Reality, or Virtual Reality; Which?

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity ever thought to the obedience of Christ;”

What is the difference? They both have reality in them, don’t they?

Reality (and we are talking about Spiritual Reality, here) is truth. It is what I have in my experience….not what I want….or even what I believe the scriptures say…..but what I have in my experience.

Spiritual Reality is to have in your experience, what you think you have.

We are born again.

We are growing in grace, and in the love of Jesus; both to Him and His people. We are denying ourselves, and picking up our cross.

We are being obedient to His Will.

Imaginations plague everyone….there are carnal imaginations we must place on the altar to God (“casting them down”, as the verse says).

And there are spiritual imaginations….

…we dream about doing great things for God….but never do them. (Or perhaps we begin, with great enthusiasm, but never finish)

We speak about doing great things; but we put them off, for “a while”.

(Hesitation is a wile of the devil that often works, because our minds say, “yes, I should think about this”…..or our hearts want to know what the reaction of others will be. Hesitation is stealing the time of power from the Holy Spirit….for doubt ever quenches Him.)

Paul is encouraging these Corinthians to finish what they started:

2 Corinthians 8:9-11 “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.

And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before,…

Now therefore perform the doing of it, that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.”

(Here, Paul is speaking about a gift for the poor brethren; but I have had the Lord use these verses on me about a job I needed to see done. Like I spoke of: I had started, then just put the rest off. I needed to finish it.)

Virtual Reality is to believe you have something, you do not.

This is to believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ, but never submit to His power……to bring me into obedience to His teaching.

2 Timothy 3:5, 7 “Having the form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

How do they “deny the power thereof”?

Certainly, it can be unbelief at work.

Many people believe in God, but not a personal God which has fellowship with His people. A God that probably is up there somewhere, but would not take any notice of things here, especially specific people, especially them.

But it can also be an deliberate choice to keep God away from “interfering” in their lives.

They sit and hear the Word of God,……and let it flow over them…..

….they hear the doctrine; but never let it take root in their hearts.

There are those who…

……let one lesson, push out the other. “Ever learning”, and yet never coming to the place that they have in their experience what the Lord Christ has for them…….what He has already said to them.

Usually this type of decision is made because the heart is “taken up” with something else.

There is no room for Christ Jesus,….for they choose to continue in this life of Virtual Reality.

(No this is not the video games; but it is the “games” people play in their minds.)

2 Timothy 3:14-17 “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of Whom thou hast learned them;

and that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

That the man of God may be perfect (complete) throughly furnished unto all good works.”

Paul wrote Timothy, encouraging him to continue in the Word of God,……because God will make it profitable to those who truly choose to follow it.

God’s Word is a Living Word….when we hear it, the Holy Spirit takes it and applies it to my situation,…..my attitude,….the people around me.

It cleanses, not just by showing me what is wrong…..but the Spirit moves in me to seek and reach out in faith, to what the Lord wants….and as soon as we do, we feel enlivened….seeking forgiveness and power.

Reality is that what we have….for then we are able to use it…for Christ’s sake.

Eternal Life

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

John 17:1-3 “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son may also glorify Thee:

As Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him.

And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast sent.”

Eternal life is a a condition of life now……it begins the moment we are born again…..and continues throughout our life….and onward throughout eternity, forever, with God.

It is a gift from the Eternal God to His people.

Deuteronomy 33:27 “The Eternal God is our refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and He shall thrust out the enemy from before thee and shall say, Destroy them.”

[It is interesting to note here, in this verse….there is the promise of His protection (our refuge),…..and care (underneath are His arms)…..but also the assurance that the victory shall come from Him (He shall thrust out)……yet, He calls for our personal cooperation, in our wills and by His Word. (destroy them)!]

And what does Eternal life bring to us, now?

1 John 5:11, 20 “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

And we know that the Son of God is come, and has given us an understanding, that we know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”

First, eternal life gives us the knowledge that He is with us! We are in Him, and He is in us.

In eternal life, we have “understanding”:

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

(How much we need this, in a world which blinds us with glitter; and calls us to do as it does. “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” 1 John 5:21)

And in eternal life, we “know truth”:

John 1:17 “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” (When truth is faced, grace is given to us for it.)

John 7:17 “If any man will do His Will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of Myself.”

John 17:17 “Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Word is truth.”

(The Truth, sanctifies all who receive it: It sets them aside to God, and His Way to go.)

And eternal life “purges” our conscience. His sacrifice cleanses us from our sin (in power, as well as legally, from punishment)……..but His life, gives us peace and power for the work ahead (1 John 3:19-21).

Hebrews 9:12-15 “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh. (Under the law)

How much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

And for this cause He is the Mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.”

