True North on the Compass of Your Life.

Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”

There is, on the compass, a magnetic north, which is not true North.

You can navigate with this, for short trips.

But when you have long trips over any length of time or of distance; you must be able to ascertain True North, or you will be off your point of destination, miles and miles.

We should all have a goal to which we are headed in life; and a way of getting there, which is not going to lead us astray.

That goal keeps our eyes focused on the real purpose of our existence.

As Christians, our purpose of life, should come from the Lord:

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

We are “created in Christ Jesus” or born again; for a purpose.

Our purpose is to “walk” in the good works God appoints us, as individual Christians, to do.

We all have the “work” of manifesting Jesus Christ in our life. His character should shine through us; His peace, His gentleness, His love, and His determination to do the Father’s Will.

So what is the True North in this walk?

It is making Jesus Christ, Lord of your life, so that you will know what to do, and will be empowered to do, by His life, within you.

Making Him Lord means that we are His servants; obeying Him.

We are His disciples; learning from Him and teaching what we have learned.

And we are His friends, walking with Him through this world, to the next.

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.”

Hosea 6:3 “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.”

As certain as this old earth keeps turning, there will be sunrise tomorrow.

You may not be able to see it, for there may be clouds and the day dark and dreary; but the sun will be there.

This says that we can rest easy in Christ; we can expect Him to show us His Way for us, and for Him to give us His blessings (the former and latter rains), in the time we need them.

It also encourages us, to continue to follow Him.

Psalm 42:8 “Yet the Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.”

Psalm 37:40 “And the Lord will help them, and deliver them: He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him.”

He knows where we should be, and how we are to get there.

In life, in attitudes, and in troubles; with Him as our Lord and Savior; we shall know.

Our whole life is a journey.

(I used to tell a friend, life is an adventure. They thought of “lions” and “tigers”; and they were not happy about the thought. But I think of going with a Great Guide into a world that changes all the time….and to me, that is an adventure.)

It is a journey of a life time.

And, lets face it, we need help; we need a guide, who loves us, to get us to the end.

We are to “walk” from here to heaven, with Christ Jesus.

That is a daily walk with Him.

That is how we grow to know Him more.

True North on the compass of our lives, is to make Him Lord of our lives.

Then we will see His Purpose for our lives, done.

Then we will get to the end in peace.

Are we inclining our ears toward God?

Jeremiah 35:15 “I have sent also unto you all My servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying,

Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers;

but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto Me.”

Jeremiah is the book where this phrase is used most….eight times the Lord says this to HIs people….”incline your ears” toward Him….to hear.

Jeremiah preached to Judah for over forty years….the Words of God….saying again and again…..”Hear”….(used over forty times).

(This is amazingly helpful…..especially for those who say they can not “hear” God’s Word….they do not understand it.

For, if we will but incline our ears….really try and understand…yielding to the Holy Spirit’s convictions….

….then, God will give us understanding….will give us “hearing ears”.

We should not say, “Oh well, I can not get this,…God should make this easy….I’ll forget it for now,”…..

…..come to Him, and He will give you ears that hear what He is saying.

Proverbs 20:12 “The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them.”)

To incline our ears, is to lean toward the one we want to listen to….so we will be able to catch every word.

Some incline to the world’s words and opinions…..philosophy or what they think is “right, or fair”….

….but as Christians, we should incline our ears to hear God and His Word.

Proverbs 21:2-3 “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.

To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”

Isaiah 55:3 “Incline your ear, and come unto Me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David”.

To hear in the scriptures, denotes the desire to do what you hear….that is why you are listening….to really hear, and do.

Isaiah 55:6-7 “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near:

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”

Mercy is that kindness to sinners….and abundant pardon is forgiveness of sins and a right relationship with Him…everyday.

How long have we had the Bible? The Scriptures being read, and shared, and preached, and taught?

(My husband and I often, as we are riding in the car….start quoting verses….as best we can. It is amazing how many of them are brought back to mind….and sometimes the ones you think you know the best,…..not so much!

