Stand ye in the Ways

Jeremiah 6:16 “Thus saith the Lord,  Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.  But they said,   We will not walk therein.”

Jeremiah was called to a time,  like ours,  where much religion was going on;  but very little obedience to God.   They had all the outward trappings, but none of the devotion to God and His commandments.

Under King Josiah, who was a godly king; Jeremiah was given the job of going about Judah and instructing the people in the laws of God.

Many did not want to hear, for they had been influenced by the idolatrous nations round about them;  and refused subjection to the Lord, although they went along with the outward ceremony.

Jeremiah 2:13

“For my people have committed two evils;  they have forsaken me the fountain of living water, and hewed them our cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.”

Then he was told to go to Jerusalem and preach there…telling the people what God would do, if they would repent and turn back in obedience to Him.

He would forgive and help them:

Jeremiah 7:5-7″For if ye thoroughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor;

If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow,  and shed not innocent blood in this place,  neither walk after other gods to your hurt:

Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever.”

For what God wanted of His people was that they obey His commands.

“Stand ye in the ways”. In the Hebrew it means “Get up and do it”

Start actively seeking My ways.    If you just do this seeking, you are serving your God and honoring Him.   This I will count, and will honor you in return.

And ask for the old paths:   The path which leads you to straighten out your life, and the path of obedience to His Word.

God has made a way to return to Him…..take it.

How was it with those who came before us?  Who martyred their lives for God and his gospel?  From the apostles to our forefathers?

How did they attain to what they had?

Through the Word of God to them.

We must seek out the truth of the Scriptures for ourselves:   What does it say to us?

For now?  For our calling and ministry?

As Jeremiah said to Judah:

Jeremiah 7:23 “But this thing commanded I them, saying,  Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people:  and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.”

Obey My voice….and I will be your God….and ye shall be My people.

Jesus said the same thing when  He was talking to His disciples, before He went to the cross.

John 15:10″ If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.”

His disciples did, and they stirred the whole world.

If we get out life in order before Him, and honor Him in this; and He will honor our obedience, in our everyday life.

God speaks through His Word:  Hear Him,  and return to the ways of peace, knowing His presence with you, and for you everyday.

Mark:

2 Timothy 4:11 “Only Luke is with me.  Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.”

It was not always so.   Mark the writer of the Gospel of Mark, was first named in:

Acts 12:12 “And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark;  where many were gathered together praying.”

He was a believer, young and right in the middle of things from the first.

The verses where  he is first mentioned, was where Herod began a persecution against the church.   James was taken and killed by the sword. (Acts 12:1-2)

Then Peter was taken, and put in prison to bring him out so the people could decide what to do with him.(like Jesus)

But Peter we know was kicked awake by an angel and brought out of prison (Acts 12:6-11).  Then he found his way to Mary’s house, a Christian who had kept a prayer meeting going for his release.

Acts 12:5, 12 “Peter therefore was kept in prison:  but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; for many were gathered together praying.”

Mary was John Mark’s mother, and he witnessed many things in those early days.

But his personal faith was not so strong. (Which suggests that seeing miracles, or great spiritual acts does not increase faith, of themselves.)

Paul and Barnabas had John Mark for their minister(helper).

Acts 13:5 “And when they were come to Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews:  and they had also John to their minister.”

But as they went on in their missionary journey;  John Mark became frightened and decided to go back from the work to Jerusalem, where he thought he would be safe.

Acts 13:13 “Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.”

Paul and Barnabas continued their journey, experiencing many wonderful and terrible things(this missionary journey was where Paul was stoned: Acts 14:19).

But no John Mark.

After the first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas went up to Jerusalem to speak about the growing problem of Judiazers.  (Those that taught they could not be saved except they follow the Law, as well.)

Acts 15:1 “And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren, and said,  Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.”

Paul and Barnabas were sent by the brethren to go to Jerusalem, and having spoken about what the Holy Spirit was doing among the Gentiles;  it was determined to receive the Gentiles without making them follow the Law.

Along the way, John Mark must have come with the men which came back to Antioch, for he is found there, when Paul and Barnabas begin to talk of visiting  the churches they had preached to before,  “and see how they do.” (Acts 15:36)

But before they get started,  a contention;  so sharp that it pulled them apart.

Acts 15:37-38 “And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.  

But Paul thought not good to take with them,  who departed from them from Pamphylia and went not with them to the work.”

You will notice the terms the Holy Spirit uses here:

Barnabas “determined”.

Paul “thought not good”.

John Mark was Barnabas’ nephew, and he would want to give him another chance.

