O Wretched Man that I am!

Romans 7:24 “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

Paul wrote this, telling of the revelation of God to himself….about his sin. He thought himself a very righteous person….till God awakened him to the sin within.

Now, we too, are wretched…….according to the Word of the Faithful and True Witness.

Revelation 3:17 “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:”

“And knowest not”. Jesus says that this we are….and we are all unaware of it.

Yet the Lord has told me, that any Laodicean,…. that would get a good look at his own heart…..

…..would do something about it!

But the problem is that we think we are rich and increased with goods….and have need of nothing.

(No wonder God warns us of “deceitful hearts”. Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”)

And the devil would keep us blinded to reality, if he could.

(But God also gives us sight,….if we want it. Jeremiah 17:10 “I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins (will), even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” If you really will to do the Lord’s Will, then He will show you, your ways and your heart.)

Revelation 3:18 “…..and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.”

What is the eyesalve?

Some say the Holy Spirit….and of course, He is the agent, always!

But to consider this wretchedness, we must see our side of it.

Luke 8:15 “But that on the good ground are they, which in a honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”

Notice…..”honest and good heart”…..good only because it is honest.

What does an honest heart do?

Having heard the Word, keeps it.

It answers the demands that the Word makes….doing what we are told.

(We must stress everyday obediences…..I believe this is one way the Adversary has deceived the church…..

….waiting for some special time, special place, special Word….when what He wants is us to just do what we’re told.)

We usually do not see the last strongholds of our rebellion, until His love points them out.

But once God has shown you, His love for you….personally, then you are never the same person again.

But all this rests with honesty…….as we will get honest with the Lord…we will see the reality, that is our own heart.

This is a deliberate act of our wills…..we must all come to believing obedience.

Believing what He shows us…..believing what His Word tells us….believing it is for now….today.

I see it!

I know what this life of obedience entails for me.

I desire it!

This is the life I want to live!

I expect it!

I will, by His enabling, live it.

I accept it!

I know I have it, and I thank you Lord for it. I trust Christ for it!

“Faithful is He that calleth you, Who also will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

Would you be delivered from your wretchedness? If so, get obedient.

Let His love open up your eyes and heart to His Faithful and True Witness.

Light versus Darkness.

The first Word we hear from God is….

“Let there be light”

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

Of course this was spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ….He is called the Word.

John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

(How do we communicate our thoughts, our feelings, and our will? By our words…..whatever language you use…..it is in words.

So with God….He communicated His Will from the very first, by His Word, through HIs Son.

And His Will is……that Light overcomes darkness.)

And what is the first thing God communicates to His new creation formed in us?

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.”

When He was here on earth, the Lord Jesus showed more of the Glory of God…..than the creation around us……although that is a very powerful witness to the Godship of God, (Psalm 19:1-3)….

……and more than the personal testimonies of all His servants….Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David, the Prophets, John the Baptist…..

……..for the glory Jesus showed of God, when He was here, was “the brightness of His glory.”

Hebrews 1:1-3 “God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets,

Hath in these days spoken unto us by His Son, Whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by Whom also He made the worlds;

Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”

Jesus Christ showed us God….the Light of the knowledge of God….in His person, in His actions, in those He called,…….and in the Word He spoke then.

John 12:46, 48-49 “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on Me should not abide in darkness.

He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My words, hath one that judgeth him: the Word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

For I have not spoken of Myself; but the Father which sent Me, He gave Me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.”

Light….He showed us Light, the Light of God, by His Word.

He came to shine light into a world of darkness. And He came to shine light into the darkness of our souls…..by His salvation….

….. (as Paul describes it…for himself and others….”To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light…” Acts 26:18)

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.”

Walking in the Light He has given us, we have fellowship….(remember, “fellowship” means “a sharer, a partnership”……The Lord with us, and us with the Lord…..and with fellow Christians.)

And the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin.

