Can two walk together except they be agreed?

Amos 3:3 “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”

This is God speaking to his prophet about Israel; His own people.

Can He say the same about us? Are we trying to walk with God, without bringing ourselves into that “agreement” with Him.

Maybe, in general, you agree with God. But do you agree with the way He is bringing His will to pass in your life?

Do you agree with the circumstances you are having to pass through?

Don’t we at times reject the way God presents His Will to us?

And then we, in some way, refuse it?

We want God’s will. But just not that way……or with these people,……or at this time.

Can two walk together except they be agreed?

Paul says:

Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

You begin this by presenting your bodies to God, the Holy Spirit.

As Christ gave over control to God, the Father, in the garden of Gethsemane, for the sacrifice He was going to make.

So we do the same.

We give the Holy Spirit control: “Not my will, but Thine be done.”

Then we are to stay away from conformity to the world’s system. That is stated in:

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

Lust here is desire. What we desire in our flesh….perhaps to lose our double chin….or have that large burger with a half pound of bacon…..or a larger house, truck, etc.

These are desires that would please our flesh.

That would not add honor to God, but would just please ourselves.

What we desire with our eyes……Eve started this with a look a the Tree of knowledge of Good and Evil. It looked so good.

So does the newest movie star, or that car, or that job.

And we desire to make us a “Someone”. Whether by ability, fame, wealth, or notoriety. (Pride is the sin which caused Lucifer to become the Devil. Isaiah 14:12-15)

We are to stay away from these things, for they are of the world.

We are to renew our mind: Col.3:9-10, Eph.4:22-24, Titus 3:5 All talk of putting off the old man, and by the Holy Spirit, being renewed, by putting on the new man.

The new man is the “Christ in you, the hope of glory”. (Col. 1:27)

That means we are to use the faith given us, and in the power of the Holy Spirit within us,…..to live as Christ did:

Loving our Heavenly Father, and doing His will;

Loving the brethren and seeking their good.

Telling the world of God’s will and way, as the Lord directs.

We really can “agree” with Christ, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit and His Word, everyday.

Bringing everything to Him: every desire, every need, every promise…..and the Holy Spirit will make us pliable to God’s Will…..with contentment.

1 Timothy 6:6 “But Godliness with contentment is great gain.”

Have you Settled Things with God?

In the garden of Getheseme, Christ Jesus “settled” with God that He would finish the work.

Matthew 26:38-40 “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.

And he cometh unto the disciples and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?”

How much it hurt Him, that He was the only one praying….at such a time as this.

He had told them of the circumstances to come…..perhaps they thought “surely not tonight”….

….He had told them to pray….yet for grief….they slept instead….leaving Him alone in this duty.

…He had told them of the betrayal and denial to come….yet they did not pray, even for those things….instead, they closed their eyes to these things…and then slept.

Yet it was there, praying alone….that our Lord Jesus settled with the Father, all that was to come….and the how it was to come.

A settled mind is looking ahead in hope…..a settled heart is looking ahead in believing obedience to the One Who can bring us through.

And so it was at Getheseme for Christ….and so it can be for us, too.

What are you going through….or what it ahead?

Our Heavenly Father knows, and is ready to give the settled peace and hope of mind, and heart.

The life our Lord Jesus lived was not a easy one. Holy and undefiled, He lived in a world which was corrupt, perverted, and in bondage.

But in the garden, Jesus was to face the hardest battle. Alone, He struggled with the upcoming pain, and humiliation (imagine having the power to destroy, or even change the mind of those who arrested and tried Him; yet having to be silent in defense.)

John 19:10-11 “Then sayest Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?

Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.”

He struggled with the fact that Judas betrayed Him, and His disciples couldn’t stay awake.

He struggled with the fact that the very people He came, in love, to; had rejected Him and His Word about the Kingdom of God.

He struggled, knowing the beatings, both by Romans, and Israelites, He would be subject to; the crown of thorns being pushed into His head in cruel mockery. He was a King, but refused to show it.

He struggled most: with the awful fact that on the cross He would be deserted by His Father, who had always been with Him:

For all our wicked sin, was placed upon Him; as our substitute. All God’s wrath, which should have been placed upon our heads for our sins, was placed on His.

Yet at Gethesemne, He settled the matter. He had come to do these very things, so He willed to do them;…..He came to the place of wanting to go through them for His Father’s sake…..and for ours. (Hebrews 12:2)

So it was settled there, that He would do them. For they were the Father’s Will. And that is what He wanted.

