The Light that lighteth every man.

John 1:9 “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man which cometh into the world.”

Inside every man there is the place of the knowledge of God. It is the spirit of man, a gift given by God to man, when he was first created.

Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
God is: God the Father, God the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit: a Trinity.

Genesis 2:7 “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

God formed man of the dust of the ground: his body.
And breathed into his nostrils the breath of life: giving him his spirit by the Holy Spirit (the breath of life).
And man became a living soul: a living personality was the result; mind, heart, and will.
Man, created in the image of God, is Spirit, Soul, and Body: a Triunity.

Then, at the first, man’s spirit was Lighted by the Holy Spirit, for fellowship with God.

When Man fell by sin, the Holy Spirit left his spirit, and man’s spirit became darkened, but not destroyed.
The impress of the Light of Life was still there, so there was a knowledge of God; but a hinderance also was there: sin.

Romans 1:21 “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; and became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

Sin hardens the heart and mind against the Light, because it wants to stay in the darkness, and hide.

John 3:20 “For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”

Ephesians 4:18 “Having the understanding darkened, being alienated by the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:”

Since the fall of man, we have, because of sin; missed the mark (or purpose) for which we were created.
Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

We have all sinned; we are all sinners; we have all come short of the glory of God.

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

We as sinners, have earned the wages of death; the death which is the separation from God.
The question is will we continue in this death, through all eternity? Or will be receive the gift of God, by the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ?

“But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. This eternal life is a condition of life, now; not just for eternity.
Certainly, those who receive Christ Jesus as Lord, and Savior, will go to Heaven which is the abode of God, but the eternal life He offers is for us now.
He gives us light and life now, for the darkness and death we have lived in.(Ephesians 2:1-3)

At the time of regeneration; when we are born again (John 3:7); the Holy Spirit comes back into our spirits and gives us faith, and Light, and Life.

The Holy Spirit, within our spirits, then begins to bring our spirits into subjection to the Lord Jesus Christ, and His Word to us; for our lives. He does this by showing us God’s Will, and influencing our hearts and minds to will after God’s Will. This brings us from being babes in Christ, to grown up children of God.

But we must yield to the Lord’s Will, to have this “growing up” process to continue. This increases our Light.
Our wills are the determining factor:
Philippians 2:13 “for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
He works within us, that we might know His Will and Do His Will. That His Light will grow within us, and that we might be blessed of God.

The Lord wants to bless us.
How much do we want to be blessed?

Awake thou that Sleepest
Ephesians 5:14 “Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”

When we are asleep, spiritually, our senses are dull. We don’t hear clearly. Our eyes are closed, not seeing what is going on.
That is why Paul, here, exhorts the Ephesians to “walk as children of light.”
(Ephesians 5:8)
Light is a great benefit for those who are growing sleepy in their walk as Christians.
It is like opening the curtain to let the sunshine come in, in the morning.
It makes you want to get up and get busy!

Darkness, on the other hand, tends to make us sleepy.
So with the darkness which comes to us spiritually. We are lulled to sleep. We begin to talk a great deal about “rest”, becoming discontent with the work we have been given for the Lord.
We look for ways to do God’s will quickly, or for a more “easier way” of walking with the Lord; for we do not want to take the action required to come to the light….for then our slothful sin will be seen.

So Paul calls on every Christian to “Awake”.
Awake, and arise; and Christ shall give you light.
Light to see what you need to do to get out of the darkness.
Light to see the world, as it is.
Light to see that Christ is worth the loss of everything.

Then Paul writes:
Ephesians 5:15 “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.”
Circumspectly means there will be light for the path, we are to keep our eyes on the path, that we don’t get tripped up.

Awake, and walk wisely. For Christ shall give us light.

The Joy of the Lord
Nehemiah 8:10 “And he said unto them, Go thy way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

In other words, as they experienced this joy, and yielded to this joy; they would be strengthened in His Might.
This is to “be strong in the Lord and the power of His Might.” (Ephesians 6:10)

The need was great for Israel. They were back in the land, but enemies had and would keep trying to destroy their unity, and commitment to God’s Worship.

But here they had just had a service where the Law and books of Prophesy were read, and interpreted to the people.
They were excited to learn, but also, but saddened by the memory of their sin, which had sent them out of the land.

Their is a time to repent; and a time to rejoice in the goodness of God.
Now was the time to rejoice in the goodness of God.

