Mary Magdalene 

We first meet her, by name, among the women who were ministering to Jesus of their wealth.    In fact many women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities ministered unto Him from their wealth.

Luke 8:2-3 “And certain women,  which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene,  out of whom went seven devils, 

                     And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others,  which ministered unto Him of their substance.”

Seven demons had been cast out of her.  She had been saved from great darkness, and despair.

Some believe that Mary Magdalene was the woman in the chapter right before.

Luke 7:37-38 “And, behold, a woman in the city,  which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the  Pharisee’s house,  brought an alabaster box of ointment,

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

Now whether she was this woman spoken of here or not,  it does not say. 

But the principle laid down at Simon the Pharisee’s house, is universal:

Luke 7:47 “Wherefore I say unto thee,  her sins,  which are many,  are forgiven;  for she loved much:  but to whom little is forgiven,  the save loveth little.” 

Mary Magdalene had been forgiven and healed from an horrible existence.

So she loved Jesus very much.

She was a zealous disciple of the Lord, following Him, hearing Him;  and when He was tried and crucified;  she did not desert Him,  but was there.

(Matthew 27:50,55-56.   Mark 15:40-41.  Luke 23:49 ,John 19:25)

In every gospel,  Mary Magdalene is seen below the cross.  (In Luke she is not named,  but spoken of as part of the women that ministered to Jesus.)

John 19:25 “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus   His mother,  and His mother’s sister,  Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.”

Jesus, after He arose from the dead,  appears to her first.    Was it her fearless love which gave her this privilege?

She had come early with other women to anoint Him.   Finding the tomb open and His body gone, she ran to tell the disciples. 

She must have thought that they would help her find the body, for she returns to the tomb right away.    But when they leave;  she looks again into the tomb.

There she sees angels;  but not Jesus.  She barely cares about angels, it is Jesus she is seeking.

She is certain that if she could just find the body,  she could take care of it. (It would have been too heavy for her)

John 20:11-13 “And Mary stood without the sepulcher weeping:  and as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the sepulcher.

                           And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet,  where the body of Jesus had lain.

                            And they say unto her,   Woman,  why weepest thou?    She saith unto them,  Because they have taken away my Lord,  and I know not where they have laid Him.”

She turns from them and she sees, what she thinks is a gardener,  till He speaks to her:   “Mary”.

John 20:15-16 “Jesus saith unto her,  Woman, why weepest thou?  Whom seekest thou?  She supposing Him to be the gardener,  saith unto Him,  Sir, if thou hast borne Him hence, tell me, where thou hast laid Him,  and I will take Him away.

                           Jesus saith unto her,   Mary.    She turned herself, and saith unto Him,  Rabboni;   Which is to say,  Master.”

That voice which called her out of darkness into light.

That voice that told her she was free from these evil spirits,  and forgiven.

That voice:  she instantly recognizes when He says her name.

“My Father and your Father,  My God and your God.”   What a wonderful word of comfort she was given:

John 20:17 “Jesus saith unto her,  Touch me not;  for I am not yet ascended to My Father:  but go to My brethren,  and say unto them,   I ascend unto My Father,  and your Father;  and to My God,  and your God.”

And a message was also given to her to pass on:  “Go, and say”.  Which she did.

You do not hear her name specifically, again.  

But I am sure she was in the gathering waiting at Jerusalem, as they had been told.

Waiting till the day of Pentecost,  with the disciples and other women:  I see Mary Magdalene.

Acts 1:13-14 “And when they were come in,  they went up into an upper room,  where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew,  Philip, and Thomas,  Bartholomew, and Matthew, and James the son of Alpheus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.

                       These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication,  with the women,  and Mary the mother of Jesus,  and with His brethren.”

Waiting for the Holy Spirit to be given.  To be empowered to do what she was called to:  to further the cause of her beloved Lord.

Mary Magdalene was given the greatest gift:  life with Jesus.   After that, she never wavered in her love of the Son of God who saved her.

Luke 7:47 “Wherefore I say unto thee,  her sins, which are many,  are forgiven;  for she loved much:  but to whom little is forgiven,  the same loveth little.”