And He did all His Father’s Will, even unto death.

So we must “settle it”, that we will stand in the place God has for us, and do His Will.

1Peter 5:10 “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

Grace is the unmerited favor of power; His power within us. It is ability to do, as an old Christian once said….God’s ability in and through us.

He will help us, by His grace.

He is the God of all grace, so He has enough for us.

He can help us in suffering: to endure, making us “perfect”, which means complete.

He can stablish, giving us the firm foundation of His love, and peace in all the circumstances of our lives.(And how much we need His peace in our days!)

He can strengthen us, for out of weakness we can be made strong, to will and to do His will.

He can “settle” us; which is to make the way for the rest of our lives into a path that is plainly seen, and give us power to walk in it,……and to want to walk in it “for His sake”.

Christ settled things in the Garden; the fear and amazement was there. All that came after, was just the doing.

We, too, can settle things with God; so that we can do His Will, without fear, by grace;…..in confidence, that He will be with us, and that He will empower us by His grace for all that we face.

But, because of Jesus’s atonement; we will never be alone. Amazing grace and love!

He will always be with us;…..in, and through us in everything in our lives.

Have you settled things with God?

Continue in prayer and watch

Paul was in prison…..he had lived two years in his own hired house, when first brought to Rome. He had four guards around him all the time….but now circumstances in the Roman guard hierarchy had caused him to be moved into a prison cell.

At this time he was still permitted visitors…..and some did still come to see him and tell him what was going on in the churches.

But though he was now in a cell…..his influence for the gospel had not stopped.

We know he spoke of Onesimus, and those of Caesar’s palace who believed because of hearing him.

His judgement before Caesar was coming up and he asks these Colossians to pray for his release….which he felt would happen (it did)…..and for an “open door” for the gospel.

Colossians 4:3-4 “Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.”

Here is the apostle Paul…..yet he asks for prayers that he might speak….”as I ought”.

Paul is looking to the glory of God….he is looking for the furtherance of the gospel…..he is looking to speak with boldness, though he is in chains.

How important is our speech! And how we should be praying for faithful ministers and preachers to preach the gospel with boldness….

….and to watch for ourselves our witness to others.

Then Paul turns back to exhort the Colossians on this point…..”redeeming the time”

Colossians 4:5-6 “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

In our everyday interactions, we are walk in wisdom towards others.

Simply, we are to keep before us that we belong to the Lord Jesus Christ……

……and that our speech is our most readily available means of spreading the gospel, and telling others what Christ has done for us.

We are to redeem opportunities….for in a world under the Adversary, the devil’s power….there will not always be such opportunities.

We must be ready….

1 Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

We must be ready, listening in the Spirit for guidance….for prompting….for boldness.

“Let your speech be alway with grace”……Our speech is to be in the power of the Holy Spirit. The divine influence in heart and the reflection of that in our lives.

Our speech and our lives should agree.

(My husband had a message on the Lord’s words…..

Matthew 12:36-37 “But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”

We think of “idle words” as just silly conversation with no meaning……but “idle words” are those words spoken that are never done in our lives.

How many times have we said we would become more diligent in our spiritual lives……yet hesitated,….questioned the Holy Spirit’s guidance….or just put it off?

How many times have we given a testimony of God’s goodness with little joy and rejoicing?

Idle words…..those that never got put to use in our lives…

…for by our words we will be justified in the judgement…..because we have lived them…..

….or our very words will condemn us at the judgement seat.)

“Seasoned with salt”….our speech is to be “preserving” others.

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(In the sacrifices of the Old Testament….every sacrifice was to be sprinkled with salt. In the New Testament, Jesus said, “Ye are the salt of the earth:…” Matthew 5:13)

….our speech is to be “preserving” others from darkness, with light and truth.

….our speech is to be “preserving” others from the confusion and fear of this world’s influence by peace…showing the peace of Christ by what we say.

…..our speech is to be “preserving” others from Hell.

Jude 22-23 “And of some have compassion making a difference:

And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”

Some we are to speak to with compassion…..others speaking as though we are pulling them out of the fire right then….with urgency and boldness.

Psalm 141:3 “Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips”

We are asking that the Holy Spirit watch our tongues…..and warn us.

Paul, the Apostle asked for prayer that he might speak…”as I ought”;…..and so should we.

