Therefore will the Lord wait

The term “therefore” suggests a reason…..God always has a reason when He waits to answer us.

Isaiah 30:18 “And therefore will the Lord wait, that He may be gracious unto you, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgement: blessed are all they that wait for Him.”

The word “wait” is never a good term to us…..we want things now….or soon, very soon.

We think in terms of what we are praying for…..

But, in the Lord’s sight…..our waiting, is an experience in itself.

What will we do, if we have to wait on Him?

Matthew 15:21-22 “Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.

And behold a woman of Canaan came out of the same coast, and cried unto Him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, Thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.”

Jesus had gone up into the northern coasts of Palestine….away from the Pharisees and scribes which say they want to honor God, yet tried to get around it (Matthew 15:1-9)……….when a woman came and cried for help for her daughter.

Now it says here she was a “woman of Canaan”

(She was probably a descendent of the Canaanites…..which should have been destroyed when Israel came in to possess their land almost nine hundred years before.

In Mark, she is called a Greek—Gentile, a Syrophoenician….conquests through the centuries, and intermarriages had given this Canaanite descendent, that nation.)

Matthew 15:23 “But He answered her not a word, and His disciples came and besought Him saying, Send her away, for she crieth after us.”

This woman is fervent in her request…..but Jesus waits…

She had cried for mercy to the Lord, Thou Son of David……but He would not speak to her….neither of mercy, nor would He send her away.

He was waiting….

This woman had no claim upon His mercy….period, full stop.

Mercy is the prerogative of the Almighty. It is the benevolence and kindness of God to sinners.

That He has chosen to give it, temporally to all….the sun, the rain, the growing season, etc….gives no sinful creature the right to claim it.

But she was asking a greater mercy……. for salvation for her daughter…..salvation from demon obsession. Grievous, to be sure.

She came to the right Person…..she understood His claim of Kingship, and she believed He was……..but she came asking for mercy on the grounds of His being the Messiah, the Son of David, to come…

…and for this Canaanite woman….that was not the way to come to Him.

Matthew 15:24 “But He answered and said, I am not sent, but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

He was saying…..”If you are coming to Me as Messiah…..I can not help you….for My work as The Son of David, the King to come…..is to Israel, alone.”

And He waited….

He had not spoken directly to her….but to His disciples….

…..but He had opened to her, if she was listening…..a door of opportunity.

No answer, yet….but something.

(How many times, have we missed opportunities from the Lord, to hear what is wrong in our prayers…..or what is missing?)

Matthew 15:25 “Then came she and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, help me.”

This was a big step forward, for now she came for mercy….on the right basis….that He is Lord….her Lord.

But still He waits…..

…testing, if the word “Lord” is truth to her.

Matthew 15:26-27 “But He answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.

And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from the Master’s table.”

I have put these two together….to me they always are, or should be…..

He finally answers her……not in the way she wants….but in a way to draw out from her…..if she really trusts Him as Lord…..faith in Him,….and His Will for her and her daughter.

….this is a big, big leap of faith…….”Truth, I am a dog……but even a crumb from Your table, Master, will be enough to satisfy a dog like me.”

(James 4:10 “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.)

Matthew 15:28 “Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.”

Faith keeps God before our eyes….His love, His mercy, His truth, His power….and because she had faith in the Lord Jesus,…..she took her place at His feet and received the blessing she cried for.

In reality, we are all unworthy of the least of God’s mercies…..but praise God, they are not given because we are worthy….

….or because we “cry” for them….

….but because He is Merciful. Because He is all grace. Because He is worthy….as the Master of His own House….

…..He often waits to be gracious, to bring out from us, more faith, a subjection to truth, and a witness to others of His mercy.

Job 13:15 “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him:….”

(Many years ago, when I was a young man, I had “ran” away from God….He could not treat me the way He was! [So silly was I.]

I was dealt with, again, and again….and finally came back to Him….getting forgiven, and restored.

But my guilt was great….and I was depressed often.

One day, the battle for my very soul’s peace, raged….

….the devil’s accusations (all very true, but forgiven)….came to my mind, again and again.

…..and my attempts at standing in the forgiveness I had gotten were so feeble….

It was not going well, I felt bruised all over….and it seemed as if everything I said was beginning to sound worthless, even to me….

Again, I will say, we do not receive mercy, because we are worthy of it….or because we cry for it….but because He is the God of all Mercy….and bestows it at the right time….

