grown Spiritual Adults.

We should ascertain our calling.  (We are all called as witnesses,  if nothing more.     A witness is a personal testimony of what Christ has done for me.)

And this should be the way we go:  forgetting those things which are behind me—really putting them behind me—failures and successes;  

And reaching forth (in heart, in mind, and in will)  to those things He has before me,  today,  tomorrow, and on.

We have family. We have jobs.  We have friends.   All of these,  we are not to neglect—that is not God’s will.

But before all of these, as Christians,  we have our personal duty to God,  and His Will.

1 Corinthians 4:2 “Moreover it is required of stewards,  that a man be found faithful.”

God’s stewards, are Gospel Stewards.  Their duty is to live the Truth of the Gospel.

Truly, if we put God first,  He will see to it,  that all the others are not neglected.

Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God,  and His righteousness;  and all these things shall be added unto you.”

God never forgets our faithfulness to Him.   Never. 

There is a famine in the Land

Amos 8:11 “ Behold,  the days come,  saith the Lord,  that I will send a famine in the land,  not a famine of bread,  nor a thirst for water,  but of hearing the words of the Lord:”

Have you heard God lately?

Have you heard Him in your Bible reading?   Or in your Church services?  Or in your innermost spirit, where the Holy Spirit dwells and speaks?

Well,  if you have not heard Him lately,  you are starving.

1 Peter 2:2-3 “As new born babes,  desire the sincere milk of the word,  that ye may grow thereby:

                        If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”

All our growth comes through Him;   by the interaction of His Word to us by the Holy Spirit,  and our receiving it.

This verse in Amos was given to Israel when they were turning from God, to idols.

And Amos was sent as a prophet to speak to Israel to warn them, so they would repent:  turn around and choose God.

Amos 7:14-15 “Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah,    I was no prophet,  neither was I a prophet’s son;  but I was a herdsman,  and a gatherer of sycamore fruit:

                           And the Lord took me as I followed the flock,  and the Lord said unto me,    Go, prophesy unto my people Israel. “

So he did,  but those around the king were afraid that the people would believe him,  for he told of God’s promise of judgement on those who followed the idols.

So they just wanted him to go away.   Go back to Judah and live a normal life there.  

Prophesy there, if you must  speak God’s Words;    but not here.

How ridiculous!    How could Amos be obedient, and not do what he had been told?

How could the people have a chance of repenting, and returning to the Lord,  without hearing His Word to them? (Romans 10:14-15)

Well, Amos did not leave,  but gave out the Word of God to His people.   He stood fast in a land that was turning to idols, and forgetting everything God had taught them about His love of justice and truth.

Instead they turned to stones, and wooden stocks covered with silver and gold,  but no life.

This is what they wanted.  This is what they looked to.  

How sad, to exchange true life,  for illusion;  to exchange the love of God, for the love of things. (Isaiah 44:9-11)

Amos 8:4-7 “Hear this,  oh ye that swallow up the needy,  even to make the poor of the land to fail,

                       Saying,  when will the new moon be gone,  that we may sell corn?  And the sabbath,  that we may set forth the wheat,  making the ephah small,  and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances of deceit?

                       That we may buy the poor for silver,  and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat?

                       

                       The Lord has sworn by the excellency of Jacob,  surely  I will never forget any of their works.”

The merchants were cheating the buyers.   Giving less for more; by changing the balances.   Saying they had got what they paid for,  when they did not.

It was all so that they could have more power over people,  to have greater leverage in bargaining,  because of this wealth.

The idols that they worshipped were not only images to bow down to;  but the idols of silver and gold in their hearts.

Amos preached God’s Word,  and not many listened and turned;  but he had warned them faithfully, and God was pleased with him, for his faithfulness to Him.

Amos warned them that there would be a day,  when God would stop speaking and calling them to repentance;  then would come the day:

Amos 9:1, 10  “I saw the Lord standing upon the altar:  and he said,   Smite the lintel of the door,  that the post may shake:   And cut them in the head,  all of them;  and I will slay the last of them with the sword:  he that fleeth of them shall not flee away,  and he that escapeth of them  shall not be delivered.”

Who is He talking to?

“All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword,  which say,   The evil shall not overtake or prevent us.”

All those who think to get around God and His Word,  won’t.

We, too, in this Church age have been warned against turning from God to idols of our own making.

Instead of staying true to God, and His Word:

2 Timothy 4:1-2, 4 “I charge thee therefore before God,  and the Lord Jesus Christ,  who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

                                  Preach the word;  be instant in season;  out of season;  reprove, rebuke,  exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

                          

                                   And they shall turn away their ears from the truth,  and shall be turned to fables.”