“O Lord, let our tongues we used for your glory…..and let us speak according to Your Spirit…..preserving those we come into contact with, with Your truth and Light.”

Propitiation

It is wonderful how many titles of the sacrifice of Christ, is given in scripture.

Each with a fullness of meaning for us.

Propitiation is one of them.

It means…”the appeasing of God’s holy wrath and anger” against sinners.

How this shows us the fierceness of suffering and pain, of defilement and horror, that fell upon the Savior….for us.

Romans 3:24-25 “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”

That God might be just:

….for if God allowed a sinner into heaven with their sin still on them….heaven would be defiled. He would not do so.

So for God to be just……to be true to His Holy nature….He became also the Justifier of those that believe on Christ Jesus.

How could the Most Holy God ever bring us….HIs sinful creatures….to fellowship with Him?

There is only one way: only by the removal of our sin….both in actions done….and intents of the heart;…..and in what we will do.

And there was only one way to meet this criteria…..by sending His Son to become man….a perfect man….

……who would die as a sacrifice….a perfect sacrifice for all mankind. Only His Son could take all our sin upon Himself….and appease God’s justice.

Psalms 14:2-3 “The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”

Christ, God’s Son would be God/Man…..fulfilling all of God’s commandments and Law…..and then give Himself over to be a Lamb slain for our sin.

Imagine the force of our sin…..even one person’s anger and hate, and maliciousness and meanness…..past, present and future……put upon the shoulder’s and heart of the Lord….

….for it was not just the sin, but the wrath of God against that sin….that fell on Jesus.

And He did it……for all who would believe….this is propitiation.

1 John 2:1-2 “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

There were three hours of darkness….not just grey, or cloudy…..but real darkness, when our sin fell upon our propitiation, Jesus Christ…..and He became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Matthew 27:46 “Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.”

(From about eleven o’clock…the sixth hour of the day….to two o’clock in the afternoon…..what would normally be the brightest time in the day;…

…..instead of bright light….there came a darkness, like the night over the land.

Sin and God’s wrath for it, had fallen on Jesus Christ….and darkness manifested that terrible time. About the ninth hour, Jesus cries “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”

The agony and pain would have been unbearable…..yet He hung on….till He yielded up the ghost.

Till all was fulfilled, he bore and bore and bore it….then He gave Himself up to die….counting on His Father to raise Him up.)

1 John 4:10 “Herein is love…..”

Here, God could talk about His strong feelings and plans for us. He could speak about the grace that will keep us…..

But what He says here, through John, the beloved Apostle….speaks of the greatest act of love…..

…..Christ taking away our sins….the great obstacle which keeps us separated from God….by placing them on Him, and Him paying the penalty for them….for us.

This is love.

1 John 4:10 “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

1 John 4:19 “We love Him, because He first loved us.”

This is so true. While we were yet sinners…..turning our backs to Him, hating even the mention of God in truth…..

….even then, God set His heart on us…..and then sent His Son to become the propitiation….the appeasing of God’s holy wrath and anger against us, as sinners…..

….that we might come to Him and be saved…..have peace and joy of the Spirit…..and return that amazing love to Him.

Are Your Eyes Opened?

When Jesus came forth to do His Father’s Will; He proclaimed that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 4:17)

He spoke to the people, of the Father in heaven which wanted their good; and had given laws and commandments which reflected His holiness and their duty; which if they followed, would bring about their blessing.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted. “(Matthew 5:3-4)

Simply, if you know that you are “poor” (without strength and power to do the law and commandments, because of your sin); and mourn over them (repent)…..

Then….because you see and know your sin, you can be saved from them and enter the kingdom of heaven, now.

(“..theirs is”, not will be. Eternal life is a condition of life, here and now; and a life in heaven, hereafter.)

I am going to use a blind man, who gained his sight by Jesus;………

….and seeing men, who refused to acknowledge Jesus……..and were blind; for an example:

John 9:1-3,5 “And Jesus passed by, He saw a man which was blind from his birth.

And His disciples asked Him, saying, Master, who did sin this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

As long as I am in this world, I am the light of the world.”

Here was a blind man,….from birth;…….and Jesus said that he was blind so that the glory of God should be shown by him.

Notice the Name He speaks here….”I am the light of the world”.

There is no reason that any should walk in darkness….Jesus is the light of the world”!

John 9:6-7 “When He had thus spoken, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent). He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.”

