Behold! I Stand!

Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at He door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.”

(We sometimes picture this as Christ standing at the heart’s door of a sinner…..knocking and calling….so they will open their lives to Him in salvation.

But Jesus is standing at the church’s door…..knocking.

For He is outside His own church, in Laodicea……and they are not aware of it…..nor of the cause, in themselves.)

I will come into him and sup with him and he with Me.

This “sup” in the original, means fellowship.

I will fellowship with him, and he with Me.

“Can two walk together except they be agreed?…”. (Amos 3:3)

This also sets forth fellowship.

Creature before the Creator. When the creature acknowledges his creatureliness….then he is ready fo fellowship with his Creator.

(That was one of the temptations for Eve…..”you will be as gods”….

……”you won’t be a mere creature, no! you will be like God….and do what you want!”

And that temptation brought about their sin.)

Revelation 3:18 “I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white rainment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see.”

(Many years ago, I used to read this and think that the Lord was just giving us good advice…..”I counsel thee”.

But no, Christ Jesus, is as our counselor, lawyer before the Court of Heaven. He knows the Judge and what the Judge expects….and therefore tells us what we should do, to stand in good stead with the Judge.)

Gold in scripture speaks of God….we need to get God back into our whole lives….by obedience to Him.

It is the creature (us) taking on the character of the Creator….that He might be seen in us…..instead of our own good opinion.

2 Peter 1:6 “And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;”

Or… God-likeness. Not in HIs divinity and power….but in His character.

“White rainment”. All the garments of self-will…will be consumed at the Judgement Seat of Christ.

Nakedness was what Adam and Eve realized when they had sinned. God clothes us with the righteousness of Christ…..but are we showing His righteousness every day by our obedience to Him?

God has plainly told me to act like the person He has made me…..not like the old me, but like the new creature in Christ.

Sometimes, as Christians, I think we put off Christ and put on the old man….yet,….”but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do.” (Hebrews 4:13)

…..and Christ counsels us to put on Christ….and keep ourselves in His righteousness.

And anoint thy eyes with eye-salve that thou mayest see”.

We are to buy gold from Him, We are to buy the white rainment from Him…..but it does not say that we are to buy the eye-salve.

No, we are to use it….we are to anoint our own eyes with honesty….the eye-salve of God.

Whenever we face the Truth about ourselves….as the creature, before the Creator……the Truth given us by the scriptures or by His Holy Spirit….then His grace (the unmerited favor of power) with be applied.

John 1:17 “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”

This is an act of our will….to get honest with God….and see.

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

Cleanseth is in the present tense…..which takes in past, present, and future sins.

But walking in the light implies obedience….not sinless perfection….but believing obedience.

Psalms 138:8 “The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth forever: forsake not the works of Thy own hands.”

The Lord will perfect….complete…His work in me….praise God for His mercy!

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.”

He is not going to stop working in us…..that we might walk in His character through this world….doing the works He has given us to do.

He is going to keep knocking…..keep speaking…..

Do we want that fellowship with Him, which requires us

The Creator/creature Relationship.

Psalm 139:1-3 “O Lord, Thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsittings, and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off.

Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.”

Here, the All Powerful and All Seeing God is seen, in a personal sense.

You know me: how I am, how I act, what I think, and the way I like to go.

You know me when I have my fits against Your Providence. You see when I rebel, and seek my ways. You see my imaginations.

Psalm 139:5 “Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid Thine hand upon me.”

The psalmist sees that God has “hedged him in”,……so that he knows he is bare before a Holy God!

That all his plans, and schemes are all known to God.

And in what way do we react to this revelation of God, to our soul?

As we often do, the psalmist runs…just as hard and fast as he can. But….he finds he can not outrun God.

Psalm 139:7, 11 “Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from Thy presence?

If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.”

Psalm 139:10 “Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me.”

He ran, but he found…as we often have, that we can not run from God.

We can not escape the Holy Spirit’s conviction, or the fact that God is everywhere.

All circumstances are made by God; we can try a “climate change”, but God can make every climate as “hot” or as “cold”, as where we were before.

[A climate change is where you find yourself in trouble. You “know” that if circumstances were different, you would not have trouble. If you worked with different people, had a better house, had better neighbors, etc. But when you move, you find that the circumstances are different….but you are the same; so the results are the same.]