This is a complicated section…for it contrasts the relief under the Law: which had to be repeated again and again……..and the cleansing under Christ, which is eternal, once for all.

But notice here, that three times, “eternal” is used to describe what Christ did for those that look to Him for redemption.

1. Eternal redemption (vrs. 12) by His own blood. We are eternally bought back from sin and death….we are HIs purchased possession….none can take us from His hand (John 10:28).

2. Who offered Himself through the Eternal Spirit (vrs.14). This speaks of His consent…continual consent, by His own will, in offering Himself to God as the Sin sacrifice.

He consented in the Everlasting Covenant to come and die for us….

He consented in the garden, when He said, “Not My will but Thine.”……

He consented before the men who took Him away (or they would not have been able to)….

and before the Sanhedrin, Pilate, and the beatings…..

And consented, even when the mob cried, “Crucify Him”….

He consented when they made Him carry the cross….and when they nailed Him to it….

He consented when the people around the cross mocked Him….and the thieves which were by Him….leading one to believe and be saved.

Yes, through His Eternal Spirit He offered Himself.

And it was He, the Son of God, Who said, “It is finished”……and He consented to all He had to do……till it was completely finished.

3. That they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance (vrs. 15). This eternal inheritance is a pardon from the guilt of our sin….and a cleansing of our minds, hearts, and wills from sin.

It also includes the Holy Spirit, and reconciliation and fellowship in life to God.

And it includes heaven, and the bliss that is to be found with God forever.

Eternal….the Lord never does things by halves. What He promises us, through His Son, He will do…..He is faithful.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 “And the very God of Peace sanctify you wholly, and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Faithful is He that calleth you, Who also will do it.”

And His life…..His eternal life for us….this condition of our lives, now…and throughout eternity……comes to us, as we look to Him, Who was lifted up for us,…..and believe.

On the Way to Gethsemane

It was the night Jesus was taken, arrested, illegally tried by the Sanhedrin, and taken to Pilate.

Jesus was to have the passover feast with His disciples. He had washed their feet…Judas still being there.

(John 13:4-12. What an act of great mercy;….rejected mercy…..but it shows the mercy of God….one last act to Judas, though his heart was too greedy to receive it. It is either sin or Christ which rules within us.)

Then Jesus sat down and announced that one was there that would betray Him. None knew that it wasn’t them…..

(All thought they would be loyal…..but they did not realize their own weaknesses.)

Jesus shows the betrayer is Judas….giving him the first piece of the passover bread.

Judas goes out:

John 13:30 “He then, having received the sop, went immediately out; and it was night.”

(Terribly, it would never be “light” for him again.)

Then the Lord goes on to begin a new service;….what we call the communion service: the disciples given broken bread….to symbolize His body being broken for us….and the wine…symbolizing His blood being shed in sacrifice for our sins; and their being partakers of His gift….

Matthew 26:26-28 “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

They left the house, and began to walk to Gethsemane.

On the way, Jesus explains to them of His coming death and resurrection:

Mark 14:27-28 “And Jesus said unto them, All ye shall be offended because of Me this night: for it is written, I will smite the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.

But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.”

Peter emboldened by the fact that Jesus had not said he was the betrayer, confidently says he will never leave Him….

But Jesus speaks to warn…..and comfort him….

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.”

Then Jesus begins to speak of the future….

…..a future without His bodily presence with them…..

…..beginning His final conversation with them, before His crucifixion:

John 14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me.”

He begins to turn their eyes to Someone else….always with the provision of His love and peace.

“Trust Me that I will not leave you as Heavenly orphans,……but will send the Holy Spirit to take My place”…..(John 14:16, 18)

Twice He says that “whatsoever ye shall ask in in My name, that will I do….”(John 14:13-14)

The theme this part of His discourse is: peace….don’t be afraid, I will give you peace.

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

Then Jesus speaks of their future work, letting them know….even in this, He will not leave them….He will be their strength and life, in the time to come;…..as the Vine is to the branches.

He promises them fruit.

(Seven times He mentions the “fruit” that comes by abiding in Him….once He mentions the end of those branches which do not bear fruit, even though they are in the vine.)

John 15:5 “I am the Vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without Me ye can do nothing.”

And what is that fruit?

First the fruit of joy….

John 15:11 “These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”

Then the fruit from bearing witness of Jesus….

John 15:26-27 “But when the Comforter is come, Whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me;

And He also shall bear witness, because ye have been with Me from the beginning.”

(Once He says to ask in His Name.)

Jesus turns now to showing them what the world will do, now that He will go away…

John 16:2 “They shall put you out of the synagogue; yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.”