Not only is it fun, but it encourages the memory in praising God for HIs mercies, and care!)

Jesus Christ said, when He was here….”He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” (Luke 8:8)

Are your ears hearing? Are you wanting to hear what Jesus says to you?

For this is “to incline your ears”….to really want to hear.

Give up your fear….your own way…and hear.

Yield to the Holy Spirit within, and you will be given understanding….so we can do what He is telling us.

Luke 8:18 “Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.”

Here is the crux of the matter: Do you have the desire to hear the Lord for yourself?

“For whosoever hath”….if you have this desire…….”to him shall be given”

The Lord always looks on the heart of each person.

Who do we want to hear?

Isaiah 57:14 “And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of My people.”

What stumblingblock is in our way? At what are we “stumbling” when we read HIs Word?

Isaiah 57:15 “For thus saith the High and Lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place,….”

(Of course God is high and lifted up…..He dwells on high, seeing to all HIs Purpose….but, also…)

“….with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”

Humble means lowly,…seeing our position before God as it really is.

Contrite means bruised, crushed….seeing what sin has done or will do, to me.

But God will revive….will make alive!…to nourish…to preserve…quicken, repair…to be whole. (God never does anything by halves).

Are we inclining our ears toward God and what He is saying to us?

There is so much at stake…..let us…”hear and your soul shall live”.

Daniel in the lion’s den

Daniel 6:16-17 “Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee.
And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.”

That Daniel entered the lion’s den, willingly (Daniel 6:10),.....because he would not give up prayer for God’s people in Jerusalem and Judah.....is an amazing witness of the power of God,.....in Daniel’s courage concerning HIs Word (1 Kings 8:46-49).......and in his belief in prayer to God!

(And this is a lesson we all need to learn. If God has placed a person/people, or place, or church upon our hearts for prayer……we need to be faithful in fulfilling our duty to God in it….claiming the promise He gives)

I also want to mention the witness of Daniel’s life beforehand. For we can not pass through the things of tomorrow, without going through the trials and things of today with God. Daniel, since first being taken to Babylon,....chose to stand with God and His Words....even though it put him at odds with those in authority there. He chose to seek God and the good of others....even the heathen king and those around him....though his life was often in danger for speaking what God wanted. Daniel was serving a heathen king. He was in a place of power and position.....and I might add, that most in these positions, embezzled some money from the kingdom. This is what made the king love Daniel so....he was faithful in keeping all the accounts:

Daniel 6:2, 4 “And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.”

So when the king, at the mouth of the lion’s den, said…..”thy God whom thou servest continually…”
…this faithfulness to the duty the king gave him, was what he meant. The king knew Daniel was faithful to God in all things. In the things which were personal....and the things of his homeland, Judah....and the things of the kingdom of Darius, money included.

(This is amazing! What does our everyday life show others?)

But now Daniel is in a lion’s den….”cast into the den of lions”.
(Daniel was an old man by this time….he had come to Babylon when he was a youth….and had served Nebuchadnezzar for years….through to the Medes and Persians attacking and taking the city. Darius was set upon the throne and Daniel served him for years.) But now, because of the trickery of others, the king has given in to vanity....and Daniel pays the price. He is brought and thrown in with lions. I do not know the eating habits of lions.....but they do attack and kill anything which intrudes into their den....and these lions were often starved ...or just fed enough...in case of an enemy which needed to be destroyed in a brutal fashion for an example to others, was cast in. And I do not think Daniel knew what was going to happen....his confidence and trust, was in the Lord to do what was best.....

Daniel 6:19-22 “Then the king arose very early….and went in haste to the den of lions.
…he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel:….O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
Then said Daniel….O king live for ever. (The usual greeting to the king)
My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me:…”

I will pause in this last verse, and say: Hallelujah! Both men rejoiced in the goodness and mercy of God.