This “cleanseth” is in the present tense….it is always there to cleanse away the defilement that the sin causes….and it cleanses the intention of the heart, so we want His Will, not ours.

The defilement of sin…..is the stain of it.

You know when you spill something on a white tablecloth….it can become stained. You clean up the spill….but the stain remains…..and everyone sees what happened.

So it is with our sin.

We were completely forgiven “in Christ Jesus”, the moment we were born again….

……but, the stain of the sins we commit….are there, till we go to Him, and confess them to the Lord.

His blood then cleanses our conscience from this stain.

It is cleansed, so that the influence of that sin,…

is removed from our hearts [for otherwise, they can begin to grow cold toward Christ],……

our minds [as long as we do not confess our sin, there is a draw there…that our minds goes after],…..

and our wills [Let’s face it…there is something which we have put above Christ, and we need to dethrone it].

It is in our going to Him, and getting honest about our sin, in confession, that brings the cleansing of liberty.

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

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

Here is the means for that cleansing from all sin….confession to Him.

It is to know deliverance from the stain of the sin,…….and the power of the sin, in our life.

It is not ever sinless perfection…..but deliverance……

For I want to stress this….

When light comes in, the darkness is driven out.

They cannot dwell together. It may not be completely light….but the darkness of our sin, attitude, intent….is driven back….and the Light of God begins to rule.

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.”

As Christians, we are responsible to know God’s Will…..

Psalms 34:5 “They looked unto Him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.”

James 1:16-17 “Do not err, my beloved brethren.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of Lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

Commit your life in unreserved obedience to Him….you will do His Will….no matter what….

When you come to this point….you are looking ahead….and up to Him.

(I have only talked of the Light of God, here. That is the only Light that will defeat darkness.

There is a light which is “kindled” by us…..”sparks”, God calls this light…for it only starts fires within us….fires of doubt, or presumption….fires of accusation or false peace….fires which bring only sorrow [worry and anguish]….not truth and peace.

Isaiah 50:10 “Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of His servants, that walketh in darkness and hath no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.

If you seem to be walking in darkness,….in Him you will find true Light. [Remember the name of God means all that He is]

But for those who will not come to the Light of God….

Isaiah 50:11 “Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of Mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.”

It is coming to Christ Jesus, that we receive real Light…..for He manifests God’s Light as nothing else….and He is found in the scriptures.

Isaiah 61:1-3 [Jesus quoted this in Luke 4:18-19].

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me; because the Lord hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent Me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;

that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, was

that He might be glorified.”

This is the reason for our existence: that He might be glorified!

Let us come to the Light of God….and walk in that Light….and glorify Him.)

God’s Words

Isaiah 28:9-10 “Whom shall He teach knowledge? And whom shall He make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breast.

For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little and there a little.”

If we would grow up into Christ—go on to maturity—this is the path that we must walk.

We are never “zapped”, But the scriptures speak of “growing in grace”, “grow up in Christ”. And these take time and a little effort.

When we first learned to walk as children,….there were a few bumps.

So our Christian walk is a series of lessons, and experiences…..lessons, and experiences….toward the goal the Lord has for us.

Paul said, “I have learned…”and that should tell us that we, too, must learn from Christ, through the Holy Spirit,…..how to, when to, and what to do.

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: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”

I have never met any Christian that has not suffered defeat…..at least once.

I have never met any Christian that has not battled something….some with terrible battles……some mild….but they would not call it anything but what it is…..a battle.

But our Teacher is the Lord.

And He builds on the foundation of “Come unto Me”(John 6:35)…..our first command.

Then He says, “If any man will…” (Matthew 16:24)

And it is onward from there.

“Precept upon precept”:

Precept means appointed rules, or an authoritative command.

(precepts is used most in Psalm 119:

Psalm 119:4 “Thou has commanded us to keep Thy precepts diligently.”

