Direction for our Christian Lives:

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;  and lean not unto thine own understanding.  

In all thy ways acknowledge him,  and he shall direct thy paths.”

This trust of the heart, not the head.  Trust is the hanging onto Jesus Christ.

If we will acknowledge Him in all our ways…He will direct our paths.  

And acknowledge here, means that we are to seek Him  in everything concerning our lives.

Good things, bad things,  we are to “see” that Christ knows about it and about us being in this situation.

Then,  we are to tell Him about everything in it:  our side, and wants concerning it;  and the other side as well.

You can tell this is of the heart:  for those who love the Lord, and really want the Lord’s direction. 

To have this direction aright, we must do this in everything, not just the big important things,  but the little everyday things, as well.

Because this is the fellowship that is offered us, as we go along with Jesus.

It is constant fellowship:  we always know His presence with us.

We need to lean on Him:

We can “lean on our own understanding” pretty easily.  We have intelligence, and we are here in the situation;  who better to figure this out?  

We all know how this turns out!

But to “lean” on Jesus is to trust Him.

Real direction comes to us by the Holy Spirit within us.  That is a matter of the heart, again,  not the head.

You ask for direction,  then you hear His Voice.   Light comes.    You see what to do.    In your heart,  you quickly remove anything that would hinder your fellowship with Him, for fellowship is mutual sharing.

That Light brings the knowledge of what pleases Him in this situation;  and you do it.  And you also know what displeases Him,  and turn away from it.  The gift of wisdom is a great gift from the Lord.

He directs and helps us in our “path”.

Isaiah 43:19 “Behold,  I will do a new thing;  now it shall spring forth;  shall ye not know it?  I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the the desert.”

There is no place or time He does not know, and does not make preparation for.

Isaiah 42:16 “And I will bring the blind by a way that they know not;  I will lead them in paths that they have not known:  I will make darkness  light before them,  and crooked things straight.  These things will I do unto them,  and not forsake them.”

God sees to us, and to our path, as we let Him into all the “ways” we go,  and seek His direction for our lives.

And He will not forsake us,  ever.

Make Room For Christ, by Repentance  

Luke 3:2-6 “…the word of God came unto John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

                     And he came into all the country about Jordon,  preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;

                     As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying,   The voice of one crying in the wilderness,  Prepare ye the way of the Lord,  make his paths straight.

                     Every valley shall be filled,  and every mountain and hill shall be brought low;  and the crooked shall be made straight,  and the rough ways shall be made smooth; 

                     And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

Baptism was done to proselytes (Gentiles who wanted to be admitted into the worship of God).   Then they could go into the Temple. (There was a court of the Gentiles)

But here, John the Baptist comes to Israel, God’s chosen people;  and preaches repentance from their sins, as he was told to do.

Prepare yourselves:  for the Lord is coming.  

If you want to be in the kingdom of God, prepare your hearts by repentance, and bring forth fruit in your life that shows that you have repented.

Luke 3:8-9 “Bring forth therefore fruits of repentance,  and begin not to say within yourselves,   We have Abraham to our father:  for I say unto you,  That  God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

                      And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the tree:  every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn (cut) down,  and cast into the fire.”

“Prepare ye the way of the Lord.”     But how?

Luke 3:10-11 “And the people asked him,  saying,  What shall we do then?

                         He answereth and saith unto them,   He that hath two coats,  let him impart to him that hath none;  and he that hath meat,  let him do likewise.”

These were simple things which were written in the Law.  But the poor state of most of the people,  had caused them to think only of themselves.  

Luke 3:12-13 “Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him,   Master,  what shall we do?

                        And he said unto them,  Exact no more then that which is appointed you.”

Publicans were tax collectors, and were most often cheats.  They demanded extra taxes to be paid, and kept the extra.   The people could not say anything about it, for they were usually accompanied by Roman soldiers.

Luke 3:14 “And the soldiers likewise demanded of him,  saying,  And what shall we do?     And he said unto them,   Do violence to no man,  neither accuse any falsely;  and be content with your wages.”