She was forgiven much,  therefore she loved much.

What of us?

Launch out into the Deep

Luke 5:4 “Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon,  Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.”

Here the Lord is  getting surrounded about with people , who want to hear more of the word of God, by the lake of Gennesaret.

Two fishing ships were at hand, although the men were out of them, so Jesus enters into one of them and asked the owner, named Simon, to:

Luke 5:3 “And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land.  And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.”

There was some effort to this favor for Jesus, and now Jesus is going to do Simon a favor.

“Launch out into the deep, and let down your nests for a draught.”

Simon, here, was trying to be polite; and gently tells Jesus that they had already done everything they could to get a catch of fishes.

Luke 5:5 “And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all night, and have taken nothing:  Nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.”

But he also added, “But at thy word ”

Here is obedience.   Peter might not have agreed with the plan.   Might not have thought it would work;  but would do it anyway, to honor Jesus.

Jesus had “borrowed”  Peter’s ship, and now He would “pay” him for the use of it.

Luke 5:6-7″ And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them.  And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.”

A net full of fishes, to the breaking point, was what He gave!

“Pressed down and running over”.   (Luke 6:38).  He spoke this word, and He gave to Peter, here.

But now, with the “payment” given;  Peter realizes  this Jesus was who John the Baptist testified;  “The Lamb of God”. (John 1:35-41).  That He was indeed the Christ.

Peter then fell down (probably a most unusual position for the energetic fisherman)

And cried:

Luke 5:8-9 “When Simon Peter saw it he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying,  Depart from me;  for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes that they had taken:”

“Lord” is the right title for Jesus.  And knowing Him this way, led to leaving all and following Jesus.

Luke 5:10-11 “And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon.  And Jesus said unto Simon,  Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed Him.”

They forsook all and followed Him, leaving their father in the ship with the hired servants. (Mark 1:20)

Here they received the best gift–to be called to follow Jesus.

Launch out into the deep.   A simple command,  simply followed;  which led to becoming a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus also calls us to “Launch out” with Him in our everyday lives,  to be obedient to Him.

We may not “agree” with the command;  or think we have already done all we could;

but if we will obey Him, He will bless.

“They forsook all”;  they had known Jesus before (as John 1:35-41 shows), but now their lives were at Jesus’ command.

What about us?   Do we know Jesus, yet have not “launched out” with Him into true discipleship?

He calls,  will we follow?

We may never “forsake all” in the same way as Peter, James, and John did here….but we are always called to place Him first.

And with Him first,  everything else is seen to.

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

The Holy Spirit’s Work

John 14:16 “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter,  that He may abide with you forever;”

When we are born again, the Holy Spirit comes within our spirits to live there.   He is the Paraclete;  which means, “to come under, to support”.   He is our Comforter.

He places us in the family of God. 

Galatians 4:5-7 “To redeem them that were under the law,  that we might receive the adoptions of sons.

                               And because ye are sons,  God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts,  crying,  Abba,  Father.

                               Wherefore thou art no more servants,  but a son;  and if a son,  then an heir of God through Christ.”

This He does, by giving us faith: the substance of things things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Plainly, by faith, the Holy Spirit makes God real to us, in our everyday life.

Ephesians 1:13, 17  “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth,  the gospel of your salvation: in whom also,  after that ye have believed,  you were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,

                                    that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,  the Father of glory,  may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him:”

                                                                       

He is in our spirits, and turns the light on within us, so we can see the truth, and do it.

John 15:26 “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father,  even the Spirit of truth,  which proceedeth from the Father,  He shall testify of Me.”

1 Peter 1:22 “Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren,  see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:”

 

He speaks to us through the Word of God, and by working in us the knowledge of God’s Will for us. 

John 14:26 “But the Comforter,  which is the Holy Ghost,  whom the Father will send in My name,  He shall teach you all things,  and bring all things to your remembrance,  whatsoever I have said unto you.”

 

He empowers us,  sanctifying us to God.

Ephesians 3:16”That He would grant you,  according to the riches of His glory,  to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man;”

2 Thessalonians 2:13 “But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you,  brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:”

 

He gives us the fruit of the Spirit.