But even in this,…..He has provided for them.

The first provision being the Holy Spirit….

John 16:7 “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.

The other provision: the truth….

John 16:13 “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He will hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come.”

In the truth, there is great safety…..we know what the Lord says,…..therefore we know what we need to ask for….

And again, three times He says to ask in His name: John 16:23, 24, 26.

He here tells them beforehand that He had overcome the world.

Remember, this is even before they took Him,…He was beaten,…He was mocked and given over to the cries of the mob,….and crucified……

….He knew all that was going to happen to Him; and He said they would treat His disciples the same way….

John 16:33 “….but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

(This He calls us to do in Revelation 3:21)

And then, as He grows closer to Gethsemane….(for He will be arrested before they leave)…..

He becomes very, very intimate….for He begins to pray to the Father:

John 17:1 “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee:”

He was showing us the pattern for our lives….glorify God, and He will honor us.

Telling how He had finished the work God had given Him to do….so we should “finish our course”.

He tells the Father that He had manifested His Name (verse 6)…..and His Words (verse 8, 14)

And then, right then….He begins to pray for them:

John 17:9 “I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which Thou hast given Me; for they are Thine.”

He prays that they will be kept:

John 17:11, (15) “And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to Thee, Holy Father, keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, as We are.”

He prays they will be sanctified,

John 17:17, (19) “Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Word is truth.”

Five times He prays that “they may be one, as We are.” (John 17:11, 21-23 )

That they may know God’s love through Christ Jesus.

John 17:26 “And I have declared unto them Thy name, and will declare it; that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

(Sixteen times in these chapters Jesus speaks of love

Six times He speaks of joy)

In this last part of His talk with them, He prays also for us: You and me, there, on His walk to Gethsemane….

John 17:20 “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word;”

Then He came to the garden: All the things He needed to say, were said….everything would proceed according to the Father’s Will (Acts 2:22-23).

The Nation stood on the brink…..what would they do with Jesus, Who was called the Christ?

But it was in this very important, intimate discourse with His disciples….that Jesus showed His Father’s heart and plan for them…..and us.

Jesus wants us to know His peace…..

…..His purpose for each of us: abide in Him and bear fruit……

…He wants us to know His overcoming amidst the tribulation and suffering of this present world;…and because He has, we can too……

……and HIs prayer—intimate and full of tender love for those who follow Him.

Will we walk with Him this day, and hear these things for ourselves?

Will we believe Jesus? But refuse to submit to His Authority?

John 8:51 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.”

The religious rulers had come demanding of Him: “By what authority do You do these things? And who gave You this authority?”

(Matthew 21:23)

So Jesus is talking Authority. Would they….will we…submit to His authority to do what He will, and lead us where He will?

They had heard so many times of His authority…Who He was, and why He was come. Who had sent Him, and given Him the message He spoke:

Jesus had dealt with the woman taken in adultery, and with those men that had brought her. (John 8:3-12)

They had sought to condemn her…and Jesus! But it was they who were condemned…by His Light.

His presence and words sent them away from the Light He was giving….but drew her to stay.

And because she submitted to the Light, she was forgiven.

“I am the light of the world:..”. And He was showing that light into all those hearts.

“…he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

A simple truth He had just proved before them all.

But, it seems, they would not receive His “proof”, His Light.

They argued, that He can’t go around saying that, for it was proving Himself, by Himself. What?!

John 8:14-16 “Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of Myself, yet My record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.

Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.

And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent Me.”

(This is a wonderful conversation….probably the longest Jesus gave about He and His Father, to the people. Will they receive it?)

John 8:25-26,28-29 “Then said they unto Him, Who art thou? And Jesus said unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning..

I have many things to say and to judge of you: but He that sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of Him.

….When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father hath taught Me, I speak these things.

And He that sent Me is with Me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always the things that please Him.”

Jesus was very clear, here. His Father in heaven had sent Him, and He was speaking the Words the Father wanted.

As Jesus was speaking, many believed on Him. (John 8:30) They started to see the truth, and believe that He was the Christ…..would that continue when that truth was applied to them.

For authority acknowledged, should be authority submitted to.

John 8:31-32 “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed;

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Real freedom, is freedom from sin. Sin is bondage. It ties you to something or someone, or some attitude, or some habit. It ties you to death, for every sin brings darkness and death to each of us.

John 8:33 “They answered Him, We are Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest Thou, we shall be made free?”

What we do not often realize (like the Jews here) is: bondage is never felt; until you try and move away from it.

Like a chain that is around the leg of the slave, tied to a tree. Until the slave tries to run from it.

And when they can’t….then they find that they are bound; and with each moment…you are more bound.