“….forasmuch as before Him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.” Daniel had a whole night of praying and waiting before the Lord.....among lions....and God had revealed that Daniel’s prayers for Judah were right,....done for the glory of God, and the good of his people. And, though the enemies of the kingdom were usually cast into this den....Daniel had not done anything to hurt the kingdom of Darius...to deserve this at his hand.

Though the right way is often persecuted….God is the justifier of all motives and actions.
He weighs our thoughts and intents of our hearts….and that of our persecutor’s. And, of course, there is one other thing to mention concerning that lion’s den.....perhaps the most important....especially for Daniel (or anyone who has to face the viciousness of any enemy)....

….and that is that….God was with Him.
God had sent His angel to shut the lions mouths…..God was there in the darkness in a peace and Presence that Daniel knew.
What a wonderful promise to us…..especially when we face things alone!

Daniel 6:23 “Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.”

We know that to believe is to put the whole weight of our lives upon. Daniel did that….”he believed in his God.”

What of us? To believe is a continuing journey. We know Christ Jesus, and believe…and are saved.
We come to know more of Christ….and believe and by faith live a life which is….in the world, but not of it….”…and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.”

I have never been in a lion’s den. I have never been betrayed by people I have worked for as desperately as this. But I am not Daniel....I am me....with the problems, trials, and enemies that God has placed in my way. It is how I witness to Him in the way He has given me....that will make the history of my life a glory, for Him.

And it is the same for all of us: we have our own trials….and “lions” to face…..
…but God is with us. Let us believe on Him….and in His Word….and pray like we do.

Our Inheritance in Light

Colossians 1:12-13 “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.”

We have an inheritance….both in heaven (1 Peter 1:4)…and here….and we can thank our Heavenly Father for it.

He ‘has made us able in Christ Jesus’ to be partners in the inheritance which Christ won for us…..along with all the saints.

This inheritance is “in light”.

(Think of all the things we have from the light of God: a knowledge of Him,…..knowledge of ourselves,….an understanding of what the scriptures say to me…light is power against the darkness of this world….all these and more we have in our inheritance!)

God has delivered us from….the power of darkness….in Christ Jesus.

……and not only so, but God has translated us into the kingdom of His Dear Son.

Translated is a Roman term……

When Rome wanted a city built along a road…..or by a sea, for shipping;….

….they would take another city near by, and move everyone in it,…..to the new site, and tell them to re-build there.

They would move them….and let the people build new lives there….under the protection and citizenship of Rome.

For when they translated a city, every person became a Roman citizen automatically, with all the rights and privileges of that.

So Paul is saying that God has done the same thing to us.

God has taken us….and moved us to a new life in Christ’s kingdom. He has given us heavenly citizenship in Him, and all the rights and privileges of being His citizens.

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

We are to see that we remove everything of the old life….for it we don’t….we might look back on it, causing an occasion for us to be tripped up.

(Remember Lot’s wife. Luke 17:32)

God has told us to build our new life with Him….in His Light…

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 building our new life;……walking in the light….this is the path our new life takes….

Proverbs 4:18 “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”

The light dawns….you may not see the sun yet, but the darkness is turning to light.

Then the sun is up….how it brightens our senses; our hearts rejoice….our minds wake up….our bodies are nourished.

But it is not at high noon….for the sun casts it light….and as it does, it makes shadows from the things which are between it and us.

The sun can still be hid behind trees, our house, etc.;…..until…

…it comes to high noon.

Then it is straight above us…..where nothing can come between it and us.

All is light, then.

This is the plan of God for our lives….to remove all hinderances to His Light in our lives …..so that we are walking in the sunshine of His love, with nothing between He and us.

This is our inheritance, here. We have an inheritance in heaven as well,….but here, our inheritance is light…..having fellowship with God….and all that it gives…for “God is light” (1 John 1:5)

His light gives us true sight….for we can not see things in the darkness…

(and how much darkness there is in our old resentments, in anger, in fear and panic, in greed, or pride….for these things magnify “our feelings”, and block the Light He wants to give us.)