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

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

And as we yield to the Holy Spirit within,  He works through us.   (People will see a change;  not in word only,  but in our manner of life.)

Romans 8:13-14 “For if ye live after the flesh,  ye shall die:  but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body,  ye shall live.

                               For as many as are led by the Spirit of God,  they are the sons of God.”

1 Thessalonians 1:5 “For our gospel came not unto you in word only,  but also in power,  and in the Holy Ghost,  and in much assurance;  as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sakes.”

 

When we sin,  the Holy Spirit stays after us,  showing it to us again and again.

If we grieve Him (Ephesians 4:30),   He does not leave us, though He may withdraw the comforting feeling of His Presence;  till we have sought forgiveness and cleansing. 

1 John 1:7,9 “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.

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

                         

He teaches us to rejoice and give thanks.

1 Thessalonians 5:18-19 “In everything give thanks:  for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.  

                                             Quench not the Spirit.”  (Don’t put out the fire of God burning within you by the Holy Spirit)

 

He teaches us how to pray.

Romans 8:26 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:  for we know not what we should pray for as we ought;  but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which can not be uttered.”

Jude 20 “But ye beloved,  building up yourselves on your most holy faith,  praying in the Holy Ghost,”

 

As the Holy Spirit is in us,  we have fellowship with other believers.  The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, and we are to love one another, as He loves us.

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

1 John 2:10 “He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.”

 

And we can be filled with the Holy Spirit, having the power of His influence within us (as as a man is under the influence of wine).

Ephesians 5:18 “And be not drunk with wine,  wherein is excess;  but be filled with the Spirit;”

(We are filled by the Holy Spirit, to the degree we are empty of self-seeking.

Galatians 5:25-26.    Matthew 16:24-25)

The Holy Spirit was given us, that we will never be alone:    Not spiritual orphans.    

He comes to us,  to hold us up, giving us joy and peace;   and He supports us in God’s Will, giving us the faith to overcome.

Friends:

John 15:15 “Henceforth I call ye not servants;  for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth:  but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.”

Jesus is talking to His disciples.

These disciples had traveled a long way with Christ, and had determined to go on with Him, although He was hated by the religious rulers and Pharisees.

There is an old saying:   “A wise man is he that keeps his friendships  in constant repair”

And this is as true with Christ, as well as our other friends.

A man with God can be a majority of One in any situation.

Look at John, the beloved disciple:

When Jesus’s time was come, He went to the garden of Gethsemane to pray.(John 18:1)

The eleven were with Him, but three of the eleven were closest to Him…Peter, James and John.  When Judas and the band of soldiers which were to arrest Him, came;  they all fled.  Jesus had asked that His disciples be let go:

John 18:8 “Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he:  if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:”

Mark 14:48-52 “And Jesus answered and said unto them,  Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me?

I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not:  but the Scriptures must be fulfilled.

And they all forsook him, and fled.

And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body;  and the young men laid hold on him:

And he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.”

This young man,  I believe was John….but look what he did right after that.

John 18:15  “And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple:  that disciple was known unto the high priest,  and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.”

Peter stayed outside, for fear.   But not John;  he had failed and ran away with all the rest,  but now he would follow Jesus, no matter what happened.

Here he was allowed to go into the place of judgement….the high priest knew him. This could have been life threatening.   But he went into the palace to be with Jesus.

And after they led Jesus away to Pilate?  And to Golgotha (Calvary),  John was there 

also.  None other disciple,  but he was.

John 19:25-27 “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas,  and Mary Magdalene.

When Jesus therefore saw his mother,  and the disciple standing by,  whom he loved, he saith unto his mother,  Woman, behold thy son!

Then saith he to his disciple,  Behold thy mother!    And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”

John was a young man; who had fled to save his life….but came back to follow Jesus, not only to find out what would happen to him;  but to stand with Him, both in the place of judgement and death.

Friends.  We, too, can be friends with Christ.  

We can stand with Him,  not that we won’t fail, but, after we have, we will seek Him and stand with Him.

A wise man is he that keeps his friendships in constant repair.

The First Principle we Learn,  Obedience.

John 14:15 “If ye love Me, keep my commandments.”