We are called, as Christians, to have Christ’s Kingdom come with in our hearts and lives, now.
Matthew 6:10 “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

The inward Kingdom of Heaven is set up in the hearts of all who repent and believe the Gospel.
And that Kingdom is none other than:
Romans14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

Now joy is a choice instrument that God uses to work in a believing soul.

Joy and Peace are the true criteria to judge ourselves, spiritually.
When we are right with God, we have peace with God, and ourselves.
Joy follows.
Joy is a considerable help, not only to inward holiness, but also to outward holiness.
It strengthens our hands, to go on working in faith, and to labor in love.
It helps us to fight the good fight of faith; to lay hold on eternal life.

Joy is particularly designed by God to be a balance against the sufferings; inward and out; of our walk of faith.
It is meant to lift up the hands which hang down, and confirm the feeble knees (Hebrews 12:12).
There is a strengthening power in the joy of the Lord.

Therefore, whatever dampens our joy in the Lord, hinders our holiness.
The Devil would “throw water” on our joy, so that he would spoil our enjoyment of the things God gives…and if he could, the use of them too. When we get discouraged, or depressed, we begin to let down our shield of faith. The firey darts of the wicked one get through, when the shield is down.

When we get like that, we need to be exhorted to do, as Israel was told:
Nehemiah 8:10 “And he said unto them, Go thy way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Joy and Happiness are not the same.
Each springs from a totally different source.

Happiness comes from the world around me. It is measured by what is happening to me. It is bound up in either the behavior of other people, to me; or the circumstances in which I will be, or am.

Joy comes directly from the Spirit of the Living God.
This joy springs from the Presence of God in my life. It is not dependent on people, places, or the situations in which I find myself; but rather from the Presence of God with me in any circumstances. (And don’t we find it so, that knowing that the Lord is with us, is a great blessing…always.)

Joy is one of the Attributes of God, which He shares with us. Joy runs like a sparkling river of great goodwill, through His make-up. He is the God of all Joy. He is alive. He is here.
That joy was the dynamic of the early Church.
And that can be the experience of all who truly allow God’s peace to rule in your hearts. When it does, joy follows.
Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”
Enthusiasm and deep delight in the Lord, are the characteristics of such a person.
There is direction in their duties, no matter how mundane or menial.
There is purpose in every area of their lives.
The Holy Spirit assures me that I am right with God, and because of that, an assurance that all is well even between me and myself, comes into my spirit.

This is to know the joy of the Lord, and it becomes a force in my life to dispel darkness and despair; to energize my life in my walk with God.

The joy of the Lord is our strength. We need it, and He has it for us.

Take us the Foxes

Song of Solomon 2:15 “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.”

The Song of Solomon shows the personal relationship between the Lord Jesus and the believer (seen as the maiden).

He had, at the beginning of the second chapter, called to her to “come away”.
Song of Solomon 2:8, 10 “The voice of my beloved! Behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.
My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.”

He was calling her to come away from the enclosure she had stayed in. She had come into His banqueting house in the first chapter, and had wanted to stay.
But, the Lord Jesus always calls us on to new and better things; though they may prove harder things.

This He does now. “Come away”, He says; but it is always “Come away with Me”.

But He did not just call; He also showed Himself to her, though He was on the outside of the wall which separated them, and she was inside, still. (Song of Solomon 2:9)

He had come, in power, leaping on the mountains of difficult things in life; and skipping on the hills of little problems which come up.
He was showing her that to “come away” with Him, was to go along in the path He chose, and since He would be with her; His power would be as well.

Then He ends the call, for she had hesitated (and hesitation is always the enemy of obedience. It causes us to check and see if there is another way; or another time) with the call to “take us the foxes”.

Song of Solomon 2:15 “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.”

The Lord Jesus is saying to His beloved believer: Let us work at those things which hinder your fruit bearing together.
They are “little” foxes; which come in through the fence anywhere, and eat the tender blossoms of grapes. (Big foxes will eat on the fruit of the grapes, but the little foxes nip in the bud, whole clusters of grapes in one single bite, because it is still in the blossom stage.)
But if these “little foxes” are not seen to; then there will be none, to very little, fruit.

So Jesus says “Let us see to them, together”.