But his “determined”,  meant, he already had his mind made up.  He was going to do this.  No matter.

Paul “thought not good” was looking at the churches.  How would it appear to them to have someone who would not hazard his life for Christ to come and minister to them?

The churches that had begun had to stand against persecutions, and blasphemes….how could he stand before them?   How could they, with him along?

Now notice the Holy Spirit’s terms for the results of this contention:

Acts 15:39-40 “And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.”

Barnabas “took”.  Hard, unmoving.

Paul “chose”.  Thinking what should be best for Christ’s work.

Barnabas took off  with Mark.  It seems as if the Holy Spirit is emphasizing his willfulness.   What a shame!    You never hear of Barnabas’ work in the Scriptures again.

Paul chose, having the recommendation of the brethren, unto the grace of God.

Two different choices…two different ways.  

But what about Mark?

He grew up, and was restored to the ministry with Paul.

Colossians 4:10″Aristarchus my fellow prisoner saluteth you, and Mark, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom you received commandment: if he come unto you receive him:)

2 Timothy 4:11 “Only Luke is with me.  Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.”

And he was a fellow helper of Peter.

1 Peter 5:13 “The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.”

Some say the Gospel of Mark is actually Mark writing it for Peter.

Whether that is true,  Mark was restored to a work for the Lord.

He grew up, and began to understand the value of true life in Jesus.

Later Paul writes about bishops:

1 Timothy 3:6-7 “Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without;  lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

We are to keep growing, yielding to the Holy Spirit. (Don’t become willful in your own opinion.)

We will never have sinless perfection…but we can be forgiven, grow, and go on with Christ.

Mark did.

Wild as Horses,

Stubborn as Mules,

Or Guided by God’s Eye.

Psalm 32:8-9 “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go:  I will guide thee with mine eye. 

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

Horses are beautiful and wild.  When you break a horse, you don’t want to break its spirit,  but its will.

Mules are very good animals of burden and work.   They work hard….when they do;  but it is getting them to do it,  that is the problem.  

Bits and bridles for both of these animals are often called for, in the training period, and sometimes,  beyond. 

We are often like this,  the Lord says.   We are wild,  wanting our own will.   

And we are stubborn;  this is written in a Psalm of David, where he confesses his refusal to go to God in confession of sin.

Psalm 32:3-4 ” When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.  

For day and night  thy hand was heavy upon me:  my moisture is turned into the drought of summer.  Selah.”

David knew he had sinned.  He just refused to acknowledge it.  He did not want to think of it.  

But when God dealt with him;  he could think of nothing else.  It took all his strength and vitality;   and left him withered,  until he did come and confess it.

(Selah  means:  stop and consider!)

But there is a remedy for this way of behaving.  God says He will instruct us.

This means that He will gives us knowledge to do;  but also understanding  in that knowledge.

Men can instruct as to what to do,  

But only God can give understanding.

Then He says He will teach us. 

He will take our hands and place them on the work,  and show us how it is to be done.

It is the “on job” training of God for us.   It is Amazing!   

God personally taking us aside and guiding us in everything we are to do.

“I will guide thee with my eye.”     How many looks have we received from our parents,  our spouses,  and friends.    We know so well what they mean,  without  them saying a word.

This is the relationship God wants to have with each of us, for He loves us.

Ephesians 2:4-5 “But God,  who is rich in mercy,  for His great love wherewith He loved us,

                               Even when we were dead in sins,  hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved;)”

Are we reigning in our real life, through Christ Jesus?

Romans 5:17 “For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one (Adam);  much more they that received abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by One,  Jesus Christ.”

But how do we do this?

As Christians,  we are given the Holy Spirit to reign within us.   

I’m sure all of you have heard that in our hearts and lives there is a throne,  where someone must rule.

And a footstool,  where someone must serve.

For the natural man,  the throne is occupied by themselves.   They rule in their lives. 

For the Christian,  the throne should be occupied by Christ, through the Holy Spirit within.  He should rule.

He should rule within us,  and through us as we yield to Him.   This is “reigning in life”—our life.

This is the same as Ambassadors.    Ambassadors are still servants of their countries,  but can and do speak for their country.   They have been given authority because of their loyalty and service to their government.

For the child of God,  our government is the Kingdom of Christ which should be within us.   

Ephesians 2:19 “Now therefore we are now no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints,  and of the household of God;”

Our country is Heaven, and we are children of God.   Christ represents us before the Throne of God,  as our Mediator.    And we represent Him, on earth, in our day to day lives.

It is the Holy Spirit we are to yield to daily.  Giving thanks for all things.