As babes in Christ,  we are given great joy in knowing our sins are forgiven, and we are accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6-7).

Then we are told to grow in grace, and the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord.(2 Peter 3:18)

We are to grow up into Christ (Ephesians 4:13-15),  and that is by Obedience.

Acts 8:1, 4-5 “And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem;  and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria,  except the apostles.

                        Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.

                         Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria,  and preached Christ unto them.”

Persecution for the believers, results in sending the gospel far and wide!  (The Lord can always change the bad people want to do,  into good.)

Acts 8:6, 8 “And the people with one accord gave heed unto the things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

                     And there was great joy in that city.”

Wow!  The Lord has blessed His Word, and many believed, and were baptized in the name of Christ Jesus, in obedience.

This obedience to the word preached,  continued;   and word got back to the apostles at Jerusalem.

Acts 8:14, 25 “Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God,  they sent unto them Peter and John:

                          And they,  when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord,  returned to Jerusalem,  and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.”

This word preached by Peter and John, as they were witnesses of Jesus’ earthly ministry (His words and actions), crucifixion, and resurrection; would have been to establish these beginning believers in Christ Jesus.

But in the middle of this revival,  Philip is called of the Lord to go somewhere else!

Acts 8:26 “And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip,  saying,  Arise, and go toward the south,  unto the way which goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza,  which is desert.”

                         Philip could have said:  To the desert?  Really, Lord?  I’m have a revival here;  shouldn’t I stay here?

But if you love the Lord, you obey Him.

Acts 8:27-28 “And he arose and went:  and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians,  who had the charge of all her treasure,  and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 

                       Was returning,  and sitting in his chariot read Isaiah the prophet.”

And Philip arose and went.

God had sent him to Samaria;  and God was sending him away from it, to a desert place.

When he got there, he saw a man in a chariot (we know who he was now,  but Philip didn’t, then).

Acts 8:29-30 “Then said the Spirit unto Philip,   Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

                         And Philip ran thither to him,  and heard him read the prophet Isaiah,  and said,   Understandest what thou readest?”

Again, the Lord gives him direction as what to do in this situation.   

The Lord always honors those who obey Him, with more:  more of His Presence, more of His guidance, and certainly, more of His peace and protection. 

Philip does not know who this man is,  but the Lord does.   This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship,  so he believed in God.  

But with all the things going on there (there had been multitudes saved,  and still being saved, even under persecution),  yet he had been untouched by any of them.

This man was reading Isaiah’s prophecy concerning the Lord Jesus:

 “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter,  

and like a lamb before his shearer, so he opened not his mouth:    

In his humiliation his judgement was taken away:   And who shall declare his generation?  For his life is taken from the earth” (Acts 8:32-33)

God knows his heart, and sees his hunger for knowledge of the truth,  and fills it.

Philip runs!  How wonderful when the joy of the Spirit fills us.

And asks,  “Do you understand what you are reading?”

The answer is,  “No, how can I?   I need help.”

So Philip asked if he could come up and sit with him.

Acts 8:34-35 “And the eunuch answered Philip,  and said,  I pray thee,  of whom speaketh the prophet  this?    Of himself,  or of some other man?

                          Then Philip opened his mouth,  and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.”

Philip began with Isaiah, and showed that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ who was prophesied to come as the Lamb of God,  and take away the sins of His people.

Acts 8:36, 38-39. “And as they went on their way,  they came unto a certain water:  and the eunuch said,   See, here is water,  what doth hinder me to be baptized?

                                 And he commanded the chariot to stand still:  and they went down both into the water,  both Philip and the eunuch;  and he baptized him.

                                 And when they were come up out of the water,  the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip,  that the eunuch saw him no more:   And he went on his way rejoicing.”

Baptism is to show that you believe that Jesus Christ went down into the grave in death for us,  and was raised the third day;  and you are identifying yourself with Jesus,  as belonging to Him.

This eunuch was empty at Jerusalem, going home empty.   But Christ Jesus knew his need, and would not let that happen.

Philip’s obedience was the way this man was saved.   And he went on his way rejoicing!

And what of Philip?     He went on to the next calling:  preaching Christ.