These “little foxes” are the natural way we do things. Instead of relying on the Holy Spirit, we “think things out” and come to a “conclusion”. We often do them, by choice, automatically. They are the natural us, and it takes effort to set them aside, and seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance and help.

Instead of seeking for joy and peace, we seek “happiness”, which is fleeting and deals with what is going on with US. (Joy comes from knowing the Presence of God in my life, and it does not rely on circumstances.)

Instead of following close to Christ, we rely on the experience we had Sunday, yesterday, even this morning. Those experiences are good, but not when Christ is calling you on to what is next.

Real fruit comes from the Holy Spirit within. There is the fruit of the Spirit, in our lives:
Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

And there is the fruit of a Christian, which is another Christian; for we are all called as witnesses of Christ Jesus:
Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

But to bring forth the fruit of the Spirit, we need to “take us the foxes, the little foxes, which spoil the vines.”

Christ is calling all His people to a more personal relationship with Him:
Come away with Me.
Let us take care of these hindering influences in your life together.

What a way lies before us: Come with Me, and let us tackle these mountains of difficulties, and hills of troubles in your life, with Me, says Jesus.

Faith: what it is and what it does.

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Substance is Reality. It makes real the things of God, to us.
We have so many virtual things. Things which speak to our imagination or feelings.
But faith is not virtual, but real.

It is the attribute of God which is imparted to us by the Holy Spirit, when we are born again.

The substance which is faith, is Reality. It is actual. It makes a difference within us, and for us.
And our lives should “evidence” that substance, if we have faith.
“Evidence” shows forth the change that is happening to us.

As Jesus said: John 3:7-8 ” Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou nearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”

Simply, you see the effects of the wind, or what it moves; but not the wind itself.
So it everyone that is born again. You see the effects of the new birth; not the birth itself.

We naturally fight against God; as our King.
Romans 8:7 “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.”

You might say: “No, I don’t. I go to Church, and I am active in the ministries for charity, etc.”
But those “good” works are as the Pharisees of old–unless you love God in the doing of them.
(Doing to be seen or approved of men, does not count with God.)
Matthew 6:5 “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogue and in the corners of the street, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.”

Only works done out of love to Christ, count with God. (1 Corinthians 13)

Which brings us back to “enmity to God”. If you have a fit every time the command of God speaks to your heart, then your “natural” self is showing.

You can “tithe all that you have”, (Luke 18:12); but if you do it to get something from God: you won’t.

Faith, on the other hand, brings all things down from God, to you.
Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

True faith makes real every promise given, except those for a future date. (And even these we may taste of right now, though we can not experience them fully.)

Faith pleases God, because 1) it is from God.
2)Because it makes the heart love Him, and the mind trust God.

Remember, faith given us by the Holy Spirit at new birth, makes real the things of God.
Once we are born again, we receive a new nature.
Our “flesh”, or old nature is not eradicated; but it is instead, brought into subjection to God, and His Word, by the Holy Spirit using faith. (Galatians 5:16)

Faith is the most powerful of the graces God gives us; for it gives sight to our spiritual eyes, so we can see the truth.
It gives understanding to our ears, so we can hear what is truly being said, both by God and men.
And it moves or influences our hearts to love and obey Christ.

By faith we, as His children, walk from here to heaven, with Him.

Faith is not: “I hope so, or I think so, or I wish so”; but faith knows, in the only way True knowledge comes: Personally by the Holy Spirit from God directly to you.

It makes His Presence real to us, His commands powerful in our lives, and His Will is our best way to go. His Holy Spirit our blessed companion, who guides us into more faith as we go along.

By faith Abel, Noah, Abraham, etc. did exploits, which manifested God to the generation in which they lived. For it is promised in Daniel: “…but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” (Daniel 11:32).
Faith makes us know our God, Who He is, and what He will do for us.

What exploits should we do in the generation in which we live?

Hebrews 11:33-34 “Who through faith subdued kingdoms, and wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.
Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.”

Through faith in God, ordinary believers, by their obedience, did great things.
Again, what great things are we called to do by faith, through the power of the Holy Spirit?

“Subdue Kingdoms, Obtain Promises, and Stop the mouths of Lions.”

Subdue Kingdoms: That is, we are to bring, by exercising our faith in obedience, all other domineering influences in our lives, under the control of Christ Jesus our Lord.
Whether this is our besetting sin, our habits, or other people’s influence; we are to subdue them all to Christ and His Word.