Again, these would have been things which were written in the Law.  Things which they should have already been doing.

But everyone had stopped paying any attention to God’s Word:  going, instead, after their own way, or the way of the times (everyone else is doing it, so I can too.).

The valleys to be filled, were those who had given up: depressed, despondent; they were to be given joy in the Lord.

The mountains and hills to be “brought low”,  were the proud and rich, with the attitude of piling up riches, to gain power or influence.   Not caring about their responsibility in caring for their brethren.   They were to come to a new understanding about mercy. (Matthew 9:11-13)

The crooked were the flagrant sinners;  those who everyone knew to be sinners.

They were to be saved and “sin no more”. (John 8:11)

The rough ways were the practices of the scribes and Pharisees, which instructed the people in the traditions;  yet did not practice them, themselves.

All needed repentance.  To change their hearts and lives.  To live according to the Word they had already received.   To make room for Christ.

Isaiah said, “…make straight in the desert a highway for our God….And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh see it together ; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” (Isaiah 40:3-5)

A highway is a road built up;  set up above the ground around.  It is a road that all can see, for it is higher then the fields and streams.

John the Baptist came building up a way that all could see and follow.

It would be straight;  and all who would repent and come,  could walk in it.

Isaiah 35:8 “And a highway shall be there,  and a way,  and it shall be called the way of holiness;   the unclean shall not pass over it;    but it shall be for those:  the wayfaring men, though fools,  shall not err therein.”

“Wayfaring men” are those whose whole lives are moving from one thing to another.   Yet even though they are just passing by,  they will know God’s Will for them.

John the Baptist came preaching and baptizing all who wanted to have the reality of true worship of the Lord.

The people who knew they were not right, and wanted to be.  Maybe they were called the “down-and-out”.  

Maybe they were so far from God, they thought they would never be able to come back.

But John preached to all:  and whosoever will, may come.

Then Jesus came.   

“And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

John 1:29 “The next day John seeing Jesus coming unto him,  and saith,  Behold the Lamb of God,  which taketh away the sin of the world!”

Matthew 3:16-17 “And Jesus,  when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water:  and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him,  and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove,  and lightening upon Him:

                                And lo a voice from heaven,  saying,  This is My beloved Son,  in whom I am well pleased.”

He was the Son of God, having come to take away the sins of the world.

And the message to all His disciples was:

Matthew 28:19-20 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 

                                   Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:  and, lo, I am with you alway,  even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.”

May I ask you:  what will we do with His Word?

Christ’s Birth

God’s Preparation:

Hebrews 13:20. “Now the God of Peace,  that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,  that great shepherd of the sheep,  through the blood of the everlasting covenant,”

                                   

God knows everything.   He knew before He created the world, that the man he would create, would rebel and sin.  So……

God in eternity past, made a covenant with His Son for the Salvation of a people for His glory.

That covenant stated that God the Father, would draw out a people to be saved;  if  God the Son would come to earth,  be born as a man, live a sinless life, and die;   shedding His blood as a sacrifice for the sins of the people.

Paying their penalty for their sin.

The Son agreed;  and the very first act of creation was the setting aside of a body for His Son.

Hebrews 10:5 “Wherefore, when he cometh into the world, he saith,  Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me.”

(No animal sacrifice could take away sin; but they could point forward to the only effectual sacrifice of Jesus’  body and blood),  

God was preparing everything for the our salvation.

.

Galatians 4:4-5 “But when the fullness of the time was come,  God sent forth his Son,  made of a woman,  made under the law, 

                              To redeem them that were under the law,  that we might receive the adoption of sons.”

Under the Roman Empire with it’s government and roads, which was access to send out the gospel news to the world;   God saw that it was time,  and He sent Jesus Christ His Son,  to redeem the world.

But how did he come?

As a baby born of a virgin:

Luke 1:26-27 “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee,  named Nazareth.

                         To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph,  of the house of David;  and the virgin’s name was Mary.”

When there, the angel Gabriel told Mary that she was favored of God.  That she would conceive in her womb, a son;  which was to be the Son of God. (Luke 1:28-33)

But she was concerned:   How could she?  She was a virgin,  and had not know a man.