Acts 8:40 “But Philip was found at Azotus:  and passing through he preached in all the cities,  til he came to Caesarea.”

Obedience is the way to show Jesus Christ that we believe, trust, will stay with, etc.

Obedience is the way to show Jesus Christ that we love Him.

I Will,   will you?

This is God speaking,  and when He says, “I will”,  nothing can hinder Him,  except what He allows.

And in His people, which should know and believe Him;  He allows their unbelief to hinder His works.

And why does He allow this?

Hebrews 3:10,12 “Wherefore I was grieved with that generation,  and said,  They do always err in their hearts,  and they have not known My ways.

                               Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief,  in departing from the living God.”

                              For unbelief is departing from the living God.  

The example I want to talk about is in Ezekiel.

Ezekiel is an interesting prophet.  Exiled with many of Judah’s people in the second captivity under Nebuchadnezzar (there were three times people were taken away.),  Ezekiel’s ministry was:

To tell the captives the reason of their captivity.  

He tells them of their forsaking of God, and the terrible iniquity that was still going on in Judah and Jerusalem.  He tells them that God will judge Judah, destroying the Temple, and the kingdom, because of their continued wickedness.        

Ezekiel 33:28-29   “For I will lay the land most desolate,  and the pomp of her strength shall cease;  and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate,  that none shall pass through.                          Then shall they know that I am the Lord,  when I have laid the land most desolate,  because of all their abominations which they have committed.”

And he encouraged the captives to accept the chastening of the Lord, and build houses and take care of their families.  

To do the commandments of the Lord,  till God was pleased to bring them back into the land.   

For after God had chastened them,  He would remember His covenant with Abraham,  and bring them back.

Ezekiel 36:28 “And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers;  and ye shall be My people,  and I will be your God.”

This is a great promise,  for it deals not just with the outward inheritance,  but the inward heart.

Ezekiel 36: 32-36 “Not for your sakes do I do this,  saith the Lord God,  be it known unto you:  be ashamed and confounded for your own ways,  O house of Israel.

                                 Thus saith the Lord God;  in the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities,  and the wastes shall be builded.

                                  And the desolate land shall be tilled,  whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by.

                                   And they shall say,   This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden;  and the wastes and the desolate and ruined cities become fenced,  and are inhabited.

                                    Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the Lord build the ruin places,  and plant that that was desolate:  I the Lord have spoken it,  and I will do it.”

“I have spoken it, and I will do it.”  But it would not be for their sakes, for God was looking at His covenant with Abraham.

It was not a matter of merit.  But God would do it, for His Word’s sake.

This should have caused the people to praise God, and pray for it in gratitude and love.

To get right with God, and seek the good of their brethren.

But what did they do?

Ezekiel 36:37 “Thus saith the Lord God;  I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel,  to do it for them,…”

They did nothing. 

God had promised.  He would do it.      And then:   Forget about it,  till we actually see it.

Unbelief abounded:

Not the “I don’t believe in God”,  unbelief.     

But the “I will believe, only when I see it”,  unbelief.

For unbelief is departing from the living God.

Ezekiel spoke and warned them that God required righteousness from them.  To do what they, as His people,  should do, even in a foreign land.  

Not for merit, but to show their belief in Him, as their God.

(Ezekiel 33:14-15 “…if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;    If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statues of life, with out committing iniquity; he shall surely live,…”)

They could pine away, wishing for better days;   Or turn from their sins of idolatry and rebellion against God’s dealings,  and “live”.

Again, and again Ezekiel spoke to them;  but they mocked him.  Listening,  but still refusing to “hear and obey.”

Ezekiel 33:31-32 “And they come unto thee as the people cometh,  and they sit thee before thee as My people,  and they hear thy words,  but they will not do them:  for with their mouth they show much love,  but their heart goeth after their covetousness.

                               And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice,  and can play well on an instrument:    for they hear thy words,  but they do them not.”

God says, “I will”.  And nothing can hinder God, but what He allows.   And with His own people,  who should know Him;  He refuses to bless our unbelief (whatever kind it is).

He rebukes us, to get our attention,  so we will hear His Word to us and live.