It is used twenty times, in this psalm. [this is the psalm that every verse but one has a reference to the God’s Word in various forms: law, commands, precepts, etc])

We must realize, that what He says to do, we must do. He is not giving suggestions for our lives…..but He is giving us the authoritative rules to follow, so that we will know the way to go.

“Line upon line”

Line means a cord put together to connect things….and for measuring.

And it is used here to speak of the Voice which has been heard….connecting God’s purpose to His Word…..measuring our response to His Word.

(Psalm 19:4 “Their line is gone out to all the earth, and their words to the end of the world….”. Paul repeats this changing “line” for “sound”, in Romans 10:18)

When Christ was here, the Bible often tells of His “teaching” them. (Matthew 11:1, 26:55. Mark 4:1, 6:2, 6:34, Luke 13:22)

And so He continues to do, to us…..teaching us, through the experiences He leads us into.

Sometimes it corresponds to something in His Word,…..something someone else has passed through as well.

Sometimes He leads us into new paths, which are to strengthen and encourage…..not only us…..but others who hear of it.

And I believe it is true, that no one experiences things, the same way….though they go through the same set of circumstances.

(Loss and grief, for instance. Some are delivered from the waves of emotion, which others pass through. Some are brought almost to the edge of an abyss by the loss of someone….yet saved from falling over.)

Each lesson is to bring us…..yes, that is “me” and “you”…..each of us, to a closer reliance on God…..and a firmer grasp on the reality of His presence and power for me.

That is to grow up into Christ.

Ephesians 4:20-21 “But ye have not so learned Christ;

If so be that ye have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:”

In the battles of life, we need to know what the Lord will do for “me”.

(And on occasion, it is good to make a spiritual inventory of our blessings.

It brings all we are going through into a new focus…..He is able,…..able for me, in this situation;…because He has done great things for me…before.)

Paul, writing Timothy:

2 Timothy 1:6-7 “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance, that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

For God hath not given us the Spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

(“Stir up” here, means to “rekindle” the love, joy, peace, etc of the Holy Spirit within us)

He goes on to say: “….for I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.”

“Persuaded” here means “an inward certainty”.

Paul’s ministry was in the Lord’s hands,…..what he had done (even before being saved on the road to Damascus,…..and in the ministry with the Gentiles),…..what he was doing now (in a Roman prison, and before Caesar),….and what he would do (in the death God appointed for him).

Paul was certain His Lord would keep him in all the things he was to pass through; because “He is able”……and because He had.

2 Timothy 4:17-18 “Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom: to Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Paul had heard the precept the Lord had laid down for him, and been obedient. (Acts 9:15-16, 26:16-17)

He had gone to the Jews first…..and when they rejected Christ; gone to the Gentiles…..which was his calling.

He was a Jew of the Jews, a Pharisee of Pharisees,…..yet followed the Word of the Lord,…..and did the work the Lord had given him,…..faithfully, even to Caesar’s household (Philippians 4:22).

God’s Words to us,……what we read, and what we hear,…….should be the authoritative commands of a Lord to His servant…..leading us to connect His Word to His purpose for us…..measuring ourselves and our response, by it….

….that we too, may have confidence that…..”the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom…..

…to Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord

Psalm 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance.”

Two things are considered……

The nation….

And the people….

…..both in their relationship to the Lord.

Moses, in his conversation with Israel right before he died…..spoke of the faithfulness and mercy of God to His people….and what their relationship to God should be:

Deuteronomy 4:32-33 “For ask now of the days that are past,……since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is or that been heard like it?

Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out to the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live?

Or hath God assayed to go and take Him a nation from the midst of another nation,…….by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that He Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?”

Frankly, Moses is saying:

“Think of it! You have heard God. You have seen His mighty works. He has done this because He loves you….remember His faithfulness.”

Deuteronomy 7:7-8 “The Lord did not set His love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:

But because the Lord loved you, and because He would keep the oath which He had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you….”