Obtain Promises: To “obtain”, is to get the promise into your practical life. (You may have a promise for your ministry, your personal health, or your work; but if you are not. experiencing those promises, you have not obtained them)
It is not “claim them” only, but to have them really for what they were given for.
You might have the assurance they will come,(blessed assurance-a foretaste of the reality); but until they do come, they are not obtained.
(I have obtained promises by prayer–some prayed for a long time. Other promises, I have had to do the obedience commanded. For as I did, the power was given. [Luke 17:14])

Stop the mouths of Lions: These lions are NOT the ones Daniel was saved from; but the roaring lions of the Adversary, the Devil.
1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the Devil as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”
Roaring, they seek to frighten you from following the Lord Jesus.
Walking about, seeking whom he may devour. In other words, seeking those who are not walking in God’s Light.

Our means of doing this is:
1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.”
1 Peter 5:9 ” Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”

We cast ourselves, by faith, on God’s Care; And we resist by faith the fear, and stay in God’s Way for us.

“Have faith in God.” Jesus said, when He was here. (Mark 11:22). And so we should. He is our all in all. He gives us His Holy Spirit to guide, and comfort us; and His faith to bring us into all He has for us.

Do you have the reality, which is the true faith of God in your life?

If you are not truly born again, the invitation to come to Christ is still going out.
John 3:3 “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

When you are born again, it comes by yielding to the Holy Spirit, and walking in the Light of His love.

The Power of God and the Power of the Word of God

Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

John 1:1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.”

Created: God made something out of nothing. He spoke and it was so.
Christ is the Word. And He spoke all things into being; and they were as He spoke.

Psalm 33:6-9 “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and the hosts of them by the breath of his mouth.
He gathereth the waters of the sea together as a heap: and layeth up the depth in storehouses.
Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of world stand in awe of him.
For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.”

The power of God is often displayed through His Word. What He says will be, will be.
Isaiah 14:24 “The Lord of Hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so it shall it come to pass; and as I have spoken, so it shall stand:”

When God created the heaven and the earth, He was well aware by His Omniscience (all seeing ability), that the earth that He spoke into being would be ruined by the fall of Lucifer (the Devil); And the fall of Adam.
Isaiah 14:12 “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!”
When Lucifer fell, it brought chaos to the beautiful earth God created.

Genesis 1:2 “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”

Yet God’s purpose would not be altered:
Isaiah 45:18 “For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else.”

So God’s Voice rang out in re-creation. Re-making what was.
Genesis 1:3 “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”

God began to re-create with light; for darkness was upon the earth by Lucifer’s fall.

God is Light, and in His light we see light.

After re-creating the earth, forming man after His image:
Genesis 2:7 “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

No other of His creatures are living souls. They have instincts, but no souls.
Man’s soul was the faculty God gave him alone, so that man could have fellowship with His Creator. He has a mind to think after God, to understand His Words. He has a heart to love God, and want to please Him. And he has a will, to will after God’s will.
But Adam sinned, disobeying God’s Word, making all man, sinners, and separated from God. God was not surprised. His Purpose saw this, and made provision for it, before times eternal.

For in His determination and purpose, Christ would come and save out a people for His Name’s sake.
God made the first promise of Christ right after the fall:
Genesis 3:15 “I will put enmity between thee (the devil) and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed (Christ); it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heal.”

Christ Jesus came and fulfilled the Father’s Will in everything. Jesus said:
John 12:45-46 “And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me
I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness”
As God spoke light to the re-creation; He sent His Son as the Light to the world, to all who would believe in Him.
John 12:49-50 “For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.”

Christ came to reveal the purpose, and determination of God: And to present the light of Salvation by receiving Him by faith.

Hebrews 1:1-3, 2:1,3. “God , who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the father’s by the prophets,
Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”

“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;”

God’s purpose and determination is that all that believe and receive Him should be saved.
Do you believe in Christ Jesus the Lord?
Do you have the salvation He bought for you?
Are you walking in the Light He has made available?

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

This is God’s power, for “cleanseth” is past, present and future tense. Cleanseth means forgives, and then gives power to get that sin out of our lives. For yesterday, today, and tomorrow; for every sin that comes up. Power for it!

This is the power of God and the power of His Word.

The Potter, and the Clay

Jeremiah 18:5-6 “Then the word of the Lord came to me saying,
O house of Israel, can not I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord, Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.”