And it is in our everyday life we serve Him most.   By being His servants,  finding out His will,  and being obedient to it.

Romans 5:1-2 “Therefore being justified by faith,  we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:  

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

We have access granted us to come boldly to the Throne of grace for our needs.

We have access by faith, into this grace.

Wherein we stand.

Real help to be and do,  is here.  For this grace is an enabling grace.

We can rejoice in hope. (Have you ever noticed how many times in Scripture, the words rejoice and joy are mentioned?   Our lives are to be joyful ones.  We are to mourn that we so often fail Him.   But when forgiveness comes,  we are to “get up,  wash our face, and go on” with Him.)

This hope is a faculty of the Holy Spirit.   It is not, “I hope so”;  but the confident expectation that God will do what He said.  

It is hope,  because we have not got it yet,  but we expect God will do so.

Romans 5:3-4 “And not only so,  but we glory in tribulations also;  knowing tribulation worketh patience;  

                            And patience, experience,  and experience, hope:”

Now, Lord, you must be mistaken!  Surely, there is nothing to glory in when we are troubled. (These tribulations here are trials.)

But there is.   It is a wonderful paradox of life that we,  as children of God, may glory in the trials of the day.

Faith must be tried,  to prove it to be real.  How many rejoice in the thought of Heaven,  but not in the thought of Christ as Lord?

So our faith will be tried,  to see if we will stand in the grace given (And grace is the unmerited favor of power),  and stand with Him.

Patience is acquired as we do stand.   (And patience is a very misunderstood grace, I think.)

Patience helps us to wait in hope.   (It helps me in traffic,  in grocery lines,  and yes,  in doctor’s offices.) 

Patience is that virtue that knows God knows what is going on and that He is seeing to it;  even if we can not see it now.

These will increase our experiences with the Lord.  How wonderful to know what He will do for me.  

(We have heard and read of what He will do for others,  but how great to know what He will do for us.  As Joshua said, “…and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you;  all are come to pass unto you,…” Joshua 23:14)

Which will increase our hope, for future promises and blessings.  

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.”

Faith believes.

Hope enjoys those things that God has prepared for us,  for we know His love and faithfulness to us.

(It is “taste and see” that the Lord is gracious. Psalm 34:8)

The Faithful and True Witness

Revelation 3:14 “And unto the angel of the Laodiceans write;  these things saith the Amen,  the faithful and true witness,  the beginning of the creation of God.”

This is Jesus Christ.  He is seen here as the Amen:  the only One who can say “Let it be.”

He is also seen as the beginning of the creation of God:  before the Godhead created,  God the Father and God the Son made an Everlasting Covenant. 

(For they saw all that would happen to their Creation in the rebellion and fall of the devil,  and the fall of Adam.)

That Everlasting Covenant was the agreement that the Son of God would come as man, in the fullness of time (Galatians 4:4-5), and pay the full ransom price for those that would be saved,  that God the Father promised Him.

Jesus Christ is also seen as the faithful and true witness;  and this is what we are going to deal with here.

(It is interesting to note:  that in these three names for the Lord Jesus, it is His Word that is stressed.   

In Amen,  it is future.     In the faithful and true witness, it is present.  And in the beginning of the creation of God, it is past.    All are His Word,  for He is the Word.   John 1:1-3)

Now a witness states the facts;  nothing more.

He tells what He sees and what He knows to be true.

So Jesus tells us what He sees in this church;  the last of the church ages before it is raptured. (taken up to heaven. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)

And what does the Lord see in His last church?

Revelation 3:15-16 “I know thy works,  that thou art neither cold or hot:  I would thou wert cold or hot.

                                   So then because thou art lukewarm,  and neither cold or hot,  I will spue thee out of my mouth.”

He sees that we are lukewarm.   Neither cold or hot,  but just natural body temperature.   

If we were cold,  we would see and feel the deadness of our spiritual life and do something about it.

If we were hot,  we would be what He wants:  zealous from “zeto” or boiling hot,  and He would bless us.

But we are just normal body temperature,  or lukewarm.   We feel no coldness,  so think we are alright.

Yes, we are not as “alright” as maybe we should be;   But we’re OK.   We will make it to heaven,  and that is all that matters,  right?

But to the Lord,  who is outside of this church,  it is not OK, or alright.

It is all wrong.

For our religion is a relationship to Jesus Christ:  a love relationship.

Yes, we come as sinners to a Savior, to be born again.

But then, after being born again, we begin a great journey:  with Christ.