Ephesians 1:18 “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.”

His Light gives us heat…for our hearts are to be fired up for Christ.

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

All we need to be delivered from the power of the sin in our lives, is given us in Christ Jesus….

Romans 13:12, 14 “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.”

Light purifies and cleanses….in the truth

1 John 1:8-9 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

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

When we are walking in the light….We have love for God and the fellow saints…

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

What the sun’s light is in the natural world, God is to the spiritual….spreading HIs healthful rays out….to us.

James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

The closer we walk with God, the more light we have to know His Will, and the more power to do it.

1 Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him Who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

Song of Solomon 3:6 “Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?”

This is the first verse of the third section of the Song….which deals with the believer coming out the world’s influence and manifesting the influence of the Holy Spirit….to, in fact, be filled with the Spirit, for the work that is before her.

“Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness?”

She is saved, being sanctified…which is to be set aside for sacred use…and now, seeks to leave the world behind.

To be in the world, but not of it!

The wilderness! What a word to describe the vastness and howling hardness of the world in which we live! Praise God we are called to come out of it!

(Many have tried to leave the world, by an austere form of life…..but what they do not realize is….

….the world is in the mind and emotions….and if we do not “leave it” in them….no matter what hideout we seek, the inner world will claim us.)

To come out of the wilderness of this world…is first, to see it as a barren wasteland,….it bears no fruit for our good.

It is a “weary land”…..making the walk in it troublesome.

Then to see that God provides help through this world:

Isaiah 32:2 “And a Man shall be as a hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great Rock in a weary land.”

What can we gain if we gain the whole world….and lose our own soul?

(Matthew 16:26)

This losing the soul is, of course, for any lost person who refuses Christ for the world’s prestige…sending their souls through the world seeking satisfaction, and not finding it….like the leech, only crying “more,more”….till death and hell swallow them.

But it is also any, who will choose the world over following Christ (for that is the tone in the verse)…..we will then lose our soul (our own personality)…..for we will take on the attitude of the world,….it’s pressures for beauty and success…..it’s motivations of putting “me” first….

…and there is nothing so deadly to a soul that Christ has died for,…than to give Christ second place (if that).

To come out of the wilderness is to travel on the highway of holiness.

Isaiah 35:8 “And an 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.”

It matters not where you come out of….only that you have come to Christ to be saved….and want to go on with Him in HIs way of holiness.

Colossians 1:13 “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son:”

Here Paul tells us it is already done…..and of course it is spiritually, by Christ’s Victory. But we must do this ourselves practically, in the outworking of our lives….so we live in His Victory and Kingdom. (And this is everyday living)

How do we do this?

Colossians 1:12 “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:”

It is as we deliberately will with God….and bring all that we are and have into the kingdom of His Dear Son.

We are to bring our new life….the gifts and callings, of course….

….the place we are in our spiritual life….the people to whom we are around….the way I look at things….and all that concerns “my life”.

We are to bring it to King Jesus, for His praise, for His service….we are to bring it into the Light of His Word….and let Him deal with it, and us there.

(Remember we are speaking of coming out of the world…and it’s influence over us.

There are many influences in the world….many we feel are harmless.

But what God wants us to do is come out of the world….to leave behind the good, bad, and “harmless”….

….to go on to the life of separation to Him…..which is freedom indeed!

We need not be concerned over the fashions of this world, or the attitudes toward things….

….we see Jesus and His Way of light, peace, gentleness, love….and that is liberty….and strength, for remember we are separated, not by some idea….but we are separated to Christ the Lord.)

Song of Solomon 3:6 “….like pillars of smoke…”

Here is the strength of the Holy Spirit. Here is the stability and endurance of the Spirit of God.

Isaiah 32:15-17 “Until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.

Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.

And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.”

This is what the Lord wants us to have……will we?

Let us not fret

Psalms 37:8 “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.”

Fret means to eat away, to chafe, to gall, vex or worry, to wear away.