The right hand of God is the hand of power. The psalmist here acknowledges that God rules, even in the midst of His enemies: He draws to Himself, or pokes, or prods, and moves….till we are willing.

Psalm 110:2-3 “The Lord shall send the rod of Thy strength out of Zion: rule Thou in the midst of Thine enemies.

Thy people will be willing in the day of Thy power,…”

When we begin to will, to yield as creature before the Creator, we can see ourselves as formed according to His plan.

Psalm 139:13, 16-17 “For Thou hast possessed my reins (our internal moral compass); Thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.

Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in Thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!”

You have possessed; or they are Yours by Your creation,…..make them Yours by redemption.

We are a masterwork: one thing formed upon another, each in it’s place.

His eyes were upon us then.

His plan and power was there for me….that plan and power I have been fighting against.

How precious are Your thoughts of me! “O God!” or as in the Hebrew, “O Master”.

Here is where we begin to bow before God, the Creator; as God, our Lord and Master.

I am finally awakened to Your Purpose: and here, I join with You to fulfill the purpose You have for me.

For now we know the way of Victory: It is in seeking after the Lord’s Way.

For as He sought me for my good, so He will continue to do so.

Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

(This “lead” suggests all that God does: bestow, govern, guide.)

To the psalmist (and it can be to us) Creator God has become the One help and Refuge of his soul: for he sees Him as He is…..and not as he feared He was.

Behold!

There are over a thousand “Behold”s in the Bible.

It means “Stop, Look”….or “Look and see here.”

In most of them, God is speaking to His people to “get their attention” about His Word to them.

The first “Behold” was spoken by God to Adam and Eve.

It was for their provision….their supply of good things.

Genesis 1:29 “And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.”

God did not just create Adam and Eve, and set them in a place and say…..

…”Here you go. Find food, and see to things, yourself….do the best you can.”

No,…..as God shows us, in the very first time He spoke to them….

….as their God, He had provided for their needs.

In the last chapter of the Bible….is the last “Behold”.

Revelation 22:12 “And, behold, I come quickly: and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”

To us who read it, or hear it…..Stop and look…..for I am coming again….and all must be prepared for it.

(Actually three times in the last chapter Jesus Christ says: I come quickly)

All through His Word, the Lord speaks to us….”Behold”.

“Stop and Look”. “Look and see here!”

When Jacob ran away from Esau, because he had tricked Issac into giving him the blessing….he lay his head down that first night….and “behold”. (Genesis 28:11-15)

Behold, a ladder reaching into heaven, Behold angels on it, Behold the Lord stood above it,….Behold I am with thee and will keep thee.

Over one hundred times the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, have “Behold” in each of their writings!

Isaiah 7:14 “……Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call HIs name Immanuel.”

Isaiah 59:1 “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear:”

Jeremiah 21:8 “And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.”

Jeremiah 23:5 “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.”

Ezekiel 18:4 “Behold, all souls are Mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is Mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”

Ezekiel 37:2,5,7,11,12. Five times in the valley of dry bones, “behold” is used……when God speaks of raising Israel again.

When Christ is come to earth, there are over one hundred and fifty “Behold”s:

Matthew 10:16 “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves…”

Matthew 20:18 “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man shall be betrayed…”

Luke 17:21 “….for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”

Luke 24:49 “And , behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you:…”

In each of the seven church’s in Revelation He says “Behold”.

For some, it is to “behold” their sin, and seek Him for deliverance…..

….. some it is to “behold” His answer and a promise, for their obedience.

And then He shows us: “And after this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in Heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither….”(Revelation 4:1. And this speaks of the Rapture of the church)

God wants us to “Stop, look…..Look and see, here”.

One is for warning to His people for what is ahead for them.

And one is for instruction.

Amos 8:11 “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:”

Those days are upon us…..let us hear His “Behold” to us….and get about doing the work He has called us to…..

….for the light is waning….and the darkness creeps on….let us hold up our lights….and give light to them that are around us…

One man wrote: When you must descend the stairs….and the way is dark.

(And are we not going down into more and more darkness in the world?)

Then hang on to the hand-rail of God’s love, and walk on.

Light

Genesis 1:3 “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”

The first thing God said to His re-creation, was: Let there be light.

God did not need it. But it was to be in opposition to the darkness prevailing, at that point.