Making clay, Jesus puts it on the eyes of the blind man, and tells him to go and wash in the pool of Siloam.

(Notice, even mud is called “anointed” by the Holy Spirit, when Jesus does it.)

When the man obeys,……he sees,….his blindness is gone.

Now you would think, that it would be finished. But, not so.

This set in motion what Jesus had said: the works of God should be made manifest by this man.

And it all started with the neighbors: it was a back and forth about whether he was really the blind man.

‘Yes, he was.’

‘Then how did you get your sight?’

‘’A man called Jesus.’

And he told them how Jesus healed him. (John 9:8-11)

This leads to the neighbors bringing the blind man to the Pharisees.

(Now it was the Sabbath when Jesus spit upon the ground, made clay and put that on the eyes of the blind man.)

The Pharisees asked him how he got healed.

And when he shared his testimony with them….it started a argument.

Some argued that Jesus had not kept the Sabbath because He healed on him on the Sabbath……..and so He was a sinner.

And some said that He could not be a sinner, and do such miracles.

Then the Pharisees asked the blind man who now could see,……what did he think of Jesus:

and he said, “He is a prophet.”

(See how Jesus separates people? Some see Him as He is; from God. Others will not see any thing good about Him.)

Then the Pharisees called this man’s parents: who did not want anything to do with the whole thing. They were afraid of being put out of the synagogue.

So they reinterviewed the man born blind, but who now was seeing…..again.

They wanted him to say that he knew that Jesus was a sinner.

But he didn’t.

Instead he took his faith in Jesus, a step further.

(Seeing always leads to more light)

John 9:25, 30-33 “He answered and said, Whither He be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvelous thing, that ye know not from whence He is, and yet He hath opened mine eyes.

Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth His will, Him will He heareth.

Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.

If this man was not of God He could do nothing.”

So the Pharisees excommunicated him.

But Jesus “found him”.

(Has He not said that He came to seek and to save that which was lost?)

John 9:35-38 “Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

He answered and said, Who is He, Lord, that I might believe on Him?

And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen Him, and it is He that talketh with thee.

And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped Him.”

“I believe.”

True spiritual sight begins with believing obedience to Jesus Word…and leads to believing on Christ Jesus, Himself.

John 9:39-41 “And Jesus said, For judgement am I come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

And some of the Pharisees which were with Him heard these words, and said unto Him, Are we blind also?

Jesus said unto them, If you were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; Therefore your sin remaineth.”

If we truly “see” our sin, and mourn for it,……..we will obey Jesus Word and “go and wash” them away in His sacrifice.

If we truly believe His Word,…….we will come to believe on Jesus Christ, Himself as our Lord and Savior,…….and enter the kingdom.

We will be His people and servants;……..and manifest the works of God in our lives.

The Power of God unto Salvation

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth: to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

The power of God to everyone that believeth.

Are you such a one?

Do you evidence this power of God in your life?

For this power unto salvation is spiritual reality.

“For He shall save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)

This means Jesus Christ delivers us from them. In Hebrews it is said, “to the uttermost”

Hebrews 7:25 “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

This is not just a wiping away of the past sins, although that is true.

It is the saving from the sins of today: that is, He saves us from doing them….and yes, He saves us from wanting to do them, as well.

This is what it means by “to the uttermost”.

Our Salvation is four-fold:

From the love of sin….this is not complete,….but it is a real change in you, where your sin is concerned.

It becomes a burden….and you feel it’s weight against you, and you want to be saved from it.

From the guilt of sin…by being born again: receiving Christ Jesus into your heart and life.

Romans 10:9 “And if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

We are not condemned, but at liberty to walk with God!

From the power of sin…by obedience to His Will…by yielding to the Holy Spirit within.

Romans 6:16 “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whither of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”

Here we get the power of God for our everyday lives….against sin and the world.

(We are “under new management”). For God empowers obedience,….

Philippians 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”

…..and the Holy Spirit within gives us a growing love for Christ.

From the presence of sin.

Taken into His glorious Presence in Heaven…whether by Rapture, or when we die, to be with Him forever.

Ephesians 1:3-4. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:”

He has a purpose for all He has saved. And all this was set in motion for us….you and me…before times eternal.

Think of it! God Almighty has a purpose for me. Though I rebelled against Him and His Will, yet He set His love upon me, and drew me to Himself:

John 6:37, 44 “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

In the scriptures, the purpose God called me to, is spoken of as: “good works”, or “bringing forth fruit”

John 14:12 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father.”