Paul says the same thing in:
Romans 9:20-21 “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?”

This is not our bodies; yes, they are all different, but God is speaking of molding our souls. God has used every experience of our lives to shape our souls.
Our souls are that which makes us unique. They are a gift from God that no other creature has.
Genesis 2:7 “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

The soul is the apartment of self-consciousness. It is where our personality is. There, our individual character is formed, and rules our thought life, our emotions, our will, our conscience, and our social interactions.

When we are born again, we are given the blessed privilege of having the Holy Spirit come and dwell with us, for Christ said He would not leave us comfort less, He would come unto us.
John 14:16-18 “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him, for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”

As Christians, Paul is saying that as God’s “clay”, we need to accept what we are, how we are, and, even, where we are, and then be reconciled to Him in them.

How much of our discontent lies in this.
God wants to make us a vessel unto honor, and has given us His Spirit to enable and mold us:
2 Timothy 2:20-21 “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth, and some to honor, and some to dishonor.
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”

To move forward with God, you must be in your place before Him. To know that He is there with us, because He loves us.
So many people say, “God knows best”; yet doubt every time trouble comes. They are anxious, burdened, and worried. (Haven’t we all experienced this doubt?)

But we are called to “possess our souls”.
Luke 21:19 “In your patience, possess ye your souls.”

We are to gain, by subjection to the Holy Spirit, real power over our affections:(Proverbs 4:23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 23:26 “My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.”)
Our thoughts:
(1 Peter 1:13 “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”)
And wills:
John 7:17 “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whither it be of God, or whither I speak of myself.”
For it is by the power of the Holy Spirit that we possess our souls.

To Yield to the Holy Spirit is true freedom; for it places Him first.
It is His Will you want, and by that will, you are enabled to bring your soul under subjection to Him and yourself.
There is always trouble here, in this world; but as you yield to the Holy Spirit, the influence of the trouble is less, and less. His power to help, strengthen, and encourage is more and more.

He is the Potter, we are the clay.
Yielding to Him we have liberty, and begin to have the fruit of the Spirit working in us and through us.
Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

Let us yield; or give in; or submit; or surrender; all terms which mean that for us, Christ will choose.

The Fountain of Life
Psalm 36:9 “For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.”

Have you drank from the fountain of Life?

Well, if you have, then that living force ought to be turning into a “river of living water” within you.

You see, God’s power is living. It is not a dead, or stagnant thing. He does not save, then desert, and say in effect, “Go ahead and make your way through a hostile world; you will get to heaven alright, but you have to fight you way there by yourself.”
NO! Christ Jesus has promised never to leave us or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5). Jesus saves to the uttermost.

That means: He saves from the love of sin. This is conviction by the Holy Spirit of the wretchedness of it.
He saves from the guilt of sin. We are born again, and become clean through His sacrifice and resurrection.
He saves from the power of sin. Called Sanctification: it is a setting aside to God of all ourselves, little by little, till we are willing subjects of His Kingdom here, and now, in all our circumstances.
He saves from the presence of sin, when we go to Heaven.

John 7:37-38. “In the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”
Now when you get water flowing, what does it do?
It keeps flowing, one way or the other: when it flows downhill, and it meets a rock in its path, it just flows around it.
This is the way of the Living Water, which is the Holy Spirit within you giving light (John 14:26) and life, by the graces of joy, peace, consolation, strength, and love. (Galatians 5:22-23)

But what if there is a dam to the living water? Then it builds up until it flows over.
Living water cannot be stagnant, it will find a way around, over, or through any obstacle it meets. (Yes, in us as well.)

It is, of course, better if there are no hinderances to the flow of life to us, and through us by the Holy Spirit. (He will get His help through to us, but how often the enjoyment of it is quenched by some hinderance within us. Some hardened place within our hearts: a root of bitterness, or hurt feelings, which will not respond to the gentle influences of the Spirit, as we should.)
Ezekiel 36:26-27: “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statues (here is the working of the force of that Living Water), and ye shall keep my judgements, and do them.”

Perhaps, something hinders your enjoyment of the Lord to you? Some error of hearing His Words, or anger, or hurt.
Then seek the Lord, for He is willing and able to see that it is put right. Are you willing to give it up?
The Holy Spirit will help with that as well, if you will come to Him and seek it.