When He created the Sun, the moon, and the stars; He did it so that their light (even the reflected light of the moon) would “rule” the day and the night.

Genesis 1:16 “And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.”

When light comes, darkness has to flee. They can not exist together. One rules the other. Even in the dusk of day, when shadows come on, it is still light enough to see.

The night comes, and God still has a witness in the moon and stars; but then the dawn breaks. It is grey at first, but light comes, and darkness goes.

Darkness is a terrible curse. When the last judgement has sounded; God will cast all those who have refused His Blessed Son into great torment, and darkness.

(Jude 12-13 “These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

Raging waves of the sea foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.”

Most think of the Lake of Fire as light. No, the fire of torment will burn forever, but the darkness will be thicker and blacker than being down in a cave with out light. You can not even see the person standing next to you.)

1 John 1:5 “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

God is light. He is the author of it and the maintainer of it.

He came as Light, to a world darkened with sin, to save all who come to Him, that He might give us light.

John 8:12 “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

John 12:46 “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on Me should not abide in darkness.”

Psalm 36:9 “For with Thee is the fountain of life: in Thy light shall we see light.”

He shines the light into our hearts (Notice, it is our hearts, not our heads. We are to love Him, not just know about Him.):

2 Corinthians 4:6 “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Jesus was the perfect example of God: manifesting His Will and His Goodness….His Light.

So we should follow Him, and manifest the light of God, we have.

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

But He does not just call us; He enables us, for all His will for us.

Ephesians 5:8,11,14 “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”

And then He calls us to walk in the Light, so we will not stumble and fall; either by the wiles of the devil or the influence of others:

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

2 Corinthians 6:14 “Be ye not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?”

To do this we need to protect ourselves with the armor of light:

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

Christ is that light, and we are told to put on Christ….His character, as we put off our self life.

His Word gives us light:

Psalm 119:105, 130 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

The entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.”

When we are obedient to the light we have , by the Holy Spirit,……we receive more.

As we are covered with His Light as armor, we become lights in this world:

Matthew 5:14,16 “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is city that is set on a hill can not be hide.

Let your lights so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Micah 7:8 “Rejoice not against me, O my enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.”

God is Light, He enlightens us by His Holy Spirit when we are born again, and He enables, guides, reveals, and encourages us by the light.

As we walk in His light, we become lights ourselves; as the moon is light, by reflecting the sun.

And when His light comes, darkness flees.

The Lord that healeth thee

Jehovah-Rapha

Exodus 15:25-26 “And he(Moses) cried unto the Lord; and the Lord shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there He made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there He proved them,

And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all HIs statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.”

The first time this Name is given is wonderful!

Israel had just come out of Egypt,….

…..had seen God part the Red Sea….and had crossed over dry shod, while Egypt’s army had been destroyed (all the while they had done nothing….they had not lifted a hand in their deliverance!)

….they had sung God’s praise and danced for joy!

Then….three days into the wilderness they ran out of water…..pretty serious stuff.

But then they came to Marah, here there was water! Hurrah….but no….it was bitter (undrinkable)!

What! Would God bring them out to kill them with thirst?

Of course not! He brought them here to “prove them”.

It is one thing to be ecstatic by circumstances…..and another to plant your faith in God, no matter the circumstances. And this He wanted to teach them.

Trust should be our answer to God when things don’t look good…

Though the people did not trust…..Moses did. He “cried unto the Lord”….where else can I go but Thee, O Lord?

The emblem of a tree cut down and cast into the waters for the people….is a symbol of Christ cut down and cast into the drowning waters of our sin…..

….and the waters were made sweet.

And has not Christ made our lives “sweet” by His salvation? Yes, hallelujah, yes.

He is Jehovah-Rapha. The Lord that healeth thee.

I want to stress….that if you consider the terms “heal, healeth, healed” in the scriptures…..that they are concerning, or for, God’s people.

Healeth means “to mend, to cure, to thoroughly make whole.”

Ps 103:2-3 “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases;”

(Now I want to explain….that sin has caused the sickness and death of man,….not God.

Man was made upright (righteous before God) but he sought out many inventions (devices) Ecclesiastes 7:29…..and we are still inventing or finding them!

God will chasten us….and sometimes has used illness to get our attention:

Hosea 6:1 “Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for He hath torn, and He will heal us;….” but it is always to bring us back to Him.