So she asked the angel.

Luke 1:35 “And the angel answered and said unto her,  The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee,  and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee:  therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”

The angel Gabriel told her that the Holy Ghost would come upon her and deposit within her womb a child,  which shall grow within her and be born:  the Son of God.

That is how.  Would she agree?

She was engaged to Joseph.  What would people think?  What would he think?

Would she agree?

Luke 1:38. “And Mary said,  Behold the handmaid of the Lord;  be it unto me according to thy word.   And the angel departed from her.”

And so it happened:  But God would see to His Purpose, in every way.

Matthew 1:18-20 “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise:   When his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph,  before they came together;  she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

                              Then Joseph her husband,  being a just man,  and not willing to make her a public example,  was minded to put her away privily.

                              But while he thought on these things,  Behold,  the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream,  saying,     Joseph, thou son of David,  fear not to take unto thee Mary, thy wife:  for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.”

So Joseph agreed.  He arose,  made her legally his wife;  but knew her not intimately until her firstborn son was born;  Jesus.

All Israel was called to go to the birthplace of their house.  So Joseph and Mary, went to Bethlehem, the birthplace of David.

When getting there, the city was so packed with people;  that there was no place for them to stay. 

The owner of the inn told them they could go into the stable with the animals,  only because Mary was going to give birth.

There in the stable, Jesus was born. He was placed in a manger;  the feeding trough of the animals, along side the hay, to keep him warm.

But God also saw that people knew that His Son was here on earth:

Shepherds, first were told, and that by angels.

Luke 2:8-12 “…there were in the same country shepherds…And, lo, the angel of the Lord came…and the glory of the Lord shone round about them;

And they were sore afraid.

And the angel of the Lord said….Fear not:  for behold I bring you glad tidings of great joy,…….for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,  which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you;   Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

Wise men were sent to find this new King.  They had seen His star, and followed it to Judah.  They went to Jerusalem,  the capital;  thinking He would be found there.

But Herod was king,  and tried to trick the wise men. (For he wanted to kill anyone, even a child, which should have legitimate claim to the throne.)

Herod told them to find the king, and then come and tell him, so he could worship too.

But it was only after leaving Jerusalem, and the court of Herod,  that the wise men saw the star again.  It led them to where Jesus was.

Matthew 2:10-12 “When they saw the star,  they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

And when they were come into the house,  they saw the young child with Mary his mother,  and fell down and worshipped him:  and when they had opened their treasures,  they presented unto him gifts;  gold,  and  frankincense, and myrrh.

And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod,  they departed into their own country another way.”

With this wealth,  Jesus, Joseph, and Mary was provided for in Egypt.

God told Joseph to get up and go to Egypt for the safety of Jesus.  For Herod would seek to kill him.

Jesus would come back into Israel after that Herod died.

Jesus Christ was born to be the Lord and Savior of all who would come and receive Him.

HIs birth was prepared for, and seen to in every way.

Why wasn’t He born in a hotel room?  Or with every luxury? 

Because He came to save every person;  not just the rich,  or powerful,  or poor,  or trodden down.

He came to save to the uttermost all who will come to Him.

His Salvation is personal,  and complete.

He asks you simply to,  “Come”,  and then “Follow”;   For He, Himself leads us through our lives with peace with God,  and guidance.

He never leaves us,  nor forsakes us.

He has prepared for you,  for me.

Will we agree?

Let us Come Boldly to the Throne of Grace

Hebrews 4:14-16 “Seeing then we have a great high priest,  that is passed into the heavens,  Jesus the Son of God,  let us hold fast our profession.   

For we have not a high priest which can not be touched with the feelings of our infirmities;  but was in all points tempted like as we are,  yet without sin.

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

This is written to Christians:

As a child of the our Heavenly Father,  we are to come boldly to His Throne, that we may obtain (get into our experience) mercy,  and find the grace we need to help.

Mercy shows the inclination of God to relieve the misery of fallen men and women.