Deuteronomy 7:12-13 “Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the Lord thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which He sware unto thy fathers:

And He will love thee, and bless thee,…..”

An older preacher once wrote: “All religion is in effect, love.”

That is…..when we truly believe….when we obey His Word…..when we truly worship….when we truly pray….we are loving the Lord.

I started this with: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people He hath chosen for His inheritance.”

I pray for our nation…..May God bless America….

…..but as the early Christians were subjects of the Roman Caesar;…

…yet had another King, Christ Jesus. So we too, are subjects of our nation’s laws….yet….

We are subjects of the King of kings…..and He rules, not just in outward laws and ordinances….

….but in inward joy and peace.

Let us hold up our nation in prayer for it’s salvation…..from sin and tyranny.

Let us hold up our states,….our communities….and our homes

Faith sees God,….setting the affections of our hearts, and eyes of our understanding upon Him, and His Word.

True repentance is mourning love.

Hungering and thirsting after righteousness is searching love.

We prove our love to God, by obedience to Him.

When we deny ourselves…..we are actually denying our self-love.

Everyday that passes, the Christian should be more and more out of love with sin, and self, and the world…..and more in love with God.

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord…”.

This is truth.

If we become careless or indifferent…..not caring so much….not so diligent in faith….our love has cooled…..become lukewarm…..and we are in danger of seeing God in terms of the world, rather than walking in the sunlight of His love.

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

God set His heart on us…..in Christ Jesus, before the world was created (2 Timothy 1:9)

Love either grows….or is choked off with cares, and worries,….selfishness, and anger.

The first commandment is that we should love the Lord with all our heart and mind, and soul.

The Reason Entire.

In the French…..the reason entire is one word that stresses what everything else is connected to….the whole cause of all.

And God has a “reason entire” for us believers.

Ephesians 2:8-9 “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.”

(Most commentators say that Joshua, the book where Israel fought and got their inheritance God promised them…..is the companion book to Ephesians, the book where the inheritance we have in Christ is spread before our eyes, and we are invited to get it.)

Paul is speaking to Christians about the wonderful blessings we have in Christ, in the heavenlies…..

…..and this is how we are given access to them….by being born again…saved by grace, through faith.

It is all of God, not of us. We do not, and can not, earn our salvation.

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.”

Here is the “reason entire” for our existence. The reason we were brought into being for….to walk in the good works that God has ordained for us.

(When I was a child, and I heard these verses, I thought it strange that God says…..”not of works, lest any man should boast”…..

….then turn around and say we should….”walk in good works…”.

I thought the difference was “bad” works and “good” works. But that is not the case.

When God speaks of “works” in scripture…..there are two different kinds:

The works we do for ourselves, or others….good or evil….it is spoken of as “our ways” in scripture.

Or,

The works we do as obedience to Christ Jesus…..”for His sake”

Again, it comes down to the “reason entire” we do works….for us….or for Christ.)

Here is God’s purpose manifested…..His heart shown.

We are to walk with Him in the obediences He places before us.

Fulfilling the obediences, yes….but also fulfilling and receiving the inheritance God has for us….in and through them.

Think of Israel fighting for their land. Each battle was a victory…..hurrah!

But also it was a victory for the grand Purpose of becoming and manifesting God’s chosen nation!

So with us.

Each victory we have…..small or large obediences that we do for His sake….is a part in the overall Victory of Christ in the earth.

His reason entire…..His cause of choosing us in eternity past….

…..is that we might manifest…..like a spectacle….to an assembled Universe (and that is our Universe around us day by day)….

……that Christ Jesus is worthy to be obeyed, adored, and praised!

1 Corinthians 4:9 “For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.”

Spectacle here means like on a stage…..each, fulfilling their part….that the whole story might be shown to those watching.

But God does not leave us to do it on our own…..no, He “ordains”….or makes full provision for all that comes into our lives.