Anyone who has felt the effects of fretfulness….understands how it exhausts us….makes us weary.

(Rub your hands together and they get warm….keep rubbing and they get irritated and tired….keep rubbing and usually there is a place that gets a sore on it…

…that is to fret. A little worry, a little frustration, a little irritation….that can end up causing something that needs to be healed.)

So let us consider the first part of the verse:

Psalms 37:8 “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.”

“Cease from anger…..”

Once we get angry?…..Impossible to stop it…..without the Lord’s help.

….we can not talk ourselves out of our anger…..for our emotions or reasons have started to run away with us.

We need to stop, and deal with it. It won’t take hours and hours….we simply have to stop speaking….or complaining in our minds….

….and first ask the Lord to forgive us for being angry

(“anger” here in this verse has to do with the emotions….they are displeased….to enraged!)…..

…..then we need to ask the Lord to show us about this….and He will, and give you the feelings you should have….and how to deal with them.

When we take everything which hinders, or bothers us to the Lord, we allow the Holy Spirit to have sway in our spirits….to, in fact, work His calming influence in our hearts and minds.

(We must honestly consider how we are when we are angry! How we often fight against the very thing we are in need of!)

“And forsake wrath…”. Wrath has malicious intentions. We may never do anything….but we wish we could!

This verse is written to God’s own. This whole chapter in Psalms is written for believers….against the influence of evil workers….on our minds and hearts.

How they can irritate us! They seem to get by with so much! They mock and sneer….they provoke us! The very word “provoke”….means that we have let someone push us into a reaction!

We must let them pass….out of our minds….out of our emotions…..by letting the Lord give us our thoughts toward them…..

….let Him discipline us….to know whether what we are feeling is from the Holy Spirit….or is merely from the stress and strain of what is going on around us.

We must ever guard against worldliness creeping in….and of being tricked or caught up in snares laid by the devil.

There will be burdens laid on our hearts by the Holy Spirit, but these are never grievous to bear….

“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous.” (1 John 5:3)

We must learn to tell if what we feel is from God, or from something or someone else.

The more we willingly do this, the better we will get at discerning what comes at us.

We must allow the Holy Spirit to work….allowing His soothing influence on us.

Psalm 39:7, 39-40 “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself because of him who prosperity in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: He is their strength in the time of trouble.

And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him.”

How desperately we need this right now!

The Water of Life

Revelation 22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. Let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

Whosoever will:

Drink deep of this life giving flow! That it might be in you, rivers of Living Water.

Have you ever noticed the force of flowing water? It follows the path of least resistance. It flows over fields, or roads. It comes up to dams and stops; unless the force of that flow is strong enough.

Water in scripture always speaks of the life giving influence of the Word of God, applied to my circumstances, by the Holy Spirit.

John 7:37-39 “In the last day, that 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.

(But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him shall receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because Jesus was not yet glorified.)

This feast was the Feast of the Tabernacles. It was a feast of remembrance. All the males of Israel were to come to Jerusalem for it, so there would have been a large crowd gathered.

The priests in the Temple, were to go out in procession to the wells outside the city, and fill their vessels (jars),……..and bring them up the hill to the Temple.

They were singing as they went:

Isaiah 12:2-3, 6 “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation.

Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the well of salvation.

Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.”

Then they would come into the court, right before the steps going up to the Brazen Altar, where they sacrificed,..

….and they would pour out this water, singing this.

This they would do for six days.

The seventh day, the great day of the feast, they would gather in the court; and stand there: no procession…..no water….just standing waiting.

They would again sing this song: and wait in silence for a set time.

At that moment, (as these verses tell) Jesus moved out of the crowd, and onto the steps leading up to the Altar, and…

“…Jesus stood and cried, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink.”

He had offered Himself as the Bread of Life before,…..and been rejected,…….because they did not understand that “eating” this bread was believing in Him as the Son of God.

And now Jesus offers Himself as the the Way for life-giving salvation….as the water poured out.