Fables might instruct,  but only God’s Word gives life—true life.   Do you want it?

Have you heard God,  or His Word to you,  lately?

Occupy Till I Come

Luke 19:12-13 “He said therefore,  A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom,  and to return.

                          And he called his ten servants,  and delivered them ten pounds,  and said unto them,   Occupy till I come.”

Of course Jesus is giving this story about His going back to heaven after being raised again;  and the ministry He gives His servants here, on earth, till He comes again.

“Occupy till I come” is a merchandise term.  It is to use what we have to get more, just as in a business.

But the thought here, is that you are gaining for Someone else.

As Christians, we are not our own.  We have been bought and redeemed with the high price of Jesus blood. (1 Peter 1:18-19)

And we are given His life and power by the Holy Spirit within.  He enables us with His grace.   This is the “pound” we are all given as His servants:  His faith and grace.

It is all done, as servants of our Lord Jesus Christ, out of love to him.

So how do we “gain” to show our love to Christ?

He has given us faith by the Holy Spirit when we were born again.  This faith shows us Christ, so that we can follow Him:

Jesus was obedient to the Father’s Will;  so we must be obedient to His Will for us.

He was kind and merciful;  so we must show that same kindness and mercy to others.

Jesus was a fighter for the Father’s Way;  not holding on to the traditions, when they conflicted with the spirit of God’s laws (example: healing the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath.  Tradition said it was “work”.   God said it was mercy. Matthew 12:10-13)

He did not turn from the Way to the cross, though it meant betrayal, shame, cruelty, and defilement under our sin.  He went and became sin for us, that we might be the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

We are to use that faith and gain with it:

(2 Peter 1:5-8)

We are to gain (in Peter it says “add to”) virtue, first.

This virtue in the Greek is, “Artea”,  or power by the Holy Spirit.  The first thing God teaches us is that we are now given power to do, say, and stand, by the Holy Spirit. (It is quite a wonderful thing to realize that God’s Spirit is helping me , now,  in this situation of my life!)

The second thing we gain is knowledge.  We can not be around Someone, and not come to know Him better.   

And as we know Jesus better,  we learn more about ourselves;  both successes and failures show us,  us.

The third thing we gain is temperance.  This is to be even-tempered.   You learn to not let things “get” to you.  To see them as the Lord sees them.

The fourth things is patience.  How much in this hurry, hurry world we need this.

Patience with others,  and with ourselves. (We do not get discouraged,  when we in patience, wait on the Lord, to work things out.)

Godliness comes next:  this is growing up into Christ, and taking on the “family of God” resemblance.

Brotherly kindness has to do with our Christian brothers and sisters. (Yes, they can be trying;  but with the Holy Spirit’s enabling,  we can be considerate to them, even if they are not to us.)

And Charity,  or love.  And this is to show the same love to others as Christ does to us.

Luke 19:15-16 “And it came to pass,  that when he was returned,  having received the kingdom,  then he commanded these servants to be called unto him,  to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

                         Then came the first,  saying,   Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.”

This servant had yielded to the Holy Spirit and done all he could for His lovely and blessed Lord.

Luke 19:18 “And the second came,  saying,  Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.”

This servant had difficulties.  His gain had been smaller, because of doubts and cares which hindered him at the first;  but he had finally overcome by the faith given him, and he had gained five times more than he had been given!

Luke 19:20-21 “And another came, saying,  Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin; 

                           For I feared thee,  because you art an austere man:  and takest up that thou layedst not down,  and reapest that thou did not sow.”

What!!  This servant did not gain anything!   His dishonor was because he wanted to listen to the voice of the devil about God.

The devil convinced the man,  that if he did what he was told and tried to gain with the pound he had been given,  he might lose it.    He told the man he was better off just forgetting about it;     because the Lord was a very severe, and demanding God.

But this was not what the Lord had wanted.  He wanted this man to use the “pound” (which is the power of the Holy Spirit within),  and “gain” in his heart love, peace, and joy in the fellowship with Himself.    

This is gaining for the Lord;  for we are His inheritance.(Ephesians 1:18)

Luke 19:22-23 “But he saith unto him,  Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee,  thou wicked servant.    Thou knewest that I was an austere man,  taking up that I laid not down,  and reaping that I did not sow:

                           Wherefore thou gavest not my money into the bank,  that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?”

Sadly the Lord of this man judges him according to what he had wanted to believe. 

And asks him,  “If you really were afraid,  why didn’t you at least put my money in a bank where I could have received interest from it?”