His Sovereign mercy is to His elect (the born again ones).  It is reserved for the heirs of Salvation, which is passed on to them through Christ Jesus, their Mediator.  He appears before God the Father for us.

These Sovereign mercies, are more than the temporal mercies He gives to all men.

Matthew 5:45 “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven:  for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good,  and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” 

God’s temporal mercies include, as the verse says:  sun, rain, ground which produces food, and companions.   These are for everyone, no matter whether they are good or evil.

But for His own children;  God gives mercy which transforms the heart of the individual, and enriches their lives in spiritual blessings.

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 are ye saved);”

It is mercy that quickened them to life in Christ when they were dead in sins.

Titus 3:5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done,  but according to his mercy he saved us,  by the washing of regeneration,  and the renewing of the Holy Ghost;”

It is mercy that saved them.

1 Peter 1:3-4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,  which according to his abundant mercy  hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

To an inheritance incorruptible,  and undefiled,  and that fadeth not away,  reserved in heaven for you,”

His abundant mercy gives us an inheritance, which is reserved, just for us, in heaven.

2 Corinthians 1:3 “Blessed be God,  even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,  the Father of mercies,  and the God of all comfort;”

Unto His own children,  God is the Father of Mercies.

Time would fail us, if each Christian would tell of His preserving, supplying, pardoning, and sustaining mercy to them, for we are called the “vessels of mercy”.(Romans 9:23)

God would fill us up with His great mercy.  Full and overflowing.

This is the mercy God gives from His throne of grace.

And “grace to help in time of need.”

This grace is enabling grace.

Grace to do what needs to be done.    And we are to come boldly to God’s throne to receive it.

We are invited to come,  on the merits of our Mediator, Christ Jesus.  And invited to bring our requests for mercy,  and our needs, to be supplied by grace.

When you think of the Almighty and His Power:  He can do anything.

He is Creator.  He created the worlds, and heaven of heavens.  As David prays: “Create in me a clean heart, O God:”.    So God creates within us, by the Holy Spirit, new desires, new hopes, new goals.

He is the Sustainer.  Which means He will keep us from trouble by guidance;  and if we fall into trouble He will lead us out, and uphold us through it.   He sustains us in His Word,  and by His Holy Spirit.  

Isaiah 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee:  be not dismayed;  for I am thy God:  I will strengthen thee;  yea,  I will help thee;  yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

He is the Rock on which we should build our lives.   

Our circumstances change often.  But His love, mercy and grace never does.

We fall, or fail often.  But He never fails us, as we seek to keep coming to Him.

Let us come boldly to the Throne of Grace to obtain mercy, and find grace to help us in this time of need.

Make Your Calling and Election Sure

2 Peter 1:10 “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure:  for if ye do these things,  ye shall never fall:”

According to Peter, you prove that you are of the elect (or born again) by fulfilling your calling. 

Peter reminds all believers how important the question is, of where you stand with God:

Peter had been called to follow the Lord as he was a fishermen.  He was one of the first to be called.

Matthew 4:18-20 “And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter,  and Andrew his brother,  casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 

                                And He saith unto them,  Follow Me,  and I will make you fishers of men.

                                And they straightway left their nets,  and followed Him.”

Peter had been the first among the disciples that declared Jesus was the Christ:

Matthew 16:16 “And Simon Peter answered and said,  Thou art the Christ,  the Son of the living God.”

Jesus blessed Peter for declaring it:  “Blessed art thou, Simon…for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee,  but My Father which is in heaven.”

When Jesus spoke of His going to Jerusalem, and “suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and ….be killed, and be raised the third day”; 

Peter took Him and began to rebuke Him: 

Matthew 16:22 “Then Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him, saying,  Be it far from Thee,  Lord:  this shall not be unto Thee.”

But Jesus would not tolerate any thought or saying which rejected for any reason,  the work the Father gave Him to do:

Matthew 16:23 “But He turned,  and said unto Peter,  Get thee behind Me, Satan:  thou art an offense unto Me;  for thou savorest not the things that be of God,  but those that be of men.”