Psalm 41:3-4 “The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: Thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

I said, Lord, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.”)

There are spiritual, mental, and physical ailments which the Lord heals….(all healing comes through HIs hands)…..whether by normal means or extraordinary means….and He wants us to come to Him in prayer, for healing.

Ps 147:3 “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.”

This has to do with heartaches…..discouragement, depressions, anxieties, stress, and grief.

These deal with our past experiences, attitudes, and our own plans….what we expected.

(Remember, after the Red Sea,…the Israelites thought God would provide with no problems…..

……and when He proved their faith and obedience….

…..they had a “fit”….which caused discouragement, murmuring and failure to trust. What about us? )

Isaiah 53:5 “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.”

“And with His stripes we “are”….(present tense)….healed.”

This is not stated in the past tense….as though the healing had already been done.

This is not in the future tense….as though it was only for a time ahead.

But it is in the present tense which suggests that it is for all time…..for all who will receive Him…

Healed…..a word so complete….it takes in our spirits, our minds, our hearts, our bodies. By His stripes we “are” healed.

Israel ran forward to the springs of Marah…..only to find them bitter….a time of testing from the Lord Who redeemed them.

And when we find our circumstances bitter…..what are we to do?

Look to Jehovah-Rapha….the Lord that healeth thee.

For if the Marah experience that we are going through, is sent to prove our faith….that it may stand and grow….

….we can count on Him to give His blessing and victory in it, if we trust in Him.

Anyone can murmur and complain…..that is the way of this world.

But as Christians, we are called to follow Him wherever He leads…..through the wilderness, by way of Marah’s bitter waters….into the promises and healing He has won for us.

Worldly wisdom

I want to talk a little about the wisdom of this world.

1 Corinthians 3:19-20 “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

And again, The Lord knowest the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.”

All around us, people are talking up…..or talking down….something.

From toothpaste to the state of the Union…..people all want to tell people what is “best”.

Well, I too, am going to tell what is “best”……

…….and what is best is:

……whatever the Lord wants for me,…for you,…for us.

Praise God we are not left to ourselves to see to what is ahead….

…or what is “best”.

No, He gives us direction and peace…..He gives us light and grace for every task.

And that is the best we can ever have.

The examples I am going to give about worldly wisdom:

Goliath…..was a giant. He was nine feet tall. His armor was of brass….the best there was. And he had been a warrior all his life. His life was to kill and maim.

So when the Philistines came up against Israel…..after Israel had chosen a king (king Saul, who was head and shoulders taller than the normal Israelite)….

….Goliath thought himself very wise when he simply went out and challenged any Israelite to battle.

“If I win, Goliath said….you are our servants.

If you win (not going to happen)….we will be your servants.”

Brilliant, he thought!

Who could stand against such an enemy? King Saul did not try….and for forty days the challenge went unmet.

Enter David, a young man of God….who accepted that challenge in the Name of God.

……and all the worldly wisdom of Goliath was destroyed.

God’s power was shown that day…..against all worldly wisdom.

As the scripture said, “For He (God) taketh the wise in their own craftiness.” Yes, He did!

The second example:

In Jeremiah’s day, Nebuchadnezzar had come three times….twice taking the best, most educated and talented artisans and workers.

The third time, destroying Jerusalem’s walls and temple…….taking many as mere slaves.

But because he had heard of Jeremiah’s prophesy…..he brought Jeremiah out of the prison (where the king of Judah had put him)….and let him go free.

Jeremiah could have returned home….could have let the remnant of the people who were left to fend for themselves.

But when they came and asked for God’s Will concerning staying in the land, now that the temple was destroyed…..he sought God’s Word for them….hoping they would finally listen to God’s wisdom,….

…..and do what He said.

Here was the choice: Stay in the land as caretakers of it under Nebuchadnezzar….which was what God wanted for the last of the Israelites…

….or go down to Egypt….where they thought they would be safe from Nebuchadnezzar.

Worldly wisdom said, “Go, and you will live a life of safety.

But God said, “Stay and I will now take care of you here.”

Jeremiah 42:19 “The Lord hath said concerning you, O ye remnant of Judah; Go ye not into Egypt: know certainly that I have admonished you this day.”