Let me repeat that…..He makes full provision for all that comes into our lives.

(I have had to have that repeated to me often….especially during trying times.

But God is so good to repeat it to me. He does not tire of training us…..He has not….nor will He ever leave us to ourselves…..unless we choose it.)

The battles are many…..but it is for a grand end…..that we might be the manifestation of Jesus Christ on the earth.

For the world does not really see Him, except through us.

May each of us see and fulfill God’s Purpose, by our obediences, in our day to day battles.

A certain man and his fig tree.

Now the first thing I want to mention here, is that the purpose of every fruit tree is to bear fruit. If it does not,….it is only wood…to be cut down and used that way.

Luke 13:6-7 “He (Jesus) spake also this parable;

A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?”

Here is a man who loves figs! But the tree that he had planted was not bearing any.

It was not just one year, or two…..but three years he had come….hoping that this tree would give him the fruit he loves.

After three years, he feels that this is a useless effort…..”why waste space and time on a tree that will not give fruit?”

So he tells his dresser…..the one who prunes and keeps the trees….to “cut it down”….at least I can get something from the wood.

(But that was not the purpose of this fig tree!)

Luke 12:8-9 “And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.”

The dresser….knowing the longing of his Lord’s heart….asks that he might give it some extra attention….

….some “digging about it”….let us really see where the root of the problem is….has it come up against a rock….or rot?

Then I will dung it…..give it extra instruction and feed it with grace….

…then let’s see what will happen.

How long has the Lord been looking for fruit from us?

In this Laodicean Age, He looks with a longing that is far beyond our comprehension….that the “travail of HIs soul” (Isaiah 53:11) might be satisfied….that His Purpose, for us, might bear fruit.

He can not be satisfied until every last one that He paid the price for is redeemed,…..and bringing forth fruit unto eternal life (that condition of life, for now through eternity).

God is Sovereign…..He has set each of us in our place….for this time….

…to bring forth the fruit He loves:

The fruit of the Holy Spirit within us…”love, joy, longsuffering, gentleness,…” (Galatians 5:22-23)

…And the fruit of another Christian from our witness.

The Lord has come to see if we are bearing fruit….one year, two years, three years….how long has He come to HIs church….and each individual in it?

But now…..

The Holy Spirit (the dresser…through the preaching and teaching of His Word)…will dig around us.

Will we let Him see our hinderance and deal with it?

And the Holy Spirit will….dung us.

Are you really hearing the lessons He is speaking…..and getting the grace He wants to give?

There is still time to bear the fruit of eternity…..for the pleasure of our Lord.

Will we use the means He has ordained….and satisfy His heart?

Or will we be just cut down for wood?

There is purpose in both…..but only one satisfies the Lord heart best.

Just before Christ Jesus was manifested to Israel…..John the Baptist was sent to preach repentance….to “dig about” Israel….and “dung” them….

….giving them a way to prepare their hearts to receive the Messiah.

When the religious rulers came, just to check out his baptism,….John the Baptist said:

Matthew 3:8, 10 “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

And now the axe is laid to the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down,….”

How many times have we heard of late (especially this past year):

2 Chronicles 7:14 “If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways;

then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Have we? For there is the Way of fruit bearing…..taking our place before His throne in humble repentance….and seek His help to make things right in our lives.

Many thanks for reading us.

Jesus and the children

I have always thought that if we would just understand how much Jesus loves our children….we would be more ready to speak to them of Christ, sooner.

Some wait till Sunday school age….some think that they should let them grow up and make their own decisions….

But Jesus said….Bring them to Me….

Children are to be brought by their parents, either in prayer, or by leading them to the Lord.

Each parent will give an account of what they did, to testify of Christ to their children.

Matthew 19:13-15 “Then they brought unto Him little children, that He should put His hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto Me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

And He laid his hands on them, and departed thence.”

Perhaps we are like the disciples…..and think that it is not important to have our children see Jesus….