We are all slaves of sin….till Jesus Christ frees us.

John 8:34-36 “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

And the servant abideth not in the house forever: but the Son abideth forever.

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

True freedom from sin is through the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Jesus was trying to explain to them, so they could continue, and be free.

And the real problem for these men?

John 8:37 “I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because My word hath no place in you.”

What did Jesus mean: “My word had no place in you”?

You see, we only understand with our minds and hearts, what our wills receive.

If we will not receive a truth….we do not understand it; for understanding…spiritual understanding has to do with experience.

Jesus goes on to say:

John 8:47 “He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.”

Understanding comes from submission. There is a definition for “spiritual understanding”, which is: Light + Experience = Understanding.

Light is what we receive from God….these Jews had that. They had light that Jesus was the Christ, He had told them that the Father had sent Him.

Experience is submitting to the light, and putting it to work in our lives. This they refused to do; So…..

They had no spiritual understanding. Jesus’ words had no place in their lives; for they refused His authority….over themselves.

Sadly, though they ‘believed’ on Him in general, they refused His authority over themselves….and because of this….over the sin in their lives

John 8:54, 59 “Jesus answered, If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing: it is My Father that honoreth Me; of Whom ye say, that He is your God:

And then they took up stones to cast at Him: but Jesus hid Himself, and went out from the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.”

I believe this is a mini parable:

Jesus gives light; the people turn for more.

Jesus shows His authority; the people back up.

Jesus shows them the sin of unbelief and calls all who will be free from sin, to Himself; the people defend themselves.

Jesus rebukes their defense, and again calls them to submit to God, and to the Truth about Himself, and themselves: the people refuse and seek to get rid of Him.

Jesus hides Himself, but turns and goes through the midst of them, without their “seeing”.

Jesus Christ calls all who believe in Him, to submit to the Light He shows, and to His authority.

Will we?

We are His Workmanship

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.”

God does all things well. Even when He made me. I am a sinner, but He has saved me; yes, even me.

Now that I am born again; He creates me in Christ Jesus. For we are His workmanship.

The word “workmanship” comes from the “pouring in of a mold”.

We are to be molded in the same likeness as Jesus,…..in character.

In other words He has been molding us; in His plans, before we even were.

By our history, and circumstances; He has been molding us……to lead us to Him.

And since we have been born again, He has been molding us by the Holy Spirit, in every situation…..pushing here, and pulling there.

Molding takes heat;….the material needs to be heated in order that it goes into every part of the original mold.

This is the reason that we are born again….to have the likeness of Christ imprinted on my life.

“Good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

To ordain is to prearrange by His Authority,…….but also to provide beforehand all we need,……in the circumstances…..with the people…..and even with ourselves.

What are these good works?

They are Obediences to Christ in our world (the situations of our life).

Those things which the Lord would have us to do, which show us standing with Him.

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

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

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

Paul is not showing the Ephesian Christians how to be born again;……they are born again.

But He is speaking of one of God’s Eternal Decrees.

This, Paul says, is what God Purposed for us :

To be saved by grace–the unmerited favor of power; God’s power.

Through faith–which is given to us by the Holy Spirit so we may come and believe.

Not of yourselves–Of course not, we can never please God in our own righteousness; For we have none.

It is the gift of God–and a gift is freely given; and either received or rejected.

Not of works–those works which we could come up with, to try and make us acceptable to God.

Lest any man should boast–Which is what we all would do, if we had anything to do with our being born again, besides to receive it.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus–molded, and still being molded; since our purpose is not done till we stand in His presence.

Unto good works, which God hath before ordained–these are the how and what we should do in our lives to please Him, personally.

For it is a person to Person life with Jesus

That we should walk in them–It is a walk with Jesus; in that purpose and doing those works,…..which show we stand with Him.

The Everlasting God

Genesis 21:33 “And Abraham planted a grove in Beer-Sheba, and called there on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God.”

The name of the Everlasting God was first revealed to Abraham. He had just planted a grove in a place where he had dug a well.

I believe, he was thinking that in his son’s life time, or in the times to come, the trees would bring shelter to those who came to the well.

Trees take a while to grow, and in that moment, God showed Abraham a new name for Himself.

Everlasting: Evermore, Forever.

This describes God’s promise and protection for Abraham; but also his children to come. He will be there for them, long after Abraham had gone.

Revelation 1:8 “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”

God is the God of all ages. And to Him only, are all things known.

He revealed Himself through many names in the Old Testament, to show to those who believe, His character,……..usually at a time when they needed to know that He would be this, to them.

Psalm 90:1-2 “Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God.”

He is the Everlasting God,……setting times and seasons, according to His Will.