It is the journey of our lives in a love relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. (Are there difficulties, or troubles?  Yes.  Are there joys, and peace?  Yes. And all is with Christ Jesus.)

And here, as the faithful and true witness,  Jesus Christ says,  “You are acting toward me as you were in your natural state:  indifferent,  neither seeking Me, nor outwardly rejecting Me,  just indifferent to My words, and My call.

It is as if you do not need to hear Me.”

And why are we indifferent?

Revelation 3:17 “Because thou saith, I am rich,  and increased with goods,  and have need of nothing;         and knowest not that thou art wretched,  and miserable,  and poor,  and blind,  and naked:”

Perhaps we have forgotten, that the riches that we have,  are in Christ Jesus.  We are taught to pray for our daily bread,  which shows how much we have need of Him, each and every hour of every day.

When He gives us promises, or experiences of success, it is so we may bring them back and lay them at His feet in praise and thankfulness;    not hang on to them, and make ourselves “rich” in our own eyes, or in the eyes of others.

We get to thinking, “We have need of nothing.  We are great.”  

But when we do this, the spirituality we’re gaining,  turns to natural pride, and selfishness;  for we have forgotten the basic principal of following the Lord:

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

We are actually becoming “wretched”,  as Paul exclaimed in:

Romans 7:24 “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”

And when this happens, and we do not “see” it (we do not want to see ourselves),  then all the rest happens, as well.

Miserable (how can you be joyful, without God’s active Presence)

Poor (for your true riches are in Christ:  In Him is our portion)

Blind (when we refuse to see, we are blind)

Naked (the only “garment” of righteousness that is acceptable to God is Christ’s righteousness applied to us,  and then worked out through us)

What to do?

First,  turn your eyes back to Jesus.  And ask for sight.

2 Corinthians 4:6-7 “For God,  who commanded the light to shine out of darkness,  hath shined in our hearts,  to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

                                     But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,  that the excellency of the power may be of God,  and not of us.”

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.”

Second,  look to yourselves, to repent (repent means to turn around.  Since we are obviously going contrary to God,  turn around and get in step with Him again.)

Revelation 3:19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten:  be zealous therefore, and repent.”

2 John 8 “Look to yourselves,  that we lose not those things which we have wrought,  but that we receive a full reward.”

And all this begins with “hear My Voice”. (He is the Word!    Halleluia, that He is still speaking to us!)

Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

This “door” that we open is the door of our lives.   A life open to and receptive to Him.

Hear, and Live.   Look at Him, and Live.

Our relationship to Jesus is our life as Christians.   

How do we stand in it?

What is Brotherly Love?

1 John 4:11 “Beloved,  if God so loved us,  we ought also to love one another.”

Hebrews 13:1 “Let brotherly love continue.”

I am going to use Abraham as an example,  for he is the father of all who believe. (Romans 4:16)

Abraham came out from Mesopotamia with his wife, his father, and his nephew Lot and his wife.

He was suppose to come out alone:  He and Sarah (At first his name is Abram and her name was Sarai. The Lord changed them later.) (Genesis 12:1-3)

His father died before they reached Canaan, the land God had called Abraham to;  but Lot was still with him.

(Lot was a believer in God, but he is a picture of a worldly Christian; who hung onto the world’s illusion till it was too late.)

After a time they both had large herds, and servants.    As they were still together, a struggle for pasture and water broke out between the servants of both men.

Abraham called Lot and talked to him. (Notice it was not Lot that sought a solution, but Abraham.)

Genesis 13:8-9 “And Abram said unto Lot,  Let there be no strife,  I pray thee,  between me and thee,  and between my herdsmen and thy herdsmen;  for we are brethren.

                             Is not the whole land before thee?   Separate thyself,  I pray thee, from me:  if thou wilt take the left hand,  then I will go to the right,  or if thou depart to the right hand,  then I will go to the left.”

To Abraham God had spoken and given a promise concerning the land, and his dwelling there.   

But instead of asserting his rights,  he gives Lot the choice of what portion of land he thought best.

Genesis 13:11-12 “Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordon;  and Lot journeyed east:  and they separated themselves the one from the other.

                                 Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan,  and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain,  and pitched his tent toward Sodom.”

Lot chooses the plain, and soon pitches his tent toward Sodom.   Then next we read, he lives in Sodom.  

Then there is war.  And four kings come against the cities of the plain.  They are a huge army and they attack and loot Sodom.    Lot is taken with the captives.(Genesis 14:11-12)

As soon as Abraham hears, he gathers his servants to go and save Lot.