He chastens us, to awaken us to the seriousness of our way.   To draw us back into the right way.

Real life is in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior.  It is by faith.

Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back,  My soul shall have no pleasure in him.”

Now let me ask you:   Which really lived?  Ezekiel or the people who “pined” away in their sins?

Ezekiel’s way was hard: he was mocked and rejected.    But God was with him.

What do you consider “life” to you?     Life with Christ Jesus?  Or life here and now?

God says, “I will”.   Will we believe Him, and live?

Diligence

Diligence is eager, earnest doing; till the job is done.

2 Kings 13:14 “And Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died.  And  Joash the king of Israel came down unto him,  and wept over his face,  and said,  O my father,  my father!  The chariot of Israel,  and the horsemen thereof.”

Elisha was a prophet of God to Israel.  

And the king of Israel came down to him,  to get some sorely needed help.

Assyria was their bitter enemy,  who had destroyed most of their army;  and had taken cities away from Israel.

Israel’s king was not godly;  he had followed the sins of Israel’s kings before him, and kept the worship of two golden idols.     

God had not forsaken Israel,   yet.      He had a remnant in Israel, under Elisha, called the sons of the prophets, who still followed Him.

But the king needed help, and what he was doing was not working.

So the king came down to seek the help of Elisha.

2 Kings 13:15-17 “And Elisha said unto him,  Take bow and arrows.   And he took unto him bow and arrows.

                               And he said unto the king of Israel,  Put thy hand upon the bow.  And  he put his hand upon it:  and Elisha put his hands upon the king’s hands.

                                And he said,  Open the window eastward.  And he opened it.  Then Elisha said,  Shoot.  And he shot.  And he said,  The arrow of the Lord’s deliverance,  and the arrow of deliverance from Syria:  for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Apek,  till thou hast consumed them.”

Hurrah, a promise of deliverance!  And it was so simple.  Just shoot an arrow; a very manly, kingly thing to do! 

But wait;  God was not yet through with this king.

2 Kings 13:18 “And he said,  Take the arrows.  And he took them.   And he said unto the king of Israel,  Smite upon the ground.    And he smote thrice,  and stayed.”

This was not very manly, or kingly;  and he had gotten the promise already.   What was he doing  hitting the ground?     

Well, he would humor the old guy,  but why do this, he could not see.

His lack of diligence (the eager, earnest doing, till complete) cost him.

For God was going to require subjection to His Word from this king.

One arrow shot, with his hands covered with the hands of the prophet, was enough for the promise of victory.  

(Wasn’t that what Elisha had been doing for the whole nation?  Covering them from complete judgement from God, for their idolatry?)

But now,  something more was going to be required from the king and his nation.   Elisha was dying, and with him, a great deal of “covering” was gone.

Would the king subject himself to God’s Word and do what seemed tedious?

Would he pound the ground with the arrows, like he was fighting the Syrians?

Diligence is eager, earnest doing; till the job is done.

But the king had no real diligence.   He wanted promises from Elisha’s God, not instructions in perseverance.   

He had not come to learn that God was going to require something from his hand.

Oh sure,  he would fight the battles which God would give him victory in;  but pound upon the ground in obedience to God’s Word?   

No,  that was not for him.    After all he was a king. 

(How often we are the same way.   We want promises:  which God is glad to give.   But to do the work of praying for them, and being obedient everyday for them;  we would rather not.   How often our enthusiasm disappears!)

2 Kings 13:19 “And the man of God was wroth with him,  and said,  Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times;  then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hast consumed it:  whereas now thou wilt smite Syria but thrice.”

Think of it!   Two or three more times, was all he had to do to get complete victory.

But now,  he would have victory—as God promised;  but only three times.      The amount of times he hit the ground.   

The effort he showed there,  would be the victories the Lord would give!

(Remember, it was only his hand on the arrows which were to strike the ground.)

How important our diligence is,   in our walk with Christ Jesus.

We are not kings,  yet,   are we  like Joash here,  incomplete in what God has given us to do?

You could say he was not diligent   because of unbelief,   or not wanting to humble himself under the Word of God.             Or for a number of reasons;  but in the end,  God would not honor him, more than he was willing to be diligent.