But in it all, He saw us, now;…….and gave each of us a purpose:

a path to follow, and an example by Jesus Christ His Son, to be conformed to.

We are not to be frightened by the largeness of the Will of God; but rather step into our place in it.

God is the Everlasting God, He has been, is, and will be with us;…..so He is with us today. (And that is what we need to concentrate on).

Isaiah 43:21 “This people have I formed for Myself; they shall show forth My praise.”

And how do we show forth His praise, today?

By showing forth the Kingship of the Lord Jesus in my life.

He purposes to reign within my life. And I must will with Him in this.

We must show Him as our King, by who we are in our everyday tasks.

(Is He in charge, within me? Is He guiding me through my day? Do I hear Him?)

Isaiah 43:18 “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.”

It is time to put the past behind you. Failures and successes. (Looking back while walking forward is never a good idea.)

Isaiah 43:25 “I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.”

If He does not remember them, why should you?

Or why should you let the Adversary, the devil, beat you over the head with them?

Confess them, forsake them. (As Jesus said to the woman taken in adultery: “Neither do I condemn thee; go and sin no more.” He did not approve of her sin; but forgave it, and told her not to do it again.)

And when you have done so: go on with the Everlasting God: for you were always in His plans and purposes.

His purpose for each He saves, is that they show forth Jesus Christ as my King. This is personal Kingship.

Everyone we come into contact with, will be faced with the reality of His Kingdom;……for it has come to us.

No Strength? Or unsure of the Wisdom to do? Afraid to take the first step?

Isaiah 40:28-29 “Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the Everlasting God, the Lord, the creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of His understanding.

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength.”

Deuteronomy 33:27 “The Eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms:…”

Remember: the Holy Spirit is within you, Christ Jesus has won the victory for you, and the Everlasting God has surrounded you with His Peace, and Purpose.

Abraham was at peace concerning the future of his son, and his son’s sons, and so on; for the Everlasting God was His God, and He could not fail.

Do we have sure footing?

Ephesians 6:15 “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;”

The Roman hobnail sandal’s were made of leather….coming all the way up the calf. They had very small spikes on the bottom for gripping the ground when in march or battle.

And these describe what Paul says is the Gospel of peace.

In the Christian life, we need sure footing.

If we are to walk and resist the Adversary of our souls,…….that solid footing is provided in the Gospel of peace.

There is a place of rest, and peace of mind, for every Christian.

It is God’s hiding place for every believer…..

Psalm 32:7 “Thou art my hiding place; Thou shalt preserve me from trouble;

Thou shalt compass me about with psalms and deliverance. Selah.

Psalm 119:114 “Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in Thy Word.”

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

If we do not learn to depend upon the promises of God, and receive His peace……..then we will not have sure footing to be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

The devil will knock us off balance,…..with accusations of past sins, or doubt,……and we will be on the ground, before we know it.

Worry, anxiety, trouble, or fear……meet all these with a promise from His Word.

One that you can get a hold of……and that can get a hold of you, by the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit’s assurance of Christ’s Word is very important.

The Bible is full of promises….which we can claim.

But one given by the Spirit to our spirit in the midst of trouble or battle, is precious. And must be held on to.

The Lord wants to garrison or guard you about with peace….His peace.

Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God which passeth understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

This is of the Holy Spirit….not something we do, but what He does within us…..so that we can get our “footing” in this situation.

John 14:26-27 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, Whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

But we must will with Him, for the battle rages around our minds, hearts and wills.

It says, “Let not”….”neither let it”.

These are acts of our will. We are staying hidden in His peace. (This is not presumption: for we have His Word. Nor is it indifference: for we will do anything the Lord wants done concerning the matter.)

Therefore, when we will with Him, letting Him do as He wills, in His time, in His way….then the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, will teach us (again and again, if need be) about His peace….and surround us with it…….and keep us till we receive the promise.

The Holy Spirit will garrison, or guard us….with His peace.

John 14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me.”

Peace comes to us by the Holy Spirit…..and it is that assurance that God knows our situation…..and He has a plan of deliverance for it.

That is the sure-footing that we need in this world…..God’s Spirit helping us “dig in” and “hold on” to God’s Word….till we get the promise.

Your Knowledge of God

Job 42:5 “I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth Thee:”

Is your knowledge of God, by hearing about Him and His great works, only?

Or have you met Him in the circumstances of your daily life, and known His authority there?

Jonah met God in the belly of the great fish….(Jonah 2:1, 9)

Saul met the Lord on the road to Damascus….(Acts 9:3-6)

The Philippians Jailer met Him when he was about to commit suicide….(Acts 16:27-31)

Where, or under what circumstances you meet the Lord, is not important. What is important is,….that you do.