Genesis 14:14 “And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants,  born in his own house,  three hundred and eighteen,  and pursued them unto Dan.”

Now these men are not soldiers.  But “trained servants”.   Ones which probably kept watch at night for any trouble with the herds that Abraham had.

But they went with him, and under cover of night he fought against this large army,  by dividing his men on several sides.

Genesis 14:15-16 “And he divided himself against them,  he and his servants,  by night,  and smote them,  and pursued them unto Hoban, which is on the right hand of Damascus.

                                And he brought back all the goods,  and also brought again his brother Lot,  and his goods,  and the women also,  and the people.”

Abraham surely sought the Lord’s guidance and help,  for the Lord blessed him in this very lopsided fight.

Later Abraham said, when offered a reward for returning the goods and people to the king of Sodom:

Genesis 14:22-23 “And Abram said to the king of Sodom,  I have up lifted up mine hand to the Lord,  the Most High God,  the possessor of heaven and earth, 

                                 That I will not take a thread, even to a shoe-latchet, and that I will not take anything that is thine,  lest thou shouldest say,   I have made Abram rich:”

But you hear nothing from Lot.   No Thank you.  No word of regret that he had gotten entangled with Sodom.  Nothing.  

As a matter of fact, Lot goes right back into this evil city.

Time passes.  At least 13 years, and the Lord and two angels appears to Abraham.   They entertained them with food, and the Lord gives Abraham and Sarah a promise of the child they had been waiting for.

When they are done, they rise and walk east, toward Sodom, and the Lord tells Abraham that the evil of Sodom and Gomorrah is so great that it “cries” out for judgement. (The cries of injustice,  and of the victims of it’s evil and abuse,  are great cries.)

But before God judges these cities,  He is going to send His angels to see if the cries are true.

Abraham thinks of Lot and begins to intercede;  not for the cities,  but for the righteous that might be in the cities.

Genesis 18:23-25 “And Abraham drew near, and said,   Wilt  thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

                                  Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city:  wilt thou also destroy and spare not the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?

                                   That be far from thee to do after this manner,  to slay the righteous with the wicked;  and that the righteous should be as the wicked,  that be far from thee:  Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?”

Now Abraham knows the Lord, and His goodness, so he feels he can speak to the Lord this way.

First he begins with fifty righteous people.    

The Lord said that if the angels found fifty righteous,  He would not destroy it.

Genesis 18:26 “And the Lord said,  If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city,  then will I spare all the city for their sakes.”

But then Abraham thought that in a city so wicked, there might not be fifty. (He was right)

So he prayed; what if there were forty-five righteous persons?  The Lord said, He would not destroy it.

Abraham considered, and asked:  What if there are forty righteous persons?  And the Lord said again,  that He would not destroy it.

The  Lord was still walking with Abraham, so   Abraham says,   Oh let not the Lord be angry, (actually, Abraham’s intercession pleased the Lord).    He asks,  what if there were thirty?

The Lord said He would not destroy it for thirty’s sake.

Abraham goes further and asks,  What if there were twenty found there?

I will not destroy these huge cities, for twenty’s sake;  the Lord said.

One last time, Abraham lowers the number to ten.   What if there were only ten righteous persons in those cities?

The Lord said,  I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.

But after this the Lord “went His way”.   

Genesis 18:33 “And the Lord went his way,  as soon as he had left communing with Abraham:  and Abraham returned unto his place.”

Abraham had done what he could for Lot, and his family.

God loves to have His people pray for their fellow believers.  That shows their love toward them;  to bring them and their needs before God for them.

But the evil of these cities and their victims also needed to be dealt with.

God did save righteous Lot,   that he perished not with the wicked.

2 Peter 2:7-8 “And delivered just Lot,  vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked,

                         For that righteous man dwelling among them,  in seeing and hearing,  vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds:”

(The story of this deliverance of Lot is quite horrible.  The poor man had prestige, for he was sitting at the gate, as judge of the city.        But when it came to influence for good,  he had none:  he went to tell his daughters and sons-in-law of the coming destruction, but they thought his warning was a joke. “As one that mocked”.)

It is also horrible to think that if there had been just a few more righteous people than Lot’s own family,  the cities could have been saved.  (Lot, his wife, two daughters at home, two married with husbands.   That is eight people!  Two more righteous was all they needed;  but there was none.)

Abraham had shared the Word of the Lord with Lot, and Lot had believed and followed Abraham into the land,  but he became entangled in the beauty,  and riches of the world,  and his testimony for God was ruined.

Abraham looked to the welfare of his nephew at every turn.  No matter Lot’s attitude toward Abraham;  Abraham showed brotherly love to Lot.