Proverbs 4:23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence;  for out of it are the issues of life.”

In other words,  with your own hands,  hold on to the affections and emotions which come out of your heart, like the reins of a horse—so they will not run away with you.

The Lord will give us victory,  He will empower us.     But we must use it;    the diligence comes from our hand.

We must take God at His Word, and diligently “keep” our hearts for Him.

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.

And both faith and hope take the things of the Holy Spirit, in our spirit, and make them real to us.

Faith deals with God;  making Him real to us—in us.

Hope deals with God’s Word;  placing confidence in it, even though we have not yet experienced it.,

We must exercise our wills with the Holy Spirit within, and  then faith and hope become strong helps in our walk with God.

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 power, 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.

We seek it from Him, or we never 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 with in 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.

For you can not be experiencing that hope that will enable you to gain patience in these circumstances, for you have given up that confidence in God.

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

And 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 such experiences that will increase our dependence on God, Who gives us hope.

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,  has been proved again and again;  and the Holy Spirit within us lights up the love of God within us,  so that we are blessed by His Presence in all 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 to have more of His boundless joy, peace, and love.

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.

As Christians, What are we to seek First?

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

We are to seek His kingdom, first.  It is a kingdom which comes within each of us.         He will surely see to us.

It is a reign of Grace.

God is the God of all grace, and He gives us what we need.

1 Peter 5:10 “But the God of all grace,  who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus,  after that ye have suffered awhile,  make you perfect (complete),  stablish you,  strengthen you,  settle you.”

Grace is the unmerited favor of power.  The grace of God is manifold (1 Peter 4:10),   which means that God’s power is shown many ways:

By grace are ye saved 

Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace are ye saved through faith;  that not of yourselves:  it is the gift of God:

                                 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

                                 For we are His workmanship,  created in Christ Jesus unto good works,  which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Titus 2:11 “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men,”

Also by grace, we live for Christ Jesus. (Remember it is His power that enables us to do.)

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 glory in my infirmities,  that the power of God may rest upon me.”

Hebrews 12:28 “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which can not be moved,  let us have (hold on to) grace,  whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:”

By grace we are kept, or upheld by His power within us, so we persevere to the end. 

Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace,  that we may obtain mercy,  and find grace to help in time of need.”

By grace we are made strong for the work before us.  

2 Timothy 2:1 “Thou therefore my son,  be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”

By grace we show to others, what God has done for us.   

Example:  Paul’s own testimony.

1 Timothy 1:12-14, 16 “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord,  who hath enabled me for that He counted me faithful,  putting me into the ministry;  

                                      Who was before a blasphemer,  and a persecutor,  and injurious:  but I obtained mercy,  because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

                                       And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”

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

Paul,  who persecuted the church, putting some to death by his witness against them,  received mercy, and grace.

He said, “..the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”

For such a sinner (he calls himself the chiefest of sinners. 1 Timothy 1:15), great grace was needed to bring him to the mercy of salvation. 

And Who does he praise for this grace?

1 Timothy 1:17 “Now unto the King eternal immortal,  invisible, the only wise God,  be honor and glory forever and ever,  Amen.”

Now unto the King—my King, Paul says, be honor and praise forever.

As Christians, we should seek His kingdom first, and praise our King for all He has done, by grace, for us.

It is the Eleventh Hour

I am going to speak frankly about some searching internal things of God, and my soul I experienced years ago.

For years I had gone along, (a Church goer, Sunday School Teacher).  But over a series of months, I was “forced” (by the Holy Spirit’s enlightenment) to admit  to myself and God, the lack of permanent spiritual fruit in my own life.

I would be peaceful and joyful, at times; then angry and bitter, at other times.

I began to doubt the reality of my conversion.

My obedience I knew was partial, so I sought to be obedient in all things; to be more diligent.

Yet I longed with a greater and greater yearning to hear some Word from the Lord about it all.

Jeremiah 17:9-10 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

I the Lord search the heart,  I try the reins,  even to give every man according to his ways,  and according to the fruit of his doings.”

I started to pray that He would search me, hoping that it would lead to an experience.