(Job is a book on several levels….God lets us see into His Universal Rule: for it is a book showing us how God rules and overrules for us.

In this book, God show us how our adversary, the devil, is always accusing us before God…..but God shows us how He deals with His whole universe….letting the devil hurt or harm only so far….in a measured way. Job 1:12, 2:6 After these two terrible trials…God allowed no more harm to come Job from the devil.

In this book, God shows us how He feels about obedient servants….and how He hedges us about…..often. (Job 1:8-10)

In this book, God shows us how He uses our trials to bring us to a more wonderful knowledge of Him,….and draws us to a closer walk with Him.)

I want to explain here, that Job was a righteous man. His attitude toward God was amazing (in my opinion)….at the loss of his wealth and children…

(there have been many times when things have gone wrong, that I wished my attitude was as his.)

Job 1:20-21 “Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped.

And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither; the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

And at the loss of his health,….his attitude toward God did not waver:

Job 2:9-10 “Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God, and die.

But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.”

As I said, Job was a good and righteous man.

The trials of the devil were ended, but the trials from others were not:

After these terrible things happened, three “friends” came to comfort him, in his grief.

But instead of comfort, they came and told him….”something must be wrong with you, for God to have let these things come upon you”.

They said:

Job 4:7 “Remember, I pray thee, whoever perished, being innocent? Or where were the righteous cut off?”

They thought maybe his children had sinned, or he had:

Job 8:4, 6 “If thy children have sinned against Him, and He have cast them away for their transgression;

If thou wert pure and upright; surely now He would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.”

They were trying to help Job, or so they thought……. but he had not sinned, as they thought.

What they said was right, if Job had sinned or turned aside from following the Lord. But that was not what was happening here….

Job had walked quite a ways with God. Job had knowledge of God and believed and worshipped the Lord……that was true…..as far as it went…..

But God wanted Job to know more of Him, in a different way, then just a provider and caretaker.

(Every trial that comes to us, is to open our eyes to His provision for us. To bring us closer to God.

They are measured trials….some relatively easy….others extremely difficult…and others, impossible.

But they are all sent, to bring us closer to God, that we might know Him in a new way, for our lives….what He will do for us, in the trial; and how He will bring us through it….for He will.)

Frankly, Job had stalled out. He was a good man, doing charitable works….happy in his experience with God….but he was not going further in the knowledge of God…he was just coasting along…..but he did not know it.

It wasn’t the trials which he passed through that showed Job how he was…..but his “friends”.

When his “friends” came,…then his reputation came to be on the line….and Job bristled under the charge that he had sinned.

Job felt his friends were treating him badly….they should have realized that God tries the faithful….and he wanted God to show that he was pure.

But was he?

Job 10:2-3, 7 “I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; show me wherefore Thou contendest with me.

Is it good unto Thee that Thou shouldest oppress, that Thou shouldest despise the work of Thine hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?

Thou knowest that I am not wicked; and there is none that can deliver out of Thine hand.”

Job knew that God was allowing this; but he began to be angry, when God was not defending him as he thought He should.

But wasn’t that part of the trial?

(I want to put in here, that we can not see all, of what God is doing…most times. We may see part….and for some, it is a great part, but not all.

We must trust that when we come through the trial we will be “as silver is tried” Psalm 66:10-12, and be “brought out into a wealthy [satisfying] place”)

Job continues,….only this time he begins to spout off about what he would say before God, Himself!

Job 23:3-6 “Oh that I knew where I might find Him! That I might come even to His seat!

I would order my cause before Him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

I would know the words which He would answer me, and understand what He would say unto me.

Will He plead against me with His great power? No; but He would put strength in me.”

(How bold we get in defending ourselves!)

I must admit, Job’s friends were being harsh in their words….they would not hear what he was saying…..God does try the faith of the righteous to bring out more faith….

Actually, what they said was true…..if, Job had sinned, like they thought.

But their knowledge of God, did not cover a righteous man being tried, to bring him closer to God.

They thought that blessings, and only blessings were the way that you should know God.

(And how many of us think the same?)

If you were righteous…..God blessed you.

If you were wicked….God cursed you.

That was the extent of their experience, and knowledge of God.

But God was trying to teach them all, more of Him.

Job then proceeds to explain to them his righteousness……he had been righteous, in reverence to God,…..all his days.

And he begs God to show how he really is….

“Oh that One would hear me! Behold, my desire is that the Almighty would answer me,…” (Job 31:35)

Interesting request….for God does:

Job 38:1-2 “And the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

Who is this that darkened counsel by words without knowledge?”

God answers Job from a whirlwind….Job had wanted God to do something mighty, and powerful, and He does….but not to the friends,….but to him.