“He that believeth on Me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

He was speaking here, of the Holy Spirit which would be given to all who would receive His Words and believe in Him as Lord and Savior.

He was speaking of the Holy Spirit, because He knew they would reject Him, and He would be crucified, and raised the third day.

He was saying, “I am offering you a way to have life;…..through believing in Me, the Holy Spirit will be given you.

When He comes to you, it will be as refreshing, and forceful as a river of living water within your life!”

What a commotion and conversation this caused…..some thinking He was the Messiah…”This is the Christ.”

….others refusing Him…”Shall Christ come out of Galilee?”

But talk was all there was for most of them. This was the second year of His ministry….He was showing them all He could be to them…

…if they will.

Of course, they did crucify Him,…

…but He arose the third day….by the power of God.

Forty days later, when He went back up to heaven….He sent the Holy Spirit to comfort us.

The Holy Spirit within us, shows the Word, and becomes a force within us to help us, guide us, correct us, and encourage us. How much we need Him.

But are we “drinking” deeply of this life-giving flow? Or have we blocked the flow in our lives somehow?

Revelation 22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. Let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

You see it says, “To drink,…you must come.”

Come, as Jesus said, standing on the step. Come to Him, and receive. Stop blocking it, by unbelief, or fear, or grief, or even just hesitation. Yield to the Holy Spirit.

Just Come, hear His Word, and Drink the Water of Life, freely.

Let us not fret

Psalms 37:8 “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.”

Fret means to eat away, to chafe, to gall, vex or worry, to wear away.

Anyone who has felt the effects of fretfulness….understands how it exhausts us….makes us weary.

(Rub your hands together and they get warm….keep rubbing and they get irritated and tired….keep rubbing and usually there is a place that gets a sore on it…

…that is to fret. A little worry, a little frustration, a little irritation….that can end up causing something that needs to be healed.)

So let us consider the first part of the verse:

Psalms 37:8 “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.”

“Cease from anger…..”

Once we get angry?…..Impossible to stop it…..without the Lord’s help.

….we can not talk ourselves out of our anger…..for our emotions or reasons have started to run away with us.

We need to stop, and deal with it. It won’t take hours and hours….we simply have to stop speaking….or complaining in our minds….

….and first ask the Lord to forgive us for being angry

(“anger” here in this verse has to do with the emotions….they are displeased….to enraged!)…..

…..then we need to ask the Lord to show us about this….and He will, and give you the feelings you should have….and how to deal with them.

When we take everything which hinders, or bothers us to the Lord, we allow the Holy Spirit to have sway in our spirits….to, in fact, work His calming influence in our hearts and minds.

(We must honestly consider how we are when we are angry! How we often fight against the very thing we are in need of!)

“And forsake wrath…”. Wrath has malicious intentions. We may never do anything….but we wish we could!

This verse is written to God’s own. This whole chapter in Psalms is written for believers….against the influence of evil workers….on our minds and hearts.

How they can irritate us! They seem to get by with so much! They mock and sneer….they provoke us! The very word “provoke”….means that we have let someone push us into a reaction!

We must let them pass….out of our minds….out of our emotions…..by letting the Lord give us our thoughts toward them…..

….let Him discipline us….to know whether what we are feeling is from the Holy Spirit….or is merely from the stress and strain of what is going on around us.

We must ever guard against worldliness creeping in….and of being tricked or caught up in snares laid by the devil.

There will be burdens laid on our hearts by the Holy Spirit, but these are never grievous to bear….

“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous.” (1 John 5:3)

We must learn to tell if what we feel is from God, or from something or someone else.

The more we willingly do this, the better we will get at discerning what comes at us.

We must allow the Holy Spirit to work….allowing His soothing influence on us.

Psalm 39:7, 39-40 “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself because of him who prosperity in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: He is their strength in the time of trouble.

And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him.”

How desperately we need this right now!

God can take care of His own Glory.