(And His works were prayer, preaching, calling others to the Kingdom of God, feeding, healing, and manifesting the words and works of His Father God.

All this He did before He laid down His life for us.)

John 15:16 “Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you.”

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.”

Colossians 3:16-17 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

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

Titus 2:14, 3:8 “Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto all men.”

Our purpose, is to pray—for ourselves, and others; to witness of the light of God in our own life; to preach, teach, be a soul winner, as we are called.

We are to seek the good of all men (and there is no good, without God in it).

These are the obediences which are given to us to do, for the glory of Christ. Big or small in the world’s eyes….they are of great value to Jesus.

Everyone has their place in His purpose.

And it is as we are in our place, walking with Him everyday, that we fulfill our purpose.

God’s salvation is full of power. Power to save us to “the uttermost”, and power to save others.

What greatness dwells in Him….and He is, by the Holy Spirit, in us.

Let us draw out His grace for our life.

1 Chronicles 14:8 “And when the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David. And David heard of it, and went out against them.”

This is an important illustration: whenever we make the Lord Jesus, King of our lives,….then,….the Adversary stirs up problems to try and hinder us in our spiritual life….that he may accuse us.

You will notice that the Philistines did nothing….until…David was king “over all Israel”.

As long as Israel was having internal strife…..they were powerless….no threat to anyone, but themselves.

(And is not this one reason we do not have the power we should in our churches today? 1 Corinthians 1:11, 13 “For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren,….that there are contentions among you. Is Christ divided?…”)

But when David united Israel under one king…..when Israel came under the power of God, for David obeyed God…..

…..then the battles came.

1 Chronicles 14:10 “And David inquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against he Philistines? And wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto him, go up; for I will deliver them into thine hand.”

Here was direction….and promise of deliverance.

So David went up where the Philistines were camped….and there was a large force of them….they “spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.”

And David did win this battle….

1 Chronicles 14:11-12 “…And David smote them there…..

And when they (the Philistines) had left their gods there, David gave a commandment, and they were burned with fire.”

After the victory God gave them, David followed the law and burnt all the images that the Philistines had left behind in the fighting. (Deuteronomy 7:25)

David honored God’s Word….and obeyed it.

Then, after their battle’s defeat, the Philistines did not give up…..they wanted to defeat and destroy David…..it was personal….

….just like the attacks the Adversary, the devil, sends to us.

“And the Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley.” (1 Chronicles 14:13)

This time David honored God….as a servant should, and asked for direction from his Captain:

1 Chronicles 14:14-16 “Therefore David inquired again of God; and God said unto him, Go not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.

And it shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle: for God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines.

David therefore did as God commanded him: and they smote the host of the Philistines….”

“For God is gone forth before thee”…what sweet words to David…and us.

As our Captain in every battle, the Lord knows the enemy and his tricks….so His guidance is imperative….to keep us and deliver us.

Notice: David therefore did as God commanded him.

◦ David was king! Yet he gladly yielded allegiance, to the Lord, and obeyed….with a joyful and willing heart all that God commanded him.

Sometimes, as Christians, I think we are afraid of the phrase: God commands us….but we should not be.

We are the Lord’s servants…..and His Word is our guide.

We are God’s soldiers ….and He is in charge of our battle.

1 Chronicles 14:17 “And the fame of David went out into all the lands; and the Lord brought the fear of him upon all nations.”

And we are the Lord’s Ambassadors, for we are to spread the good news for our King….as David did.

Now there was a man of God on the throne of Israel….a man obedient to the Lord….a man who honored God….and who God honored in his obedience.

As Christians we are servants, soldiers and ambassadors of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And God knows our battles……everyday battles, just like He knew David’s battles….

….and He is ready to give us commands through HIs Word, and guidance by His Spirit….and deliverance.

The Power of the Word of God.

Psalm 119:9 “Wherewithall shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to Thy word.”

[Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. It is divided into 22 sections, a number according to the Hebrew Alphabet. Almost every verse has a reference to God’s Word. (Commandment, Statutes, Precepts, Testimonies, Way, Law, Judgments, and Righteousness)]

These verses (9-16) deal with the power of the word of God to cleanse, and to keep the soul from the influence of the world.

So God shows a test-case: a young man. He is just starting into the world. And there are a lot of natural attractions to draw him away from God. Things untried, which could lead him into a path, away from God.