….but He does.

(Children means “son, or the builder of the family name”. The children of Israel were to be like Israel…..prevailing with God (esp. in prayer)…..

…..we are to be sons or children of God John 1:12….like Him…..building His Name.)

Matthew 18:1 “At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

Isn’t this just like us?

Instead of being concerned about bringing others to Christ Jesus, we are concerned with….who is most important…who is the one to get the most prestigious place and awards….in His kingdom?

Matthew 18:2 “Then Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them,”

Jesus makes a very important move……He puts a child in the place they wanted to have….the most important place.

Matthew 18:3 “And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Whosoever that shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Converted here, means “to be turned back. To be strengthened.”

We do not think of strength when we think of children…..but Jesus goes on to explain….that those that humble themselves….

…….as this little child did when he let Jesus place him wherever He wanted……when he trusted Him completely…..

….the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

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

And if God had stopped there…..we would have said “yes, amen”.

But not considered, that we have a part in this statement.

Isaiah 57:15 “……with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit (to turn and make strong) the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”

To be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, we need to humble ourselves, and be ready to go where Jesus tells us…..as He tells us.

Deuteronomy 6:5-7 “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down and when thou risest up.”

The most important decision we can make as parents, [beside our own decision to receive Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior]…..is to introduce our children to Christ.

We should pray over them…..and with them,…..teaching that Jesus hears us.

We should show them and read them the scriptures…..real stories from the Word….and explain them.

(I, too, like certain children’s Bible books…..but nothing takes the place of actually hearing the Bible.)

We should give testimony…..by thanking the Lord, out loud, for the things He gives. To say grace over our food, and pray when we take a trip…..thanking the Lord for a safe one.

(My Grandmother was an influence in my life where God is concerned. She loved reading her Bible and talking with as many people about the Lord as she could.

I had a great-aunt who also was very spiritual……when my Grandmother and my great-aunt got together…..boy the verses would fly back and forth!

“Well, what about what it says here?”

“Yes, but it also says this here and here!”

Back and forth…..[I thought they were arguing, at times]….

….but the winter my Grandmother could not come to our house…..you should have heard my great-aunt,

“Not coming?! Oh, how I miss the fellowship of our conversations!” And this was from someone who never missed a church service…..she loved hearing the Word.

But personal fellowship with Christians is different. There is something truly strengthening about being able to sit and talk about Jesus, with someone who loves Him. What a lesson!)

The Lord loves our children…..and wants them to know and love Him.

When Jesus came into Jerusalem in His triumphant procession…..everyone shouted, at first….Hosanna!

But the crowds vanished….the shouts weakened…..except for the children:

Matthew 21:15-16 “And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,

And said unto Him, Hearest Thou what these say? (The Son of David was another name for the Messiah)

And Jesus saith unto them, Yea, have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?”

In Psalm 8:2 it is….”Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast Thou ordained strength….”

Again strength in children….for their belief did not waver, nor their praise become silent…..they were strong in that day…..for the Lord.

May our children become converted….and full of strength, trust and praise to the Lord Jesus Christ.

His Pleasure for me.

Revelation 4:10 “The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,”

The glory of having a crown in that day, will be, to cast it at the feet of Jesus.

He deserves all the honor: for He created us, saved us, sustained us, and brought us to the place of all joy: heaven and His Presence forever.

This crown is truly our own; we have “earned” it as a reward for our devotion to the Lord Jesus. We could walk around heaven with it on, if we wanted to.

[There are three crowns spoken of in scripture:

the crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8) to them that love His appearing;

the crown of life (James 1:12) to them that love Him;

and the crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4) by feeding the flock of God, by being examples to the flock.]

But the real glory of having a crown; is to cast it down at His feet.

He has shown me this verse, I read it everyday:

Revelation 4:11 “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.”

He created all things: By His Almighty Power He made something out of nothing.