       

He had been there when Jesus said “ If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, pick up his cross and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24)

Peter had been there when Jesus was transfigured before then:

Mark 9:2 “And after six days Jesus taketh with Him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into a high mountain apart by themselves:  and He was transfigured before them.”

After they had followed Jesus for almost three years,  Peter had told the Lord: Luke 18:28 “Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all,  and followed Thee.”

And Jesus answered him:

Luke 18:29-30 “And He said unto them,   Verily I say unto you,  there is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children,  for the kingdom of God’s sake,

                            Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time,  and in the world to come life everlasting.”

He had seen miracle after miracle: the blind, seeing.  The deaf, hearing.  And even the dead, raised.

Peter had been there when Jesus was welcomed with “Hallelujah,  blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord;” (Luke 19:38) to Jerusalem.

Peter had been there when Jesus said, “there is one here with Me that will betray Me.” (John 13:21)

And Peter had wondered then, if it was him.

Jesus had prayed for Peter,  that his faith fail not.  Peter was impetuous, and did not really know the fears of his own heart,  yet….

Luke 22:31-32 “And the Lord said,  Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you,  that he may sift you as wheat:

                            But I have prayed for thee,  that thy faith fail not:  and when thou art converted,  strengthen thy brethren.”

And it did not fail, for though Peter denied the Lord three times;  yet when Jesus looked at him,  he went out and wept bitterly.   He stayed with the disciples,  and was restored. (John 21:15-19). 

How many times had Peter heard Jesus say to him:  Follow Me? 

How many times have we?

So now,  Peter, in his last letter,  is seeking to warn others,  thinking of his many failures.   

So he warns these believers, that though they do these things that he has written: 

You believe and are obtaining the promises.  

You use your faith to gain patience, knowledge and love; and you have done it in diligence.

Still, because I remember my failures,  so I warn you to faithfully continue to follow Christ.

2 Peter 1:13,15 “Yea,  I think it meet,  as long as I am in this tabernacle (body), to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;  

                             Moreover I will endeavor that ye may be able  after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.”

I encourage you to follow our Lord,  and not become weary or frightened, and “fall from your own steadfastness”. (2 Peter 3:17)

We will never be what we should be without passing through all the everyday trials of our lives,  with Christ.

Everything that comes to us has it’s place in the everyday happenings which God intends.    

They are all His lessons to bring us closer to Him.  So Peter writes:

2 Peter 1:5-7 “…giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue,  knowledge;

And to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness;

And to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness,  charity (love).”

His way is always best;  though we can not see it, now.   

He will lead,  and be a shoulder to lean on in all we go through,  if we continue to follow His Word.

2 Peter 1:10 “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure:  for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:”

 

                             

God’s Substitution 

1 Corinthians 5:21 “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin;  that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

The substitution taught in the New Testament is two-fold.

He has made Christ Jesus to be sin for us, though He knew no sin.

He was holy in His divine Person;  and He was holy and perfect in His humanity as the Man Christ Jesus.

But when He became the Lamb of God, the perfect sacrifice, on the cross;  He took all the sin of His people onto Himself.

And because of His Holy Person, He paid the penalty for that sin.

It was completely wiped out.  

Because of this, He was raised again and set at the right hand of the Father,  with the new administration of power. 

As our Mediator. (1 Timothy 2:5)

“That”,  here is the reason Christ Jesus did this:

“That we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

Notice,  it is “made” in both substitutions.

God “made”.  It means “to establish,  or make strong”. 

He strengthened Christ to finish the work,  by the blessed Holy Spirit, which He poured upon Him,  without measure.

He strengthens us to do righteousness by the same Holy Spirit,  which He gives us according to the measure we are emptied of self.

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.”

We find our Christ-life, as we lose our self-life, by denying ourselves.

We are filled with the Holy Spirit to the degree we are emptied of self.

And as we deny ourselves, pick up the cross of His will, willingly (for it is “if any man will”),  then we are emptied of our self-life, and given more power by His Spirit.

The substitution in us is:  Christ is formed in me.   We are “made” into His character here.    (We are not divine;  never.)