A once accomplished setting in order, if you will.  Then my life would be under the control of the Holy Spirit.  No problems.

But time and time again, the Lord lead me to discover the times I simply did not deny myself in this attitude,  or in that reaction. 

Our reactions to people and things tells God, as well as others, a lot about our true spirituality.

To “deny myself” (Matthew 16:24);  this was not what I wanted to hear.  

I do that;  I’ve done that.

But time and time again,  I came face to face with the fact that I had started to do it,  but my “reasons” for putting up with myself, seemed too good.

Or I had denied myself in the action.  I did not do what was wrong.   

But I sure wanted to.  

Was that really “denying myself”?

So then the Lord showed me that I was born again,  but I was not walking with Him.

I was following my own way.  A way which was not producing fruit for Him,  or true life for me.

He showed me, that time is important.   I had made choices in things I could not change:  consequences I must bear.

So, what could I do?  How can I do for the time I have left?

Matthew 20:1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householder which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard.”

The Kingdom of Heaven, if it is to be gained, is by One man.  The householder here; our Lord Jesus Christ; and His call to us.

God’s call is always to Himself:  it may be to Salvation,  or it may be to a work,  or it may be to more knowledge of Himself.

But His Call is always to Himself.

Christ calls those who would be part of the Kingdom of Heaven, not to sit around, but to labor in His Work in this World.

The Lord showed me, through this parable, my life; and how I had served Him. 

Will you see yourself here?

Now, within every believer, there is a “clock”, so to speak.

This clock begins to tick the moment we are born again.   It is like a time clock for the Work of the Lord, for ourselves.

When Christ calls to the Work:

Some respond early, and go to work for Christ.  

Matthew 20:1-2 “…a man that is a householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard.   

And when he had agree with the laborers for a penny a day,  he sent them into his vineyard.”

(Back then, there were twelve hour days, and a penny was a good days wage.)

Some respond later, but still go.

Matthew 20:3-5 “And he went out about the third hour,  and saw others standing idle in the marketplace.

And said unto them;  Go ye also into the vineyard;  and whatsoever is right I will give you.  And they went their way.

Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour,  and did likewise.”

But some, stand idle all the day;  inactive, and barren.

Matthew 20:6-7 “About the eleventh hour he went out,  and found others standing idle,  and saith unto them,   Why stand ye here all the day idle?  

They say unto him,  Because no man hath hired us.    He saith unto them,  Go ye also into the vineyard;  and whatsoever is right,  that ye shall receive.”

How can religious people be idle?

Because they have bee brought into the Christian faith without any confrontation of the total commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord.

Without any instruction that real Christian Victory, means complete abandonment of our self and person to Jesus Christ.

So when the householder said,  “Go into my vineyard”;   Jesus was giving us the opportunity of doing that.   How many times in my life had He done so?

Now where were these “idle” ones during the times He came before?

He accuses them of standing idle “all the day”, so they must have been there.

Yet they did not heed His call to go and work.

What about you?   Has the Lord Jesus call for laborers, and you stood idle?

When others went, you were relieved that you did not “have to” go?

Yet the time (remember each of us have a clock, ticking) goes by, and the emptiness with us seems to weigh us down.

Now the day is almost gone.

Oh, if He would just call again;  for the Kingdom of Heaven is wrapped up in the laborers He has called.

The He does, rebuking you for your laziness,  for your attitude of letting someone else do the work.

What will you do now?

Let this last opportunity go by again?    For it is the eleventh hour.

Matthew 20:9-10 “And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour,  they received every man a penny.

But when the first came,  they supposed that they should have received more;  and they received every man a penny.”

Here is the wages of these workers. (Not the wages of sin;  Christ took those)

But in Him we receive the “wages” of our Obedience to His call; and our faithfulness (even after we were unfaithful).

Some labored longer;  some a very short time. 

Yet the householder, Jesus Christ, pays out the same wages to all.

Those wages are the reward for the faithful following of His call.  The faithful putting of yourself aside for Christ’s sake, and for the faithful love which (finally) follows Him.

In that day of receiving, we will enter into His Joy and into His courts with praise.

Hallelujah, what a Savior!