Let the Living Waters flow out of your inner most being, and yield to the Lord: He is the Fountain of Life: and in His Light you will see light.

Will Ye also go Away?

John 6:61-67. “When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profitteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you they are spirit, and they are life.
But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who would betray him.
And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?”

It is one thing to hear with your ears; But another thing altogether to hear with your spirit.

Jesus was talking to men who had walked with Him for a while. Those who had heard what He preached to the multitudes, and taught to His disciples; yet when they became “offended”, they went away.

The word “offend” here, means to scandalize. These men, who had followed Jesus, as the coming Messiah, were scandalized that He was claiming to be the Bread of Life!
To begin this we must go back:
Jesus had fed the five thousand. (John 6:11-13)
The people were so impressed, they thought He was the Prophet that should come into the world or the Messiah. (Deuteronomy 18:18-19).
The next day, they found Him on the other side of the Lake; and He told them plainly that they should not labor for the meat that perisheth, but for the meat that the Son of man gives, that endures unto everlasting life. (John 6:24, 26-27)

So begins a conversation about the Manna and the Bread of Life:
Our fathers did eat manna; as it is written He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

Jesus said, Moses did not give you the true bread from heaven, but my Father has: which gives life unto the world.
(Now, you have to wonder about their hearing: Jesus had plainly told them that the Bread of Life was unto everlasting life;
But they are still thinking of food, filled bellies, rather than filled hearts and lives)

So, they said “Lord, evermore give us this bread. (Wow, they are not following His Words at all. They been fed, now wanted to be fed all the time.)

Then Jesus said, I am the bread of life: he that comes to me shall never hunger, and he that believes on me shall never thirst.
And this is the will of the Father that sent me, that everyone which sees the Son, (as the Son of God), and believes on him, may have everlasting life.(Here is the everlasting life which is our bread to eat and to drink; believing on Him)

O.K. The line is drawn clear enough for some, because they begin to murmur; basically saying : We want bread we can eat from you; But to believe you came down from heaven? We know your family. This is getting to be fantastical!

Jesus begins to explain that everyone who comes to learn of the Father, will come to Jesus, because I am the Bread of Life, which the Father has sent to feed you, not with food, but with life everlasting.
Therefore you have to “eat” it. Digest my Words, and believe on me.
This is to eat my flesh and drink my blood.

Wow! Did this start a argument! How can this man give of his flesh to eat?

Some people never understand Christ’s Words, because they are light and life; and they live in the darkness of their own thoughts.
If it was not real food Jesus was giving them, then all this talk was nonsense.
So the people turned away.

But the sad thing was:
John 6:60 “Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is a hard saying; who can hear it?”

You will notice they said “Who can hear it?” , not Who can understand it?
They understood that it was it was their spiritual ears, not their minds that had a problem.
When you “hear” Jesus words aright; they should not scandalize, but comfort.
He is saying that God had not forgotten this generation, under Rome, and under Herod; but had sent His Son, to give the life He promised to them….even by the giving of His body and blood by death; if they would receive it.

They “heard” Jesus words, with ears that refused to YEILD to His words. They did not like the way He said the truth. They wanted Him to say it differently. And because He had continued using this illustration of the life God wanted to give; they were “offended” or scandalized.

John 6:63 “It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

In other words, listen to the Spirit which would speak through My words; for My words are spirit and life.
If you are not encouraged and quickened by My Words, then your heart is not yielding to the Spirit in My Words.
If hearing Christ’s Words does not bring life to you; then you have not heard aright.

John 6:66 “From that time many of his disciples when back and walked no more with him.”
There were many who would follow Jesus for the good life.
But few who wanted to hear about Jesus giving His life’s body and blood, that they might have spiritual life.
This was not the Mighty Messiah that they had expected.

John 6:65 “And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.”
To live for Jesus, you must be empowered to do so. You cannot, of yourself, come to God, and you can not, of yourself, live for Him.
(And if you are not being empowered to do His Will, then something is stopping that flow of power.)

John 6:67 “Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?”

Now, it does not say whether the twelve liked the illustration Jesus gave; but when Jesus asked, the answer came instantly:
John 6:68-69 “Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.
And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Here is what “hearing” aright does: It brings you to believe, and trust in Christ Jesus.

So, will you also go away? What have you heard lately, which has caused you to be offended in Christ?
Go to Him and tell Him your complaint: but tell Him you believe in Him, and He will give you life.