The Lord then shows Job how little he knows of Him:

Job had spoken as though his righteousness had added something to God.

As though, Job’s knowledge of God and his obedience, had earned him God’s respect.

No, Job, it does not. God loves us, and the greatest thing He does for us….is bring us closer to Him, in experience….for that is true knowledge.

God speaks:

Job 40:2, 8 “Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct Him? He that reproveth God, let him answer it.

Wilt thou also disannul my judgement? Wilt thou condemn Me, that thou mayest be righteous?”

“So you are going to walk right up to Me, Job and tell Me off because I am doing My Will, so you will be brought closer to Me?

Is that righteousness, Job?”

“You say you are righteous….declaring it to all…

If your righteousness is so great, Job,….

Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency;….look on everyone that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place… (verses 10, 12)

I have everything in control, Job….the wind, snow, elements….the animals; the largest to the smallest, I have given direction to….are you able to do this?”

Job, awed,…..and humbled,…answered, laying his hand upon his mouth, which is a sign of contrition where his words are concerned. (Job 40:4)

Then Job answered God,….rightly

Job 42:2-3, 5-6 “I know that Thou canst do everything, and that no thought can be witholden from Thee.

Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? Therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.

I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth Thee:

Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

You see, God is interested in us….and the trials which come to us are all under His hand.

Are we gaining knowledge of Him, everyday?

Or are we at a stand-still, rather proud of how far we have come?

Well, Job was….but he did not know it.

Until the Lord, through trials of loss, and through trials of friends made him speak all that was in his heart….

Then God showed him all that was in his heart, and he repented of his pride.

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

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

The Lord also corrected his friends, and had Job pray for them. (Job 42:7-9)

Job 42:10, 12 “And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.

So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning:…”

Blessed in scripture means twice happy.

God blessed Job,…..and if we could ask Job, I think he would have said that the greatest blessing, was his greater knowledge of the Most High.

What is your knowledge of God? Is it continuing….or have you stalled in your growth in grace?

The Beauty of Holiness.

Isaiah 6:1-3 “….I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims:….

And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory.”

Revelation 4:8 “….Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.”

Holiness in Scripture is the Sinlessness, and perfection of the character of God:

which is Light…..not darkness…(James 1:17)

is Mercy,

is Peace,

is Grace,

is Love,

is Supreme Goodness, and our Refuge,

Is Wisdom, and Judgement, and so much more.

We think of Holiness, and sometimes tremble……because we are sinful…..even with our sins confessed, and cleansed…..we can remember the terrible things we have done against Him,….and that is when “Holiness” puts weakness into our hearts….

Isaiah when he heard the “Holy, holy, holy”……..

Isaiah 6:5 “Then said I, Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”

When Peter saw the “great multitude of fishes” the Lord gave, after a night of catching nothing……

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

In scripture the Lord is called Holy, seventy times. Twenty-eight times in Isaiah, alone. Sixteen times in the Psalms.

(If God were not Holy, there would be unspeakable horror for consequences: He could not save sinners….nor could He have power over the unrighteous works of darkness. There would be no Heaven….where every tear shall be wiped away, and no unclean thing, will enter. Chaos, not order, would rule.)

But in this, we are going to speak of the Beauty of Holiness…..for surely God’s Holiness is beautiful.

It is an attribute of splendor….spreading out like a rainbow, unto abundant goodness.

And, that He would plan a Way for us to share in His goodness, by Jesus Christ….is blessing….twice blessed for us.

That He has made a Way to come to Him;……..we as sinful creatures, to come to the Most Holy God,……by the expiation of our sins…..has not changed His Holiness;…

…..but rather enhanced it; showing to us, by the abundant sacrifice of His Son, how Holy He is.

When we think of the price Jesus paid, that we might “be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21)…..

…….we again tremble at the Holiness of our God, Who would allow His Son to die to wipe away our sin,…….and not allow any, but those who receive Christ Jesus, as Lord and Savior,……to come near to His throne, and dwell with Him.

Isaiah 33:15-17 “He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shuteth his eyes from seeing evil;

He shall dwell on high; his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.

Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty, they shall behold the land that is very far off.”

God’s Holiness is worthy of all our praise. For as He is lifted up above all things, so He raises us up, in Christ….to sit in the heavenlies. (Ephesians 2:6)

But for what purpose, are we raised to newness of life?

To be to the praise of His glory. To find our satisfaction in Him.

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

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

1 Chronicles 16:29 “Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His Name: bring an offering and come before Him: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”

2 Chronicles 20:21 “……..he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for His mercy endureth forever.”

God’s Holiness is beautiful,…..and He calls us to worship Him for it…..and to set ourselves aside to Him,…..to be “partakers of” it.