But we can do righteousness,  as representatives of our Lord,  by His character formed in us.

HIs goodness, gentleness, forgiveness, peace, and love.

But, as He showed me (about me);  I need to get out of the way, by denying myself.

So the Holy Spirit can work through me:

In words….

Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech be always with grace,  seasoned with salt,  that ye may know how ye ought to answer everyone.”

In actions…

Colossians 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed,  do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,  giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.”

Colossians 3:23 “And whatsoever ye do,  do it heartily,  as to the Lord, and not unto men;”

In attitude….

Colossians 3:1-2 “If ye then be risen with Christ,  seek those things which are above,  where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

                                Set your affection on things above,  not on things on the earth.”

Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,  to which also ye are called in one body;  and be thankful.”

The substitution taught in the New Testament is two-fold:  Christ became sin for me,  

That…I may be made the righteousness of God in Christ.

Amos;  and our calling.

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

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

He was not a prophet or a prophet’s son,  but called from being a shepherd and gathering wild figs,   he was called to preach repentance to Israel, that they might remember their Shepherd, and bring forth fruit to God.

Israel and Judah had separated.   In Jerusalem was the temple.  And the king of Israel was afraid that Israel would go back to Judah to worship at the Temple.

So he set up two idols to worship.  He told them that these were just a representation of God;  but he lied to them.

Israel apostatized.   They had begun to worship the idols which were calves.  

 This was great sin.  God is a jealous God, and so He sent them prophets to rebuke the king, the people,  and this sin.  

But the practice stuck.  They refused to be healed of it.  And so finally, after many years;  God was going to send Israel into captivity.   

And to a terrible people: cruel and vicious;  the Assyrians.

But before He did,  He sent Amos to call them to repentance, and to tell them what was going to happen if they refused to hear, this last time.

Amos 3:1-2 “Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you,  O children of Israel,  against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt,  saying, 

                       You only have I known of all the families of the earth:  therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”

It was because Israel knew the Lord, He was God,  that He was going to punish them for turning away from Him.  They had seen His works,  they had been given His Word,  and they knew He was the real God.

Light brings responsibility.     When we know to do good and do it not,  that is sin. (James 4:17)

And sin added to sin,  is spitting in the face of God.   

He is long-suffering, and merciful;  but He knows when enough is enough.  

He decides when drastic measures are called for.  It is to bring all who will hear His Words, to return to Him.

They knew that what they were doing was against God’s Commandments and laws;  yet they continued in them,  because they thought they could get by with it.

             

                                

                                       So Amos came up to Israel, and preached repentance to the people, and at Bethel. (This was one of the places where the idols were, and one of the palaces of the king.)

Amos 7:1-3 “Thus hath the Lord God showed unto me;  and,  behold,  He formed grasshoppers in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth;…

                        And it came to pass,  that when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land,  then I said,  O Lord God,  forgive,  I beseech Thee: by whom shall Jacob arise?  For he is small.

                        The Lord repented for this:  It shall not be,  saith the Lord.”

                       

First, it was grasshoppers to eat the grass to feed the flocks.   But at Amos prayer,  God “repented” or stopped His judgement, so that all would not be destroyed.

(This show us how important our prayers are.   The Lord hears the prayers of the righteous,  and many times it is our prayers that change a situation for good.)

Second, God sent scorching heat to lay waste the waters they counted on.

But again Amos prayed for them, and God halted the judgement that way.

But the third time, The Lord showed Amos a plum line. (A plumb line is a line with a weight on the bottom to hold it down straight.)

Amos 7:7-8 “Thus He showed me,  and, behold,  the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumb line,  with a plumb line in His hand.

                        And the Lord said unto me,  Amos,  what seest thou?  And I said,  A plumb line,   Then said the Lord,  Behold,  I have a set a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel:  I will not again pass by them any more:”

God would put a plumb line in the midst of His people.   If they would “straighten out” their lives by turning back to Him, they would be spared.

But those who refused, and remained “crooked”,  would fall as a wall which leans.

And how did God want them to repent?

First to return unto Him.