So we are called to do:

John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give unto you,  that ye love one another, as I have loved you,  that ye also love one another.

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

The worst words anyone will ever hear:  “Depart from Me”

Matthew 7:23 “And then will I profess unto them,  I never knew you:  depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

This was in the Sermon on the Mount,  and Jesus started by preaching about those that would follow Him.  (Matthew 5:3-16)

“Blessed” is the theme.   But it is not to the strong and witty;  but to the seekers after God.  The poor in spirit,  the mourners and those that hunger and thirst after being right with God.

Then He contrasted “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time”,  with “But I say unto you”. (Matthew 5:21-22)

There is always a pull on us to do what we have always done, especially if it has been a good thing.    But Jesus makes the contrast between traditions and His Word, very plain.

In this message He gave us the Family Prayer:  Our Father which art in heaven”.

(Matthew 6:9-13)

Here He introduced us to the Father God.   Before He had been the Mighty God, or the God of Sinai;  but now we can know Him as Father—our Father.

And then He stressed that they should be more concerned with “laying up treasure in heaven…for where you treasure is, there will be your heart also.”  (Matthew 6:19-21)

He said, “Judge not”,  and told us to check out our own faults, before pointing out other people’s faults. (Matthew 7:1-5)

Jesus said that we should ask,  seek, and knock for the things we have need of.(Matthew 7:7-11)

Then He ends His message with:

Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter ye in at the straight gate:  for wide is the gate,  and broad is the way,  that leadeth to destruction,  and many there be that go in thereat:

                                 Because straight is the gate,  and narrow is the way,  which leadeth unto life,  and few there be that find it.”

He goes on to expand the subject with examples:   The fruit of anyone’s life is what you should look to;  not what they say they believe, but how they live.   For that is what they truly believe.

And at the last,    the example of the two houses.   Both built to last;  but the foundation of each was the only difference:  one on the Rock,  the other on sand.     Both were put under the same trials:  rain, wind, flood.

But one lasted,  because it was founded on the Rock.

Jesus said that obedience to His Word is building on that Rock. And that is what each that follows Him should do.  Build on Him.

But in between these examples,  He puts a warning.

Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone that saith unto me,  Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;  but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

                                Many will say to me in that day,  Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?  And in thy name have we cast out devils?  And in thy name did many wonderful works?

                                And then will I profess unto them,  I never knew you:  depart from me,  ye that work iniquity.”

It is not saying, “Lord, Lord” which proves that He is Lord of our life.

“It is doing the will of My Father”, that proves Jesus is Lord of our life.

John 5:23 “That all men should honor the Son,  even as they honor the Father,  he that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent him.”

Some use good works to cover their sin; but it remains if it is not brought to the cleansing power of Jesus Christ and removed.

But some will not come.  

They will seek only there own will. They may do many “good works”,  but they do it for their own honor. (And this is a matter of the heart.)

If they continue to refuse to do the Father’s Will, and honor His Son, Jesus Christ:

Then in the day of Judgement they will hear the most terrible words that will ever be spoken:          Matthew 7:23 “And then will I profess unto them,  I never knew you:  depart from me,  ye that work iniquity.”

“Depart from Me.”   Out of the Presence of God forever.  No light, no joy, no peace, no safety, no love.   

Only the terrible condemnation of loss, aloneness, and torment; because they have refused the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Jeremiah 8:20 “The harvest is past,  the summer is ended,  and we are not saved.”

But to all who will,  you may still come to the Lord Jesus Christ,  and be saved.

”God,  be merciful to me a sinner,  and save me for Jesus sake.   Amen.”

Lust

James 1:14-15 “But every man is tempted,  when he is drawn away of his own lust,  and enticed.

                            Then when lust hath conceived,  it bringeth forth sin;  and sin,  when it is finished,  bringeth forth death.”

2 Peter 1:4 “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises;  that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature,  having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

We think of lust as lusting after money,  or sex, or power.

But “lust” is, “I want this for myself”.  And often it is:  “I want it now.”

It can be for anything;  gold, or sex, or power,  or anything.   But it is the drawing away of ourselves from God,  to something else.

As Peter says,  it corrupts us.  Corruption is like twisting and knotting a rope;  it is very hard to untangle.

So lust entangles us in the world, and sin.

Now it can come from the suggestion of the world or the devil.   And it can come from our own likes, and dislikes.

James, and Peter were talking to Christians, not to the unsaved. (They are already dead in trespasses and sins.  A dead person can not get any deader)

As responsible creatures, we should want what God wants for us. 