Hebrews 12:10 “For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness.”

“Partakers” here, means to accept and use.

In Christ, we are made righteous; given a new nature. And we are to accept our new life and “use” it…..we are to bring forth the fruit of His holiness within us…..the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)

We are to spread out within us the manifold goodness of God, by the fruit of His Spirit, and use it, to have joy, peace, love, gentleness, etc.

Psalm 29:2 “Give unto the Lord the glory due unto HIs Name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”

Psalm 96:9 “O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before Him all the earth.”

God is Holy, holy, holy…..in the Trinity. And praise God, that He is.

Faith

We know faith is the first gift, along with the Holy Spirit, that God gives to those that receive His Son as Lord and Savior.

Without the element of faith, there is nothing. (Hebrews 11:6)

(Hebrews 4:2 “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.”

This is speaking of that generation which died in the wilderness, because they refused to believe God and go into the land.)

Faith, by the Holy Spirit,…..and His Word needs to be “mixed”….then amazing things get done.

Faith is the substantiation of the things of God (Hebrews 11:1)….that which makes them real to us. Faith ever keeps Christ in our view.

But how do we use our faith? In obedience….in receiving the promises, in receiving correction, in receiving direction.

For this is how we know we have true faith….we obey the Lord.

Matthew 9:22 “But Jesus turned Him about, and when He saw her, He said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.”

Here, a woman who had been plagued by an issue of blood for twelve years….spending all that she had to get well…..with physicians….but only grew worse….

…..till she heard of Jesus.

(Every woman who had this issue of blood….was unclean. Leviticus 15:25-26. It was a terrible thing….for she could not give sacrifice, or enter the circle of worship. After twelve years, she felt hopeless. But then she heard of Jesus! And faith led her to seek Him)

Mark 5:27 “When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched His garment.”

Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17), and this woman had heard of Jesus.

(How this should make us earnest, to tell others of our Lord! And what He has done for us!)

Mark 5:28 “For she said, If I may touch but HIs clothes, I shall be whole.”

I love this verse! Here, she has a conference with herself, and decides to place her whole life on Christ Jesus! To come to Him!

But how?

Her plan of action….touch His garment.

She did not think she should ask Him for this miracle of healing….she wasn’t anyone important….but she had faith that He could heal her…..even by a touch….and faith leads to obedience of action.

(Some say she crawled up to touch the “hem of HIs garment”! Matthew 9:20. Have we the faith of this woman? Are we mixing His Presence and Word to us, with our faith?)

Mark 5:29 “And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.”

Now I want to stress…..Jesus did not do anything here. He did not touch her. He did not speak to her.

Her faith in Him was the vehicle of blessing…..and it can be the same with us. We can touch Him, by faith, and receive from Him…..what we need.

Was there a conversation between Jesus and this woman? Yes….He would not let her faith be left unacknowledged….

….He would speak to her…only to confirm what her faith in Him had gotten for her.

Mark 5:30 “And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that virtue (in the Greek “dunamis”, where we get our word “dynamite”….means force, miraculous power) had gone out of Him, turned Him about in the press, and said, Who hath touched my clothes?”

The disciples….and we would have, too,…thought this was ridiculous to ask. There is a whole crowd of people jostling Him…..all touched His clothes….what was He saying!

Yet none touched Him in faith…..faith that sought Him out as Christ,….and this is what He was asking about.

Mark 5:32-34 “And He looked round about to see her that had done this thing.

But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before Him, and told Him all the truth.

And He said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.”

Here what Jesus said…..

…”thy faith hath made thee whole”…..but because you are fearful that I would be angry about this faith,…..or take back this blessing….I tell you, go in peace and be whole of your disease!

Her faith in Him…..got a hold on His power for her…..and she was healed….and in that healing was cleansing.

Faith is that substance within us, planted by the Holy Spirit, that makes everything of God real…..it proves to us the value and reality of God and HIs Word….

….and that is before it ever moves out through us to obedience.

But once we have faith, we have to act on it.

For this is what faith is for….for us to put ourselves in the hands of God, and obey what He says, because we know He is God….He is the Creator and Sustainer of the circumstances of my life.

He knows the faith we have in Him….

….sometimes I wonder if He is saddened by our not using it.

Faith is of the Holy Spirit…..it is demanding, and commanding. And always leads us to obey.

The whole crowd touched His clothes…..but only this woman, who had faith mixed with hearing about Jesus…..was healed by touching Him.

How great a gift from God to us is the faith He gives. Let us mix it with His Word….believing in Jesus….and then, in obedience, get what He has for us.