Amos 5:4 “For thus saith the Lord unto the house of Israel,  Seek ye Me,  and ye shall live:”

                      

Second, The Lord wanted them to treat the poor with dignity, and fairness.

Amos 8:4-6 “Hear this,  O ye that swallow the needy,  even to make the poor of the land to fail, 

                       Saying,  When will the new moon be gone,  that we may sell corn? And the sabbath,  that we may set forth wheat,  making the ephah (like a bushel) small,  and the shekel (their money) great,  and falsifying the balances by deceit?

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

The title of this is Amos; and our calling.

As Christians,  we too, are called to our family, our friends, our church, and our nation:  to pray for and to seek their good.   

And the greatest good we can pray for,  is for them to know and love The Lord, and to treat others as they want to be treated,  with dignity and respect.

Under the idolatry of Israel,  many were destroyed spiritually,  long before God sent them out of their land, in judgement.

He sent prophets to preach His Words,  and chastening circumstances so they would see His hand.

Finally, He sent them out of the good land, to sift them as wheat:

Amos 9:9-10 “For, lo,  I will command,  and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations,  like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.

                         All the sinners of My people shall die by the sword,  which say,  The evil shall not over take  or prevent us.”

But even as Amos left Israel to return to being a shepherd,  he heard a promise:

God would not utterly forsake His people.   

They would have to go through terrible trouble to finally learn the lesson He would have easily taught them,  had they listened and turned to Him.

But…

“In that day will I raise up….and I will build…saith the Lord that does this.  I will bring again…and I will plant.  (Amos 9:11-15)

The Lord sent Amos to preach repentance to “all who will” hear.

And we are all called to witness to our Lord Jesus Christ.   To let our lights so shine that all may see our good works and glorify our Father which is in heaven.

Are we indifferent to God?

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

In the world,  there are many gods. 

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

God, the Father.

God, the Son.

God, the Holy Ghost.

They are three persons in One.   

God the Father formulated our Salvation.

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

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

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

Really?!  How can this be for a Christian?

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

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

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

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

                                

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

You see, everyone will serve a god:

Either the true God.

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

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

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

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

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

As Christians, we should gladly submit ourselves to God.

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

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

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

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

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

We must stand with someone.

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

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

Where do we stand?   

Are we indifferent to our God?

Today!

Hebrew 3:15 “While it is said,  Today if you will hear his voice,  harden not your hearts as in the provocation.”

All our lives comes down to ‘Today’.     Tomorrow is not yet.   Yesterday, with its success and failures,  is done.

But today we have.   Today we have the opportunity to turn to God and do His Will.

We never know what a day will bring.    We should, therefore, determine which direction our lives will go,    while we have today.

So today,  if you will hear His Voice.   

We can hear God’s voice in nature;  many have seen the changing seasons and heard God speak to them:

Psalms 74:17 “…Thou hast made summer and winter.”   If the seasons change, all over the world,  surely that means that the sadness of today is not permanent;  but will give way to rejoicing.

We can hear God through His Word.  It is His revelation of Himself and His Ways to us.    The Holy Spirit will help us understand it,  when we ask Him.

And we can hear His Voice to us, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit within.   He is Light, and will make known to us HIs Will.

John 7:17 “If any man will do His will,  he shall know of the doctrine (teaching) whither it be of God,  or whither I speak of myself.”

Jesus said,  If we really want to know His Will,  we can know.

God considers our “heart” the seat or throne of our mind, emotions and will.

So when we hear Him,  we are to “soften” our hearts by yielding to His Will.

To “harden” our hearts is when we will not to do it;  for whatever reason.

Zechariah 7:9-11 “Thus speaketh the Lord of Hosts, saying,  Execute true judgement,  and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother:  

                           And oppress not the widow,  nor the fatherless,  the stranger,  nor the poor,  and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.

                          

                          But they refused to hearken,  and pulled away the shoulder,  and stopped their ears,  that they should not hear.”

A hardened heart is not caused by circumstances, or birth;  but a choice of will, to the circumstances or birth.