What the Lord was really asking this man, was:

Why did you not show some interest in My gift of the Holy Spirit?  You “laid it up”,  or put it out of sight, as though it was a burden instead of a help.

You grieved My Holy Spirit by your hatred of my gift;

So, since you never really had it;    you will never have it.

Luke 19:24, 26 “And he said unto them that stood by,  Take from him the pound,  and give it to him that hath ten pounds.

                            For I say unto you,  that unto everyone which hath, shall be given;  and from him that hath not,  even that he hath shall be taken away from him.”

There are many who want to appear as the Lord’s servants,  which never really love Him,  or receive Him into their hearts and lives. (John 1:12)

They want to look good,  but never honor the Lord in their hearts.   They really hate the thought of doing for the Lord Jesus Christ!     

This man was one of these;  and he was seen at last for what he was.  He was not judged by anyone else, but  by the Lord according to His Word.

We are told by the Lord to use His gift of faith by the Holy Spirit and gain joy and peace in believing.

“Occupy till I come.”

We are Created in Christ Jesus

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

There are two creations:  the natural creation, and the spiritual creation.

We were created in Adam;  naturally he was the father of  all people.

We were created in Christ Jesus;  spiritually,  when we were born again.

1 Corinthians 1:30 “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus,  who of God is made unto us wisdom,  and  righteousness,  and sanctification,  and  redemption:”

This shows what we have as a New Creation in Christ Jesus. 

First there is Wisdom:

       Wisdom is that sudden light from above which illuminates our lives.  

We were afraid: wisdom came, and suddenly the thing we were afraid of,  is seen against the background of God.

We were without understanding:  wisdom came, and suddenly the “muddle of our minds” disappears, and we know.

And with the knowledge, that wisdom gives power to do.

Second, there is Righteousness:  

        There is the imputed righteousness of Christ which is given to us.  But this righteousness spoken of here, is the righteous acts of obedience which we do for His sake.

When we see what He wants  us to do,  and realize that with that wisdom is power, then,  we will with Him to do those acts of obedience to please Him.

Third, there is Sanctification: 

         Sanctification is the setting yourself aside for sacred use.  To be used by God, for His glory and honor.

This sanctification is as we are in Christ Jesus:

It is by our Heavenly Father that we are sanctified.

Jude 1:  “Jude the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:”

It is by the Lord Jesus Christ that we are sanctified.

1 Corinthians 1:2 ” Unto the church of God which is at Corinth,  to them who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord,  both theirs and ours:”

It is by the Holy Spirit we are sanctified.

1 Peter 1:2 “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,   through sanctification of the Spirit,   unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ :  grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”

Fourth,  there is  Redemption.

         Redemption is two-fold.  The ransom for our lives was paid in full by Jesus Christ. We are saved from the guilt of sin. 

 And by it we are given deliverance from our old life.

Or, simply put, it is the power  to be saved from our sin, and self-will.

Now all these things we have in Christ Jesus.  If we will,  we can have all in abundant measure. 

He is willing to give us just what we need.    But that is like feeding us with bread and water;  it will keep us alive, but not healthy.

But He will give abundant life:  pressed down and running over with His life in your life,  if you will to go on with Him.

John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but to steal, and to kill,  and to destroy:   I am come that they might have life,  and that they might have it more abundantly.”

It is “might have”,  for Jesus Christ bids us to will with His will for us, and receive all the glorious promises He has for us.

As we go along with the Lord in our walk,  our life in Him becomes stronger,  and more to His honor, and praise.

1 Corinthians 1:31 “That, according as it is written,  He that glorieth,  let him glory in the Lord.”

Forgiveness    

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

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

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

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

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

His Word to us is always:  “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me;  for I am meek and lowly in heart:  and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

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

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

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

Hallelujah,  what a Savior!

By His Word

Mark 11:2-3 “And saith unto them,  Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, wherein never man sat:  loose him, and bring him.

And if any man say unto you,  Why do ye this? Say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.”

This is, of course, the colt that Jesus rode into Jerusalem with the shouts of “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord”.    “Hosanna in the highest”. 

This is where Jesus presents Himself to the King’s City as King, according to prophesy:

Zechariah 9:9 ” Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”

As King, although unrecognized by the rulers,  He goes into the temple:

Mark 11:11 “And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things,    and now eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.”

And as King, He sees all that needs to be set in order in the temple.

But He does not stay in Jerusalem….but goes out of the city.

The next day, coming into Jerusalem, to do the work that needed to be done;  He was hungry.