(Because if we could just see what He has for us,  we would be running toward it.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,  saith the Lord,  thoughts of peace,  and not of evil,  to give you an expected end.”)

But lust from the world corrupts our thoughts of God, and His plan for us.

What are the lusts of the world?

1 John 2:16 “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh,  the lust of the eyes,  and the pride of life,  is not of the Father, but is of the world.”

And the world and the devil can paint a very beautiful picture of all these temptations.     He knows what we want to hear.  

(“Wow, you were great! No one can beat you.”

Or “They have no sympathy for anyone.   Just wait till they get sick.   I hope no one shows sympathy to them.”)

To be responsible means we have been put in a position of trust.  

Our souls can think after God,  for we have minds to think.

Our souls can love God,  for we have hearts to do so.

Our souls can will after God,  for we have been given wills for that very purpose.

We have been put in the position of trust to do these things;  we are responsible creatures.

Because Adam, our first father, chose sin;  we no longer want to do these things.

Remember, he ate of the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

He already knew good.   

But the devil tempted Eve into thinking the knowledge of evil was going to be “eye opening”.  

Genesis 3: 4-6 “And the serpent(the devil in disguise) said unto the woman,   Ye shall not surely die:

                            For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof,  then your eyes  shall be opened,  and ye shall be as gods,  knowing good and evil.

                            And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food,  and that it was pleasant to the eyes,  and a tree to be desired to make one wise,  she took of the fruit thereof,  and did eat,  and gave also unto her husband with her,  and he did eat.”

I wish I could really emphasis the words, “when the woman saw…that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise”.

Who told her it was “pleasant”?   Or that it would make her “wise”?

But though Eve disobeyed first;  we did not die in Eve (for Eve was taken from Adam’s rib);  but we died in Adam. (1 Corinthians 15:21-22)

But when Adam saw Eve eat,  and he knew she would die;  he sinned because he chose to die with Eve,  rather than lose her and live unto God.  Terrible choice.

All was a lie of the devil;  but Eve had been “drawn away” by the lust.

By the of the flesh: she first went to look on the tree they were not to eat of, and believed it would be “good for food”.

By the lust of the eyes, for she suddenly saw that it was “pleasant” to look on.

By the pride of life,  for she wanted to be as “gods”.

But Peter tells us the answer:

2 Peter 1:3-4 “According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness,  through the knowledge of Him who hath called us to glory and virtue:

                         Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises;  that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature,  having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

If you are a Christian:  born again means that you have Christ’s nature or life implanted within you.

That is His divine power.    

So, in Christ, we are given “all” things that we may live in godliness, as we gain knowledge and experience of Him.

How are we given all things?      By the promises He has given.  

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.   Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Do we have this peace?   He has it for us;  and by getting it,  we acquire the power of His life for this time.

“…that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.” (John 17:13)

Do we have His joy?  He has it for us.

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying,   I am the light of the world:  he that followeth  me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12 )

Are we getting the light we need for each day, to walk clearly with Him?

“And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it:  that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.”  (John 17: 26)

Do we know His love for us personally,  today?

His Promises are real, and for each one of His children.  The temptations of today are also real.   

We need to use those “all things” which the Lord Jesus gives us, to help us stand in the evil day. (And that is every day).

God’s Due Order

1 Chronicles 15:13 “For because ye did it not at the first,  the Lord our God made a breach upon us,  for that we sought him not after the due order.”

Now David wanted to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem.  There he had set up the Tabernacle.       This was God’s will, to bring the Ark to Jerusalem and set up His worship there.

(The Ark was the symbol of the Presence of God with them.   In the Tabernacle,  in the Holy of Holies,  above the mercy seat,  which was the gold cover on the top of the Ark,  dwelt the Presence.   Inside were the Ten Commandments.)

But the “way” to move it, was important.

So:

1 Chronicles 13:1. “And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds and with every leader.”

They decided that they would put it on a new cart, like the Philistines did.

(The Philistines had taken it in battle,  and after God had sent judgements upon them,  they had returned the Ark to Israel, in a new cart.   This was the last time it had been moved.)

But he did not consult with God, on His Way of carrying the Ark.  

(What the enemies of God do, is not what the people of God should do.)

But they gathered together, and put the Ark on the new cart, with men around it;  and started toward Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 6:6-7, 9 “And when they came to Nachon’s  threshingfloor,  Uzzah put forth his hand to the Ark of God, and took hold of it;  for the oxen shook it.

                             And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the Ark of God.