And for His pleasure they are , and were created.

“Pleasure” here means determination.

If, indeed, we exist for His Pleasure/Determination, what is His Pleasure where we are concerned?

What has He determined for us?

It is to be reconciled to Him…..in all things.

(Is there something you are not reconciled to God, about? I wish to tell you….He comes to meet us….as we come to Him. [the prodigal])

2 Corinthians 5:19-20 “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and have committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

This is to put first things first.

And it is in today’s situation that this must be done.

We can not wait for “better” opportunities, or a “more convenient season”.

“Lord, I am here now, by Your pleasure……In this set of circumstances.

May I adjust to them,…..seek Your will in them,…..and see Your will brought to pass in me, by them. And may I know Your joy and peace in them.”

I had a friend who worked with a person who was over her. That person “disliked” her. And my friend did not really like this person either.

The work almost became intolerable.

But praying about it (she gave a testimony in church about this), my friend knew that she was working with this person for a reason.

“It is your attitude.” The Lord told her plainly. “And when it changes, then I will make the circumstances change.”

This person was really bossy to everyone; almost nasty.

But praying for help, my friend worked at letting this person deal with people their way.

And when my friend’s attitude changed,….

…..she saw this person in a new light: God’s light.

And came to respect the person.

We are created for a purpose. Saved for a purpose. Guided into that purpose, which is His Pleasure/Determination.

Will we be reconciled to Him in all things,…..and our purpose….day by day.

To be Filled with the Spirit of God

John 14:16-17 “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever;

Even the Spirit of truth; Whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

Ephesians 3:17-19 “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye being rooted and grounded in love,

May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.”

To be filled with the Holy Spirit is like a sponge thrown in the ocean. Dried and shriveled, out of the water. Yet it becomes larger and larger; fuller and fuller in the ocean. It can not take in all the ocean, but it takes in more and more; till it is filled to it’s capacity.

When we are born again, we are given the Holy Spirit.

Our dead spirits are enlightened, and made alive by the Holy Spirit of God when He enters our spirits at new birth.

He makes us entirely new. Yet we are babes in Christ.

As babes we are to learn to walk. We stumble often, but we learn, and are soon walking with God.

To be filled with the Spirit of God, is seen in Acts:

Peter and the apostles were filled with the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost.

(Acts 2:4) “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost…”

The Spirit changed these terrified disciples (John 20:19) into men and women which could speak of Christ before a great assembly of people.

Peter, who denied the Lord, now spoke with boldness about him. Boldly telling the crowd that they crucified the Lord of Glory. That in Jesus was salvation; and by none other.

Acts 2:32-33,36 “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we are all witnesses.

Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

Therefore let all the hosts of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Yet, a while later, when they were taken before the council, beaten and threatened; it says they prayed and then were filled with the Holy Spirit again.

Acts 4:23,29-31 “And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said unto them.

And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto Thy servants, that with all boldness we may speak Thy word,

By stretching forth Thy hand to heal;…

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word with boldness.”

Why? because Peter and the disciples did not need the strength and power to stand against persecution, until then.

On the day of Pentecost……he needed the power to stand and speak boldly before a crowd.

Later, it was power to stand before the council.

And now, when things were getting harder, God gives them more of HIs Spirit, to help them.

We are filled with the Spirit, as we are emptied of self; our self-reliance.

Peter, so full of himself, swore he would never deny the Lord; but he did. (Luke 22:33-34)

Peter, emptied of his bluster, and just obedient; waiting on the Holy Spirit, was filled to speak boldly. Three thousand were saved.

Peter, emptied of any thought of being able to stand against persecution, was filled by God’s Spirit to stand against it.

Who knows what our lives will bring? Where will they lead us?

What we can know is: Jesus Christ has made provision for us in His Holy Spirit.

To guide us, to strengthen us, to empower us: just as we need it, and when we need it.