But they refused God’s Word…..and were destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar who conquered Egypt. (Jeremiah 43:4-6)

“God knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain”……nothing.

The last example:

When Christ Jesus came to save us…..all the worldly wisdom said that they could kill Him….and be rid of His Words and authority….to save their “place” in the world. (John 11:48)

They paid a good price for betrayal….

….they took Him where He prayed….

….they brought Him to Rome’s Governor…..

….they chose Barabbas instead of Jesus….

….they cried crucify Him….

….they watched as He suffered and died on the cross…

….and they even set a watch of soldiers at the tomb.

But they could not keep God from raising Him up from the dead! And giving Him all authority and power as the Son of Man/Son of God for salvation.

Worldly wisdom tells you…..that you can do….without God.

But that is vain….nothing…

…and leads to all sorts of traps.

But God’s Word is our sure footing.

What He tells us to do is right…..even though it may seem impossible.

Let us believe His Word to us….and walk on.

Isaiah 43:2 “When thou passes through the waters, I will be with thee;

and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee;

when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned;

neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”

Peter’s refusal, and quick acceptance.

It was the Passover time. Jesus had come into Jerusalem to celebrate with His disciples, and they were in the upper room.

Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him that night, and that He would be condemned and crucified. (Matthew 20:18-19)

That this night, everything would change.

Tonight Jesus would speak of many things to them, but before this; He washes their feet. (Yes, He even washed Judas feet. How this should have melted his heart, but it did not.)

John 13:4, 6 “He riseth from supper, and laid aside His garments; and took a towel, and girded Himself.

Then cometh He to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto Him, Lord, dost Thou wash my feet?”

It was Peter’s turn. Frankly, I think Peter should have known that if Jesus did something, it was for a good reason. But Peter was always quick to say or do something!

“Lord, dost thou wash my feet?”

Peter was right. Jesus was Lord. And He was Peter’s Lord.

Because of this, Peter thought it was not right for Jesus to stoop to such a humble position!

(How much He humbled Himself when He came to earth to save us! Do we recognize His humility and love?)

John 13:7 “Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.”

That should have settled it with Peter, but Peter thought he knew better!

(We are the same way, often. We think we know what God will do.)

John 13:8a “Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet.”….

Peter would in the next instance, change his mind, but Peter was looking at the moment, not at the lesson Jesus wanted to give.

Jesus wanted to show that they should take care of each other.

He would wash their feet: the job of a servant. If He would do that for them, they should humble themselves in service for each other.

John 13:8-9 “Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet.

Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.”

Finally, Peter is listening. “…no part with” Jesus? No, no, that was not what Peter wanted.

If a part with Christ came with the cleansing, Peter wanted a full bath! He wanted all the fellowship with Christ he could have.

But a full bath was not necessary.

John 13:10. “Jesus saith unto him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.”

Jesus didn’t say, If I don’t wash you, you will have no part “in” Me.

But He said, you will have no part “with” me.

Jesus told Peter he was clean “every whit”, except for the cleansing of his feet.

“In Christ”, speaks of our being born again.

“With Christ”, speaks of our fellowship with Him.

Jesus wanted His disciples, especially Peter, to know that fellowship with Him is maintained by our letting Him cleanse our “feet”, or our walk.

(That is why the feet were washed when coming into a house, because, having walked on the dirt roads, their feet would be dirty.)

John 13:12, 15 “So after He had washed their feet,…and was set down again, He said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”

Though Jesus would be taken, tried, and crucified….raised, and ascended…..yet we are to get that cleansing that is through Him everyday….and bring others to Him for cleansing, as brothers and sisters in Christ.

If we are to have fellowship with Christ, and the strength that comes from it, we must be cleansed, daily from our sins, and defilements….for we walk in a “dirty” world.

Christ cleanses us still…..

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

And we are to help others to come to Christ for cleansing.

If we are born again, we do not need a full bath; but the cleansing of our daily walk.

So that we can walk with Him, and with our brothers and sisters in Christ…in righteousness.

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

Almost Persuaded

“Almost persuaded now to believe,

Almost persuaded Christ to receive;

Seems now some soul to say,

Go, Spirit, go Thy way,

Some more convenient day, On Thee I’ll call.”

Acts 26:28 “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”

We have heard it said, “Almost does not count”;….and it doesn’t.