Mark 11:12-13″And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:

And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves,  he came, if haply he might find anything thereon:  and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves;  for the time of figs was not yet.”

Here Jesus was hungry, and walked out of His way to have some figs.

On fig trees, the figs come on before the leaves;  and there were leaves, so there should have been figs.

It was not the time of figs, but there were leaves; so there should have been figs.

But He found none.

So by His Word:

Mark 11:14 “And Jesus answered and said unto it,   No man eat fruit of thee hereafter forever.  And his disciples heard it.”

You will notice “And Jesus answered”;  Why this term?

Because the tree had “spoken”.  It had rejected feeding the Son of Man, Jesus Christ; therefore Jesus “answered” it with a curse.

(Some say the fig tree is a figure of Israel:  Religiously looking good, but without fruit unto God.      But is there any among us, that can say that the Lord has not looked for fruit from them, and found leaves, only?)

So they continue into Jerusalem, where yesterday they had praised and blessed Him.

Mark 11:15-16 ” And they come to Jerusalem:  and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple,  and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves;

And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.”

Yesterday it was to manifest Himself as King,  today it is to do the work of His Father, for His house.  Setting in order that which was wanting in the service of God.

He did this Himself,  casting out; and refusing entrance to those who would violate the temple.   He had done this once before at the beginning of His ministry (John 2:13-16).   Now He would do it again, as a witness against the hardness of their heart.

Then by His Word:

Mark 11:17 “And he taught,  saying unto them,  Is it not written,  My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer?   But ye have made it a den of thieves.”

Not only did He cleanse, He spoke concerning God’s will for His house.

To set in order.

Mark 11:18-19 ” And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought out how they might destroy him:  for they feared him,  because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.

And when even was come,  he went out of the city.”

But here again, He was rejected.  The people were amazed at Him speaking with authority the doctrine of God.   Amazed but unresponsive.  And the rulers, instead of submitting to God’s Word, only sought to destroy Him.

The work finished He came into the city to do, He again leaves the city.  He would not stay a night in Jerusalem, until the night of the passover feast.

By His Word the fig tree was cursed, and by His Word the temple was cleansed.

Mark 11:20-21″And in the morning, as they passed by,  they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.  

And Peter calling to rememberance  saith unto him,  Master, behold,  the fig tree that thou cursedst is withered away.”

By His Word it was all done. 

Then the Lord Jesus, wanting to set forth the importance of our words, showed His disciples what it was all about.

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

Faith is that active ingredient in our life which makes real the things of God.

God will act for you if you have faith in Him.  For real faith, trusts Him.

Are you doing and saying because it is what you want?

Or are you doing and saying because God wants you to?

Leaves are words,  Fruit is obedient deeds.

A temple serving man, is not God’s temple.

Have faith in God….don’t just look good, or go along with everyone else.   But believe God’s Word and obey Him.

Mark 11:23 “For verily I say unto you,  That whosoever shall say unto this mountain,  Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass;  he shall have whatsoever he saith.”

What a wonderful Word from our Lord Jesus!  What an encouragement to His disciples, for soon everything was going to change.   The reality of their faith would soon be shown.  There were going to be plenty of “mountains” that would need to be removed in front of them, to bring them past Jesus crucified,  to Jesus resurrected, to Jesus ascended, to the Holy Spirit given.

Here is faith in action.

And what is the mountain that I want to see cast into the sea?

It is that “mountain” (within me, and within my circumstances) that hinders me from seeing done,  what I’ve been called to do by the Lord.

I want that mountain or mountains removed!

It is according to :

“And shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass.”

Faith sees God;  “shall believe” is the hearts response to God’s Word to us.

The disciples were called to put their faith in action and believe God’s Word to go on in their callings.

So are we.

Mark 11:24-26 “Therefore I say unto you, What things so ever ye desire, when we pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any;   that your Father also  which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

To believe when you pray, asking God for your requests, is to place yourself at His disposal to bring them to pass.

To do this, nothing must come between you and God. 

Therefore,  forgive, if you have anything against another person; and God will forgive you. 

Everyone is on the same level:  we all need forgiveness.   And Jesus was plainly teaching that sins are to be forgiven, that our prayers are not hindered.

We need to pray…we have mountains to be removed.    So have faith in God, and believe when you pray, forgiving all; that you may be forgiven.   Then those mountains will be removed!    

By His Word:  He has said these things that we might put them into practice.

What will we do with them?