I was just about to give up….when God sent me a mercy….in the form of this verse sounding in my ears like a joyful trumpet sound:

“Though He slay me, yet will I praise Thee…..”

Whatever was ahead for me….(no, I had not been called to preach yet)…I would praise Him for saving me…period, full-stop.

And the Adversary was gone….the battle over.)

God waits to be gracious for our good….although sometimes it does not feel that way.

Yet we must hang on to our faith…..let it guide us to Him as “Lord”; and take our place before Him, leaving the grace and mercy come….when He sends it.

Our Christian life: sometimes a swinging bridge.

Our Christians life is sometimes cruising along….no problems. Peace is our pillow and fellowship is easy.

Other times, it seems as if one trouble goes, and another pops it’s head up….bigger and louder than the last….

…so it was with Paul.

Acts 14:1, 3 “And it came to pass in Iconium, that they (Paul and Barnabas) went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.

Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of His grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.”

This is wonderful! Coming into the city, they told about Jesus Christ, and many believed….but then….

Acts 14:2,4 “But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.

But the multitude of the city was divided:…”

When Christ comes there is always a separation. Those who receive Him, and those who don’t.

(As Moody said, “The whosoever wills, And the whosoever won’ts.)

Sometimes, from the unbelievers, there is “an assault”….whether by word, or action.

Sometimes there is just mocking.

Here, they were going to, “to use them despitefully, and to stone them.” (Acts 14:5)

So they left Iconium and went to Lystra and Derbe.

There they preached the gospel….

(You will notice, that whatever their situation….the gospel is always first.

Whether welcome, or persecution….they are there to tell about the Lord Jesus, and His Way of Salvation.)

Acts 14:8-10 “And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked:

The same heard Paul speak: who steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,

Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.”

A man, born disabled, who had never walked….heard Paul and believed on the Lord Jesus.

Paul saw his faith in Christ, and spoke to him,…..to in faith, obey the Lord’s Word….and stand.

And the man did,….and leaped, as well, proving the complete healing of his legs and feet!

Praise and amazement, pour forth for Paul and Barnabas, from the people around who saw this miracle!

The people think they are gods! And would have done sacrifice to them, had they allowed it!

(May I say, that miracles are to point any to Christ….not his servants.)

But Paul and Barnabas quickly spoke against it…..tearing their clothes (a sign of mourning and anguish)….and preached the Living God, to all who were come around them.

Acts 14:15, 18 “…..Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the Living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:…

And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.”

What an announcement of God’s power!…..and so many people hearing the gospel!

But a few days later:

Acts 14:19-20 “And there came hither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium (the place they wanted to stone Paul and Barnabas)

who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.”

Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.”

As long as Paul was alive, his work was to preach the gospel….and so he did…

Acts 14:21-22 “And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra (where he had been stoned), and to Iconium, and Antioch, (the places enemies had been sent out)

Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”

Paul’s testimony here, would have been invaluable. Here was the man, stoned….standing and continuing to preach and testify in the cities, to the people who persecuted him….yet he preached Christ, there, still.

Our Christian lives are full of blessings, and sufferings…..

….sometimes at the same time…..

But our object should always be Christ….

….whether we preach, teach, witness, or pray….

….we should manifest Christ….His gospel…..and His life, through us.

I started this with: Our Christian life: sometimes a swinging bridge.

Because if you have ever been on one,……you know that to cross the expanse….whether river, ravine, or between mountains,…..you want to walk slowly….taking each step as it comes….not looking down….but out.

This is your part….and you can not count on what others do.

(I have been on one where my brothers actually swung the bridge back and forth on purpose….yes, I thought I was going over….it was terrifying to me.)

But, we can not dictate other’s behavior…….hard lesson!

But continue to walk….each step….hanging hard on to God…..till we reach the other side.

Paul and Barnabas had a gospel to preach….each step they did as they were told….which did not exclude persecution….but simply gave more witness to “the Living God” which guides, protects, and empowers His servants.

Are we taking full advantage of our Living God? And His grace to us?

Job 5:19 “He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.”

(This was spoken to Job, who knew troubles….yet understood “the evil” comes to our hearts, from our wrong attitude to the troubles….not from the troubles themselves.)

We are assured of His presence in all the troubles……and His deliverance (personally, within ourselves……or from the circumstances) will come….at His time…and through the means He sees fit.