Is the Word of God able to keep him?

Yes. For the light of the Word draws the soul,….showing it the whole scene, not just what the world wants to show you.

(Psalm 119:105 “Thy Word is a lamp until my feet, and a light unto my path.”)

Psalm 119:10 “With my whole heart I have sought Thee: O let me not wander from Thy commandments.”

The Word of God shows things in there true character.

It does not “sugar-coat” the darkness which the “highs”, “fun”, or “following the crowd”, can bring; but shows it plainly.

It brings God into the picture before him. The world would leave God out of everything. Saying, “He will ruin everything. He is so narrow-minded.”

(The world sees the “narrow way” [Matthew 7:13-14) as restricting, and harsh. But every child of God which walks in this way, finds it freeing. We are watched over, guided, provided for even in trials, and most of all, we are never alone.)

But God’s Word testifies that God always has His children’s best interests at heart. He draws them with the Word, which opens up everything before them….including their own souls.

The soul, when sees what God says, believes and gets freedom, or the power of choice.

(We are not able when we are first born again to be free from the besetting sins which so easily plague us. They come back again and again.

But as we deny ourselves, and follow Christ, we begin to be free from these things; for the power of the Word and the Holy Spirit enable us to master ourselves and our circumstances. At the same time we know our need of Christ more and more.

This is a blessed paradox: We are more free, yet more dependent. It really comes down to the “master” we choose.

This is sanctification, or willing to be set aside to God. This is freedom: closer to God, further from sin.)

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.”

And with that freedom, there is such enlargement of heart, mind, and will.

There is power in the Word, by His Spirit. And by our obedience we bring that power within our own set of circumstances.

Psalm 119:11 “Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.”

Since it is hid in the heart, it begins to mold and shape it. Opening it up to more of the love, and peace of God.

Praise God: Where the Word is taken in our hearts, it leads. When the Word of God is written on my heart, it brings joy.

Joy is a choice fruit of the Spirit. It lifts us, it strengthens us, it teaches us to believe and trust the Lord.

Psalm 119:14-16 “I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.

I will meditate in Thy precepts, and have respect unto Thy ways.

I will delight myself in Thy statutes: I will not forget Thy Word.”

The young man, who was the “test-case”, and we, ourselves, can find the power of God’s Word in our circumstances, now.

Light given, sight received, and power to enable.

Listen to some of the other verses in this psalm:

Psalm 119:28 “My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen Thou me according unto Thy word.”

(No matter how I “feel”, Your strength is there for me. Let me see it)

Psalm 119:45 “And I will walk at liberty: for I seek Thy precepts.”

(His precepts, are His prescriptions for my spiritual health. He writes them, like medicine: which may not taste good going down, but heals.)

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

(We are always “hidden” in Christ, and behind Him. In Him, and can never be forsaken. Behind Him, for as He leads, we are protected.)

Psalm 119:165 “Great peace have they which love Thy law; and nothing shall offend them.”

(Have you ever met a person which could not be offended? they forgive freely, and they have great peace; for they are founded upon a solid Rock of Love.)

Psalm 119:176 “I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Thy servant; for I do not forget Thy commandments.”

(We are always the sheep of His pasture. We are always cared for, lest we slip or stumble; His word is always our prop.)

Let us use the power of His Word to us, and be strong in the Lord.

Let Us Lay Aside Every Weight

Hebrews 12:1 “Wherefore, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”

If we were running in a race, and wanted to finish it, that we might win; we would remove every weight from our pockets, every backpack, every jacket; all that would catch the air, or hinder our running.

This is a long distance race which is being spoken of here in Hebrews; and we need all patience and endurance to finish it. Therefore, we are called upon to remove what would weight us down.

Just what are these weights?

These weights are anything and everything that hinders us spiritually.

They are external things that we can drop or “lay aside”. (Certain relationships are weights, going to certain places can hinder us, and past failures and thinking of them all the time. These are weights, which slow us down.)

To run well you should not be burdened with anything.

And we are called to run the race laid before us.

We are called to walk with God. (Colossians 2:6).

And run our race. (Philippians 2:16)

The two are different:

The walking speaks of the quiet conversation you have as you walk with a friend, day by day. This is our life.

The running speaks of our work, which we are all called to finish.

If you’re a Christian, you are in the race. God has given you a “work, or calling” to do.