God’s usual way of working for man, is to use another man to speak, or show God’s Will. (1 Corinthians 1:21, 25)

But He does not have to do so. God can and does take care of His own glory. (though His choice is to use man, so he may share in that glory.)

1 Samuel 2:29-30. “Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation: and honorest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?

Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me forever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.”

The priesthood had failed, for Eli had not rebuked and chastened his sons, who were disobedient to God’s Word.

So God had another man in the wings to lead Israel, spiritually.

(That man was Samuel, who was a picture of the Lord Jesus who would judge, and lead His people in the right way.)

But now, Israel is in a battle with the Philistines. And they are losing.

Instead of seeking God as to what to do, they go to bring out the Ark of the Covenant, like a lucky rabbit’s foot; hoping it will save them.

1 Samuel 4:4 “So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the Lord of Hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubim: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.”

Yes, it is the symbol of God’s Presence, but frankly God is not with them, in this battle; and He will not be “used”.

He will defend His Ark, but not Israel.

He actually uses the Ark to stir up the enemies of Israel, to teach them all a lesson about Himself: Who He is, and what He can do.

1 Samuel 4:5-6, 9-11. “And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.

And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the Lord is come into the camp.”

Be strong, Quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: Quit yourselves like men and fight.

And the Philistines fought and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter, for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.

And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.”

God is the God of the whole earth, and can make Himself known to any people, at any time.

1 Samuel 5:2 “When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.”

Confident that they had beaten, not only Israel, but Israel’s God; they brought the Ark into the house of their god.

But, God is not defeated, but ready always, with power to show Himself strong.

1 Samuel 5:3-4 “And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen on his face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.

And when they arose on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord; and the head of Dagon and both of the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him.”

First, God just has their god fall down before the Ark. Showing that their god was nothing.

Then, God chops off the head, and hands of their god; leaving only the stump. All were down at the Ark’s feet.

1 Samuel 5:6-7 “But the hand of the Lord was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with hemorrhoids, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof.

And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.”

God, then began making the men of the place sore. He destroyed some, and gave others hemorrhoids so painful that they cried out for help.

But not to the true God. Instead, they gathered the lords of the Philistines and wanted relief. So they thought that they could stop God, by moving the Ark.

1 Samuel 5: 8-9 “…And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel thither.

And it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the Lord was against the city with a very great destruction: and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had hemorrhoids in their secret parts.”

But God’s hand was against this next city, and it’s men, as well.

It was worse there, for it says, “a very great destruction”.

The Philistines were not going to give up their “trophy” from their victory over Israel (How silly pride is),……so they start to move the Ark again.

(I wonder if the Lord is not slaying the very men who fought in the battle, which took the Ark.)

1 Samuel 5:10-11 “Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron that the Ekronites cried out saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people.

So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.”

But even while it was coming, the men of the place cried out against it. They thought that the lords of the Philistines had brought it, to slay them.

This would destroy the unity of the five lords of the Philistines, not to mention decimate their population.

Even as it came to the last city, it destroyed many.

After seven months of slaughter by the Lord, the Philistines finally seek a way to send it “to his place.”

They wanted to be rid of it; but just to take it back, was a sign of defeat. This, they did not want. What if the plagues remained after it went back?

So the priests of the Philistines told them:

First, make images of the hemorrhoids that were sent among the men, and images of the mice that were sent among the cities.

“…and ye shall give glory unto the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you…” (1Samuel 6:5)

Then, they were to make a new cart.

They were to take two milking cows away from their calves, and put a yoke on their necks (they had never been used to pull anything before).

They were to tie them to the cart with the Ark in it, put the offering of gold images in a box by it, and let it go.

Then they would see if God could bring His Ark home.

1 Samuel 6:9 “And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coasts: to Bethsemesh, that he hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that smote us; it was a chance that happened to us.”

Of course, He did take His Ark back to Israel

God always sees to His glory, whether He can use His people or not. Israel lost out; and so can we, if we are not being what we should be.