When Israel hardened their heart:   they first refused to listen,  for they did not want to be responsible.   They thought that if they had not heard,  God could not require His Word to be obeyed.

They pulled away from the work of “shouldering” the burdens of prayer, faithfulness,  and love.

Finally they stopped their ears, or filled their ears with other voices, so they would not have to know God’s Voice in the circumstances.

Again, God considers our heart, the throne of our mind, emotions,  and will.

But He can give us “hearts of flesh”;  or tender hearts which return the love He gives us to Him.

Ezekiel 11:19-20 “And I will give them one heart,  and I will put a new spirit within you;  and I will take the stoney heart out of the flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh:

                        That they may walk in my statues,  and keep mine ordinances, and do them:  and they shall be my people,  and I will be their God.”

The Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Godhead, is given to us in our hearts to make alive again, and guide.   He rules and over rules in circumstances  which affect His People.

Without Him we can do nothing.

But with His Almighty energy,  the most extraordinary results can be produced.

Everything depends upon His manifesting or concealing His Power.

Are we anxious to obtain His help?

Are we watching so we will not provoke Him to be silent?   Oh how much we need Him to speak to our inner man and give us courage!

The Holy Spirit is not a temporary gift;   He abides with us.  

He does not weary of us (Amazing Love!);   But waits to be gracious at times, till we really see our need, and seek Him.

It is love which makes a hard heart into a softened heart, yielding to God’s Spirit.

God’s love placed into our hearts,  and returned to Him.

In love, He speaks of “Today”,  if…..

Turn to  Christ Jesus, and yield to HIs Spirit within.  

Receive His love,….and return it to Him.

He wants to bless each heart given to Him,   let Him,   Today.

Through the Knowledge of Him

2 Peter 1:1-2 “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ:

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.”

How much we need grace (the unmerited favor of power), and peace in these days for our individual lives.

It is to be had, in Christ.  

If you are born again, you have access to it by the Holy Spirit within.

But you get it “multiplied unto you”,  through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.

(You will notice that our “faith” is through our Savior Jesus Christ;  but the grace and peace multiplied is through  Jesus our Lord.  Is Jesus Christ Lord of your life?)

He is our Savior as we believe and receive Him, through  the faith that is given us by the Holy Spirit. (John 1:12)

He is Lord,    but He is only “our” Lord, by our submitting our wills to Him, in obedience.

And we only do this as we get to know Him, and submit to His character through the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 1:3 “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us unto glory and virtue:”

(“According as His divine power”;  It is not according to my miserable ability.  But according to His divine power.  The limitless, and Almighty power of God.)

“Hath given” means they are given us in Christ Jesus.  They are ours to have and use by the Holy Spirit within us.    They are all the things we need to have Christ’s character formed in our everyday lives.  “All things” means all things.

Again, it is through the knowledge of Him.

How important it is that we know Christ, and continue to gain knowledge of Him.

He has indeed called us to “glory and virtue”;  to manifest His glory (His light and goodness), even here in these circumstances, and among the people we know.

And called us to the virtue of His Holy Spirit within us:  The Artea of His power.

Artea means “force”.  He is that force within us, “working in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

So we manifest His glory–the glory of His salvation, of His calling, of His love by the force of the Holy Spirit within our spirits; helping us to obey, and joy in it.

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.”

Christ has given us promises….His Word to claim and obtain for yourself; they are ours , but we must get them into our experience. That is what obtain means; to get them for ourselves. 

They are given to us, that you might have the character of Christ, and escape the corruptions (envy, anger, lying)that the world’s system lives in.  We each have our own lusts.  Whether they be spiritual, mental, emotional, or physical;  we lust after what we don’t have.    

Until we make Christ Lord of our lives, and yield to His will and way for our lives.

And the way that happens is to :  Know Christ more and more, for ourselves.

This not to know about Him (although that is not bad), but to know Him.  

It is to know what He requires of me.       

It is to know  the force of the Holy Spirit , and how we are to yield to Him.    

It is to know what He will do for me in the temptations, and trials that I go through.

It is to know Him.  Through the Knowledge of Him, we multiply grace and peace.