To almost do…..is not to.

To almost say….is not to.

To almost anything……is in the end, not to have anything done.

Jesus warned:

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

To “seem to have” is like “almost”;….it is nothing for eternity.

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

We have been called to “walk” in those good works that God has placed before us, in our lives.

Yet often we shrink back, hesitating to begin that first step…..which is simply to obey His Word to us.

“Almost persuaded, come, come, today;

Almost persuaded, turn not away;

Jesus invites you here,

Angels are lingering near,

Prayers rise from hearts so dear, O wanderer come.”

Acts 26:26-28 “For the king knoweth of these things, before whom I also speak freely; for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.

King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”

King Agrippa knew the facts…..they were not called in question.

So where was the hesitation?

To “hesitate”, is to simply and knowingly wait for some other force to help you decide….it is to wait for something to happen to force your hand……to make you do, what you know you should do……but have not, as yet done.

Agrippa’s hesitation was sad…..

….above everyone else there, in that hall, he could do or believe what he wanted…..he was a king, a honored guest there,…what he would do, would not be questioned or scorned….but honored….

Yet, he was “almost” still.

What about us? Isn’t it time we stop hesitating and start standing with the Lord, in our everyday lives….before all we meet?

For in those few words, lies the direction we must go to enter into eternal life…..”with the Lord”….the Lord Jesus Christ.

(and eternal life is a condition of life here, and now…..as well as for eternity in heaven)

Acts 26:29 “And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.”

Paul, even with his bonds, had more freedom then anyone there.

He was free, to be and say what the Lord had called him to……

……which was to speak to any and all of the glorious gospel of Christ Jesus;…..who died an accepted sacrifice for our sin…..and was raised, of the Father, the third day….and who is even now at the right hand of God interceding for all who believe on Him.

We, as His born again ones, need to stop hesitating….waiting for Him to push us…..

….waiting for a better argument or reason to do.

It is now…..that you receive His Word or reject it.

Pray about it…..think about it…..however you say it….it can come to, putting it off….till, it is never done.

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

This knowledge of Christ Jesus is not head knowledge,……king Agrippa had that;…..but ended in “almost persuaded” only.

This knowledge that leads to life, is heart knowledge……which comes by receiving Him, once for all…….and His Word personally, day by day.

An old preacher said, “We have gotten the message backwards. We tell people to ‘read the Bible’, or ‘go to church’;……..when the Bible plainly says we are to receive Christ Jesus, before we can do anything that will please God.”

Have you heard His voice to you, calling you to come…..to stop hesitating…but instead, “to altogether” believe, and receive Him?

Then do it…..just do it.

“God, be merciful to me a sinner; and save me for Jesus sake. I receive You into my heart and life, Lord Jesus.”

Almost persuaded, harvest is past!

Almost persuaded, doom comes at last!

Almost can not avail; almost is but to fail;

Sad, sad, that bitter wail, Almost but lost!”

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

Notice that this peace is not the result of our self-determination….but it is given by the Lord.

“Thou” wilt keep him.

Perfect peace is undisturbed peace. The word “mind” here is the imagination…and how many times it can run away with us.

But when our hearts and minds are occupied with Christ….His peace flows from Him to us….and sustains and holds us….no matter the situation.

One of the chief causes of worry is looking to the circumstances around us….

…(I preach on “leaning to our own understanding” often, because I have, and I know what it has cost me.)…seeing the storms and the winds.

But this robs us of peace.

What did Jesus say when He stilled the raging sea?

“Peace, be still”.

Mark 4:39 “And He arose, and rebuked the winds, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”

God’s peace is more than absence of strife……it is a secure place, in mind and heart….a right place before God.

Mark 4:40 “And He said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have not faith?”

And how many times could He say this to us? (For me, too many)

Why did He charge them with no faith? Because faith sees God, and estimates the situation from there…..

…..the disciples saw the power of the waves and wind….and estimated the situation…wrongly. (Though they finally came to Jesus for help)

“…because he trusteth in Thee.” This God wants from us:

Philippians 4:6-7 “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

As we trust (hang on to) our Heavenly Father, His peace will put up a guard around our hearts….emotions and affections…so that they will put Him first….

….and our minds….imaginations….will be kept from running away from the Light into speculation.

There is no truer place of peace than in doing God’s Will.