(There are many callings: as a witness of Jesus Christ, as a prayer warrior, as a preacher of the Word, as a teacher of the Word, etc.)

Finish it, and you have the reward and honor He has waiting for you, for being devoted to Him. (Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Matthew 25:21)

But God does not save us, without giving us the Holy Spirit to enable us for anything He calls us to.

It is not: You are saved, now do something for Me.

But: You are saved, now let Me do through you. I in you, and you in Me. That is the way we will finish…together.

Paul spoke to the Galatians about this very thing:

Galatians 5:7 “Ye did run well; who did hinder you that you should not obey the truth?”

Men had come to Galatia, to the established church there, saying that being Christians was O.K.,….but if you really want to be….somebody to God,….you have to follow the Mosaic Law, as well.

Then you will be super-great Christians. (Not true)

No, Paul says. You are being weighed down with old traditions, which were laid aside in Christ’s crucifixion, and resurrection.

Don’t be hindered in the race. But finish your course.

Doing the good works that God has ordained or made full provision for….for you. (Ephesians 2:10)

We should all seek the Lord that He might show us, what are the weights which hinder our running. And as He does, let us lay them aside, and go on to “finish our race”.

Hebrews 12:1-2 “Wherefore, seeing we are also compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith: Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Anything from the Holy Spirit will not burden you down, for “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty”. (2 Corinthians 3:17)

Let us lay aside our weights which hinder us; and look to Jesus, Who began a good work in us,……and Who will finish it.

Temptation.

Luke 8:13 “They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for awhile believe, and in time of temptation fall away.”

Here is described some who hear the Word of God; and their hearts respond to it with joy!

They believe for awhile, for they receive the word, not just hear it.

This means that their hearts want Salvation. They understand the promise of it, as well as what it demands of them.

They will to obey it, and go along great…..until something halts their progress.

That “something” is Temptation.

To tempt is to arouse to action or anger; to induce to do something; to persuade.

Temptation comes along and knocks at the door of your life.

Life might be treating you badly. You might already be hurt, or angry, or discouraged (and this is a big one: discouragement)

So the devil, our Adversary, who is behind each temptation, sends “Complaints” to speak to us.

Complaints comes and knocks at our door. When we open to see who it is, he says, “How many times are you going to put up with their ingratitude?”

“You deserve to have that position. You work harder than anybody else!”

“They should never have said that about you. You are so much nicer than they are.”

He says exactly what we want to hear.

Should you listen? (First mistake. Eve was tripped up by listening to the devil, she should have run away at the first suggestion out of his mouth)

Should you open to see exactly what “Complaints” is offering?

Now if we are “sober (serious about standing with Christ),

and vigilant (watchful); we can refuse Complaint’s suggestions.

1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

Because, devour is what the devil wants to do, with this Temptation. To eat up every determination to do God’s Will.

(Believe me, every temptation we yield to; weakens our faith. If you would be strong in the faith, flee temptation.)

Remember, that is what it is: it is a Temptation, no matter what name it comes knocking under.

If we listen, and consider what Temptation is offering; a foothold is made in your heart or your understanding. And once there, they are twice as hard to resist.

Christ Jesus taught His disciples to pray:

Matthew 6:13 “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”

There are two parts to dealing with Temptation:

1. “Lord, lead us not into temptation”. Let me keep asking for the help I need. To lean on You to say and do only what I should.

James 1:19-20 “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear (God), slow to speak, slow to wrath:

For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”

2. “but, deliver us from evil”. For there is a way out of Temptation, once we are in it.

James 4:7-8 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you, cleanse your hands ye sinners; and purify your hearts ye double-minded.”

The first is submit to God: confess your desire to listen and go along with Temptation, and confess your anger (or what ever the sin was).

This submission is a deliberate act of your will, and the real Victory is in the submission.

Then resist the devil: “The Lord rebuke thee.” (We certainly can’t in our own power, but in His name, we can.)

Then draw near to God, and He will draw near to you: This is a military movement. It is going back, to take cover in Christ Jesus, our Rock; and He will protect us, and fight for us in a special way.

Temptations are common to man.

But we can be delivered from them:

1 Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

And God has promised a blessing for all those who endure.

Endure means that you stand with Christ Jesus; and when the temptation is over, you are still standing with Jesus.

(You may fall. But He has provided His forgiveness, and cleansing power to get us up and stand again with Him.)

James 1:12 “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”