Like the sponge is filled with the ocean; we can be filled with the Holy Spirit of God, as we see our need and yield to Him.

Lukewarm Laodicea makes Me sick!

Revelation 3:16 “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spur thee out of My mouth.”

Years ago, when my husband was going to write a message on Laodicea, he received this title from the Lord:

“Lukewarm Laodicea makes Me sick!”

And right then, he felt sick….almost like vomiting!

That is what the Lord was trying to show him.

This is the way the Lord feels about this church.

Laodicea is the last of the church age, before He comes to meet them in the air….

….and this is just the time that this church should be zealous for Christ and the saving of souls…..

….but they are neither cold or hot, just lukewarm….sickening.

If we were cold…..He could just judge us.

If we were hot…..He would bless us.

Instead we are just sickening to Him.

We are as Israel of old. (Jesus quoted this when He was here about those religious workers. Matthew 15:8-9)

Isaiah 29:13 “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near Me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor Me, but have removed their heart far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the precept of men:”

Several things to mention:

First….they say all the right words….all the praises that they should.

Second,….notice it is “removed” their heart far from Me. He does not just say that is is far from Him…..but that they removed it. They chose something other than Him, to set their heart upon.

Third,….the fear toward God is merely taught to be right.

It is something they know because it has been told them……not that they have.

“Fear” here is reverence and awe that the Lord should have as God….and because of the great things He has done for us.

But they do not.

It was not that Israel could not see….for they had enough Light, they could have known their God….but it was that they would not.

In Laodicea, we too, say the right things….we do the right things….but our hearts just aren’t in them.

We draw near with our lips, but our affections are far from Him…..

….to what are they looking?

And we Laodiceans say we reverence God…..but if we did, we would stop congratulating ourselves on our “richness”….and see ourselves as He sees us:

Revelation 3:17 “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”

In this last of the Church age, we are “poor”……without the love and fear of God…..in experience.

Head knowledge is necessary…..but heart knowledge of God by personal experience is:

You know a certain Bible truth…..because you have experienced that truth in your life.

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

They say they are Christians…..that they do believe.

But their lives show they are “denying the power thereof”.

(I want to stress here…..”power”. I know some people misuse this word…..I have heard it too.

But the Holy Spirit gives us grace….the unmerited favor of power in our lives….He gives us power over ourselves…..and power to face a world which hates Christ, cheerfully…….and power to stand in the evil day.

And the Word of God gives us power…..the power to shape our thinking and our attitudes and our choices…..by our reading, praying over it, and thinking upon it….till the power of it changes us.

It is not a word to use lightly…..for real power belongs unto God only….He can give it to any He chooses….

….but it is real. God’s power to us is to change us…..and by that, influence and change others….toward God.)

If we are different, it is by the power of God in our life….and not by something I have done myself.

Lukewarm Laodicea is correct…..it says all the right things…..

….but our hearts are far from Him.

I believe our error is of the heart.

The Lord Jesus when He was here, said about the hearts of those who came to hear Him…..but not to obey Him:

Matthew 13:15 “For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.”

Their “hearts” are described as “waxed gross”…..so full of other things, there was no room for Him.

Their “ears” are described as “dull”….only half hearing…..nodding: “Oh, yes, that is good”….but not listening for His Word to them.

Their “eyes” are described as “closed”….they have closed….so they would not see the Truth.

If they had seen, and heard Him, with hearts open to and receptive to Him…..

……they would have been converted (most think of this as salvation, but it means to “turn back again”; it is the same word Jesus used to Peter about his three denials Luke 22:32)

……their hearts would have been turned back to God, by Christ….and they would have been healed.

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

For those He loves…..He rebukes…..speaks like a Father to correct us (Hebrews 12:5-6)…

….sometimes softly…..sometimes loudly…..

….but then…

….well, must He also chasten?

His promise is understanding, to be turned back to Him, and healing….will be hear, and repent?