Isaiah 48:18 “O that thou hadst hearkened to My commandments! Then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:”

God’s plan for HIs people in every age is:

…to bring them into peace with Him….by salvation

Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

…to bring them into peace with themselves….and how out of joint we often our with our bodies, our looks, our attitudes, our abilities….

Luke 21:19 “In your patience possess ye your souls.”

…to bring them into peace with the circumstances which come to them.

Philippians 4:11-12 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”

Peace should be our way of life. Not just absence of strife….but but that secure place in mind and heart…..our right place before God.

Peace like a river…..flowing out of God’s good heart into yours.

And your hand, taking hold on the Almighty, through trust….

…what a Rock we have!

Do we want it?

Your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope

1 Thessalonians 1:1-3 “Paul,….unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ:….

We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;

Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;”

This is the first written letter by the Apostle Paul.

Paul, Silas, and Timothy after they had come out of Philippi, they went through some other cities and came to Thessalonica. (Acts 17:1)

As soon as the Word of the gospel was preached….some believed. But others began a persecution against the believers…..which was continuing, even when Paul wrote this letter.

The Thessalonians listened eagerly to the Word of Christ, for the gospel came to them in power.

(Unless the Spirit of God accompanies and bless the Word of God, it will do no good….for God uses our tongues, not angel ones to speak…and show the power of His gospel in their lives)

When Christ was preached, they were fully convinced of the truth of it and were willing to leave all for Christ.

It was continuing persecution…..yet they did not hesitate to follow Christ….for they saw Paul under persecution and slander….

…..even when he preached for men’s salvation….and they imitated him, in his faithfulness to Christ….and so they imitated Christ in His devotion to God the Father. (1 Thessalonians 1:5-6)

(Paul’s affection for the churches is seen in how many times he mentions prayer for them. In this letter alone he mentions prayer for them three times….1 Thess. 1:2, 3:10, 5:23)

He does not speak of them as the assembly of God in Thessalonica….

…..but the assembly (company) in God the Father….stressing a family of God.

Through Christ these Thessalonians had received new life—from the Father God…Who had become their Father….”in the Lord Jesus Christ.”

That divine life is the force which enables true sight, and moves our affections and thoughts toward righteousness. It is a living force.

(Man has turned his back on God….having listened to the devil.

And what can call us away from that?

It must be Christ’s gospel, that will undo the work of Satan, while at the same time showing us ourselves and the gulf between us and God…..

….a gospel which humbles us in repentance before God.

The cross does both things.

When we see Christ’s cross, and what He has done for us.

For because of Christ’s cross, God is no longer against us….but for us. This draws us to believe and obey Him….in all situations. This is that living force which comes directly from God, through Christ.)

So Paul thanks God for their faith, love and hope…..which are results of this divine life within.

Their work was by faith….their labor came from the internal certainly of God as their Father…..relationships have privileges and responsibilities….

….and their love burst forth to the Lord Jesus, Who through HIs sacrifice, purchased their place in God’s family.

….and they had hope….that confident expectation that God would do what He said….

…..”and to wait for HIs Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”

These Thessalonians believed….and then became witnesses in all places they went.

The testimony of their faith was famous:

1 Thessalonians 1:8 “For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.”

They spoke out, even in persecution of the One living and true God….and they waited in joy and thankfulness to Christ who came to save them from the wrath to come.

In this letter Paul speaks of the coming of Christ in the air….” to be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1Thess. 4:15-17)

But his main goal is to encourage them to….”abound more and more.” (1 Thess. 4:1).

1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:

To the end He may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.”

(Notice how many times Paul mentions the relationship of Father to children….the love relationship of family)

We need to be thankful and encouraging to all we are responsible for…..but always pray and work for them to “abound”….as Paul did here.

(Abound here means to have over and above.)

Paul’s prayer then was that they should abound in the faith, love and hope that they had…..to continue on….

….for there are many promises of His Word we have not yet apprehended.

….for there is more fruit of the Spirit to bear and have in your life.

….for there are many things which bring doubts and fears…..continue and abound, that you may have all He has for you.

And should we not “abound” in the faith we have received?

Should we not grow in love to God, and our family of God?

Should we not continue to “look up…for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28)?

Let us pray for each other….for the church and it’s Godly preachers and teachers….and for those who have not yet received our blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.