1 Samuel 6:12, 16 “And the kine took the straight way to the way of Bethsemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not aside to the right hand or the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them unto the border of Bethsemesh.

And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.”

(It is amazing, God took simple animals and made them obedient: against their nature,……for milking cows do not want to leave their calves.

But men and women, God gives a choice. Believe and obey, or Turn aside after their own way. Isaiah 53:6)

God’s honor and glory should be our highest aim.

And now let us see what God did to backsliding Israel, with Samuel’s guidance:

1 Samuel 7:3 “And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.”

God sends Samuel to speak to Israel about what they should do.

And they did put away the gods they had secretly worshipped, and “served the Lord only.”

1 Samuel 7:4 “Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the Lord only.”

God can do anything, in any way He chooses. But His Will is that we deliberately choose Him.

Will we go along in His Way? Or in our own way?

There is more to this:

Samuel calls for a time of repentance.

But when the Philistines hear of the gathering, they come looking for more victory, more slaughter.

But now God was for Israel:

The means for Victory in Israel was their repentance, Samuel’s offering and prayers, and the Lord’s thunder and lightening.

Yes, Israel fought, but this time the Lord was with them.

1 Samuel 7:8-10 “And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.

And Samuel took a suckling lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the Lord: and Samuel cried unto the Lord for Israel; and the Lord heard him.

And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomforted them; and they were smitten before Israel.”

We should always thank the Lord for His Presence with us, in times of trouble, or in times of prosperity.

His Presence and Help make all the difference.

Have we learned the lesson of making sure that God is for us, because we are seeking His will, and doing it?

God can take care of His own glory, but He would rather, we shared in it, with Him.

The God of Peace

Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.”

At least six times in the New Testament, God is called the God of Peace.

(Romans 15:33, Romans 16:20, Philippians 4:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 2 Thessalonians 3:16 [here it is said “Lord of peace”], Hebrews 13:20)

Christ Jesus, Himself is the source of our peace.

We are not given peace by self effort….but it is given by the Holy Spirit as we “stay” ourselves on Him.

Perfect peace of mind……and freedom from the gripping hand of “cares”;….can only be known only as we learn to commit all our ways to Him.

(“Cares” grab ahold of us, and say: “You need to do something about this!”

“Mind” here is the imagination; which can think of all kinds of thoughts about the things that…will happen….could happen……the “what ifs” of the situation.

1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.”

Casting,….it is a energetic action….we are not to think of them awhile, then think about giving them to the Lord…

…no, we are to cast them upon Him….He is able….He has seen to these cares and worries already….and will see to them in us, through us, and by us…

…..for He cares for us. (this is a term for “taking care of us”)

Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), and He demonstrated this so marvelously on the cross.

1 Peter 2:23 “ Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously:”

The first part of the verse, is what He did before the Sanhedrin, Pilate, the soldiers, and on the cross….here was His obedience…

..He reviled not…He threatened not.

And it was because…He “committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously.”

He did this at Gethsemane, when the thoughts of the shame and defilement of the cross came fast and furious…each, an attack against Him.

Matthew 26:38-39 “Then saith He (Jesus) unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with Me.

And He went a little further, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt.”

But His answered these attacks on His peace, with: “Not as I will, but as Thou wilt.”

This should be our stand, as well….when the attacks of concern, worry, doubt, and panic come against us.

We, too, should commit ourselves to God, for all that will come to us…and let the peace of God guard us….keeping our hearts and minds.

1 Peter 4:19 “Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.”

He created us for a purpose, we need to submit to that purpose, for today…..not my will, but thine be done…and be obedient…for this is the “way of peace”…

Isaiah 48:17-18 “Thus saith the Lord, Thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit (by My teaching), which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.

O that thou hadst hearkened to My commandments! Then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:”

Obeying His Word we will be lead into His peace.

The listening and obedient ear knows true peace….for it knows the Voice of the God of Peace….and follows Him.