Appointed 

Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die,  but after this the judgement:”

By God’s appointment, every life shall end in fire:

                For the Christian, it is the purifying fire of the Bema of Christ, before the eternity of Heaven.(1 Corinthians 3:13-15)

                For the unsaved, it is ultimately the Lake of Fire. (Revelation 20:15). 

[Matthew 25:41 “Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand,  Depart from Me,  ye cursed, into everlasting fire,  prepared for the devil and his angels:”

Notice:  God made the Lake of Fire for the devil and his angels.  Not man.  Man chooses to rebel against his Maker, and refuses the only Savior.]

God has appointed this day:  it is not for anyone to know.

Acts 1:7 “And He said unto them,  It is not for you to know the times or the seasons,  which the Father hath put in His own power.”

But it is put into God’s appointment book;  it will happen.

As Job said:

Job 23:13-14 “But He is in one mind and who can turn Him?  And what His soul desireth, even that He doeth.  

                          For He performeth the thing that is appointed for me:  and many such things are with Him.”

God performs the thing appointed.  For every Christian, this is a blessed fact.

Every trial, every person, every circumstance which is in the path I am to take, following Him, is appointed for us.

1 Thessalonians 3:3 “That no man should be moved by these afflictions:  for yourselves know that we are appointed thereinto.”

So because God has appointed this day;  He would have us receive the reward and crown He has for us.

In that day:  He will purify us with fire.   Today:  He wants to purify us by trials.

Faith must be tried to show us that it is there,  and how much we have.  That is the way we learn what God will do for us.

Micah 6:8-9 “He hath showed thee,  O man,  what is good;  and what doth the Lord require thee,  but to do justly,  and to love mercy,  and to walk humbly with thy God?

                        The Lord’s voice crieth unto the city,  and the man of wisdom shall see Thy name:   hear ye the rod,  and Who hath appointed it.”

[The rod here is the same as “Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23). They are given the Shepherd, both to correct the sheep and protect them.]

Our path is one in which we deal with ourselves,  and others.  We ask for mercy, and deal with others in mercy.

We ask for forgiveness, and forgive others.

We ask for help,  and pray for help for others. (Giving it in comfort, and encouragement, as we can)

Our path is one which follows our Lord,  “to walk humbly with our God”,  in the many “appointments” He has made for us.   

We agree with Him in this path,  leaning on Him and His Word to us, to see us through in safety.    And in joy.   [And if the joy is not there,  we are not really agreeing with Him,  but “putting up” with Him]

He has appointed for me, and for you.   Let us receive a full reward (2 John 8),  and enter into all He has for us:    both here, and there.

Are we indifferent to God?

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

In the world,  there are many gods. 

But for the one who is truly born again,  there is no other God,  but the Triune God.

God, the Father.

God, the Son.

God, the Holy Ghost.

They are three persons in One.   

God the Father formulated our Salvation.

God the Son purchased by HIs redeeming blood, our Salvation.

God the Holy Ghost works that Salvation within us;  day by day,  moment by moment.

Indifference in religion is the worst of attitudes. (Indifference means a lack of decision,  for either for or against something.)

Really?!  How can this be for a Christian?

We should either be,  “all in”;   Or “all out”.

When I was younger,  many preachers used to mention the proverbial “fence-setters”.

As a true Christian,  you really cannot be on that fence.   You must choose which side you will walk on.

Joshua 24: 14-15 “Now therefore fear the Lord,  and serve Him in sincerity and in truth;  and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood,  and in Egypt;    and serve ye the Lord.

                                

                               And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord,  choose you this day whom ye will serve;  whither the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood,  or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell:          but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

You see, everyone will serve a god:

Either the true God.

Or a god of their own making. (Which includes themselves…making themselves a god of their life.)

We are not in charge.  There are circumstances which come up we are not prepared for.

There are people who have an effect on us,  for good and evil, come into our lives.

There is the “bug” that bites:  greed,  success,  and power.

And there is the emotional roll-a-coaster from the choices we make.

As Christians, we should gladly submit ourselves to God.

He has saved,  and in a real sense,  saves us everyday;  as we yield to His Holy Spirit, within.

We should give up the attitude of the world to our God:  

Psalms 14:1 “The fool hath said in his heart,   There is no God.   They are corrupt,  they have done abominable works,  there is none that doeth good.”

In the original Hebrew, it means that they say,  “No,  God.”  For they work very hard to say that there is no God,  and as they work,  they seem to more and more, believe it.   

We cannot afford to be hesitant about our life with God. 

We must stand with someone.

We will come with the zealous attitude of following after our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Or,  in indifference,  we will take on the attitude of the world, and lose our greatest strength.

Where do we stand?   

Are we indifferent to our God?