                              And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and said,  How shall the Ark of the Lord come to me?”

The way God had told Israel to carry the Ark, was on the shoulders of the Priests.  They were to put staves (long poles) through the places on the Ark, and carry it on their shoulders.   

One man died because of David’s error, and they could not bring the Ark any further.  Instead they carry it into a house nearby.

Three months pass.   The household where the Ark stayed,  was greatly blessed.

So David knows it was not their moving it that was wrong;  but the due order for the move:  the way God wanted.

David then finds out what the Lord had said to Israel about moving the Ark:

1 Chronicles 15:2 “Then David said,  None ought to carry the Ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the Lord chosen to carry the Ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever.”

1 Chronicles 15:11-13, 15 “And David called for.. the priests,  and for the Levites,…

                       And said unto them,  Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites:  sanctify yourselves,  both ye and your brethren,  that ye may bring up the Ark of the Lord God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it.

                       For because ye did it not at the first,  the Lord our God made a breach upon us,  for that we sought Him not after the due order.

                       And the children of the Levites bare that Ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon,  as Moses commanded,  according to the word of the Lord.”

When they got everything according to God’s due order,   they brought up the Ark of the Lord to Jerusalem in joy and  singing, with blessing.

What was the difference?   

One was the reasonable way,  which everyone agreed on.

One was God’s way.

His due order.  And how important that is.

We think if a job is done, it does not matter how it got that way;  but God never thinks that way.

He has a way; a higher way of doing things.  

Isaiah 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,  neither your ways My ways,  saith the Lord.

                          For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways,  and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

When His due order is honored, He gives blessings upon blessings.  

When it is disregarded,  He will not bless as He wants.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God,  and is profitable for doctrine,  for reproof,  for correction,  for instruction in righteousness:

                            That the man of God may be perfect,  thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

All scripture is given for our learning.  So we can profit from others:   their mistakes, and successes.

Let us honor God in our hearts, minds and wills;  and seek out His due order and be blessed.   

This is surely what He wants for us.

Our Calling as Jesus’ Disciples

Matthew 16:24-25 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples,  If any man will come after me,  let him deny himself and take up his cross,  and follow me.

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

What is a disciple?  A disciple is one who is a learner and follower of someone,  or some doctrine.

To be a disciple of Jesus Christ,  we must follow and learn of Him.

Jesus says here, that to be my follower,  you must deny yourself (your wants, plans, likes and dislikes) and pick up your cross.

What is my cross?  It is anything the Lord wills for me,  which cuts across my will.  In other words:  anything to which we would say, “I won’t”.

The message of the cross is that you were alive when you were put on;  and you were dead when they took you off.

Simply,   “my cross” is the things that will bring to death in me the rebellion, or resentment, or selfishness which exists in me.

So I can follow after and have His life in abundance in me.  Creating in me that character of Christ, and giving me freedom from sin and self.

And this you must will, for our cross deals with our wills.

“If any man will”.

(When this happened to me,  I was struggling.  I did not realize how much I argued with the Lord, about His will.  He showed me how much I asked, “Why?”

When He showed me this,  I really started working at denying myself.)

When the cross has done it’s work,  you no longer resist His will in anything.

It is not instant obedience,  but it is final obedience.  You will do His will. 

But then Jesus goes on to say,  “Whosoever will save his life, shall lose it.”

What does this mean?   Jesus is saying:  we are going to live our life our way,  or His way.

It is the natural way we would go about things,  or we can find out His way of doing things.

We may be a person who puts off things as long as they can.  Doing only when the time is about up.  That is our natural way.

God may let us go on for a while in this way;  but one day will require us to see things done early;  right away….because He wants to teach us His way.  And bless us there.

It may be the opposite: we may be someone who gets up and gets things done,  so they can have the rest of the day for themselves.    

And God says, “Wait till later”.   

It is hard to wait;  you are thinking of all the things you could do later.    But God is trying to show us how to yield in all situations to Him. 

There are many natural “ways”.   Some habits,  and some are extensions of our personality,  which we need to “lose”.

Then we can “find” our life (such a great life—abundant life) in Christ Jesus.

Of course, we still have to will it,  for the action of our lives comes through our will.

If we try and save our self life,  we will surely lose it;  for it was never intended for you to have a life apart from God.

We were always in His plans and purposes.

How can we “lose” our lives?   

It is losing time,  it is losing opportunity for usefulness, and it is losing our life’s joy and blessing which He has for us.

But if we will,  His love draws us forward.  

His Holy Spirit empowers us onward.

His Purpose (His will and way) lift us homewards.