I do not know the circumstances you are going through…..but I know they will change….whether today or tomorrow….life, our Christian life, is always a walk forward….yet always in God’s hands.

The Knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord

Philippians 3:8 “Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them by dung, that I may win Christ,”

As the eye beholds an object, an image of it is introduced and impressed upon our minds. It becomes a part of our memory.

So, the eye of faith, as it looks and beholds Christ, than an image of Him is formed in our souls.

His image is formed on our minds….we think of Him, often.

Formed on our hearts….our affections are moved toward Him.

Formed on our wills….we want to will after Him.

The knowledge of God we are talking about is the personal knowledge of fellowship and communion between our soul and the Lord Christ.

(Our soul is made of three parts of our personality: our minds, our hearts, and our wills.

The way we think, our emotional make-up, and our determined actions.)

Faith always shows us God….and so, through the light of the Scriptures—His Word,….and by the Spirit, we are able to take what is communicated to us by faith, and “see” God.

This is not imagination……but faith, giving us the substance of what we believe.

Faith shows us Christ…..and when Christ is seen….change comes to our lives.

2 Corinthians 3:18 “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image (character) from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

(Notice this is all about “the Lord”….my Lord)

Faith has so great an influence on us, that it changes the heart’s desire into the same image (character) of Christ.

Let’s look at a few examples in the faith chapter: Hebrews 11.

There was Abraham and his call….

Hebrews 11:8 “By faith Abraham when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whiter he went.”

There was Moses and his leaving the riches and power of this world…

Hebrews 11:24-26 “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaohs’ daughter;

Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.”

Then there was Rehab, giving up all she knew, to believe and stand with God’s people…..

Hebrew 11:31 “By faith the harlot Rehab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.”

You see faith shows us Christ….and He leads us out of what would hold us back,…from ourselves or the world……and leads us on with Him.

He is the goal….and also the great apprehender:

Philippians 3:12 “Not as though I had already attained, neither were already perfect (complete): but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.”

Christ, sending forth His faith into our hearts by the Holy Spirit…..apprehends…gets hold of us (praise God that it is His holding us, that is the power…..for if we got to heaven by us holding Christ….we would never make it)…..

….constraining us by His love,…..wooing us by His Spirit to keep coming to Him….and teaching us by His Word, how to do His Will.

He apprehends us….and gives us the desire to, as Paul, to follow after to get what He has for us.

Paul said, “I pursue with vigor”.

[As the Song of Solomon says:

Song of Solomon 1:2 “Let Him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth: for Thy love is better than wine.”

First, His love is shown….we follow after with our hearts.

Song of Solomon 1:3 “Because of the savor of Thy good ointments Thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love Thee.”

Then, His Name is shown and all it means to us…..and we follow after with our minds. (“Because” is reasonable knowledge)

Song of Solomon 1:4 “Draw me, we will run after Thee: the King hath brought me into His Chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in Thee, we will remember Thy love more than wine: the upright love Thee.”

Then our wills are drawn to run after the King in our wills….to make a determined decision to yield to His rule…….and to receive the intimate knowledge of His peace and joy in the Spirit (wine).]

I pursue with vigor…..I want Him….more and more of Him….this is the exercise of rejoicing in God,…..

Philippians 3:1 “Finally, by brethren, rejoice in the Lord….”

It is an exercise, because all our soul’s faculties are involved:

To rejoice, we must will it……for it is God’s Will that we rejoice in Him.

Our minds must understand He is all good……then we are enlightened to rejoice, now.

Our hearts, then will look to Christ Jesus, and rejoice…..in Him.

That is why, rejoicing is always…..in the Lord.

The Adversary, the devil…often tells us that we can not rejoice in what we have…..because we do not have what we should have.

Or that rejoicing in the good things now, is not necessary….because there are always greater things coming.

But the Holy Spirit will teach us, by faith,……to exercise our minds, hearts, and wills to receive the tranquility of Spirit,…..the foundation of a mind stayed on God,…..and willed determination to follow after….to pursue with vigor….to exercise rejoicing in my Lord.

The Path of the Just

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

When the sun first begins to break, the sky begins to be light. Then the sun comes up, and in the east, the light comes streaming.

But there are shadows, for the light shows all that stands in the way of complete light.

Song of Solomon 4:6 “Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.”

Until the day break, and the shadows flee away. When the shadows are gone, then there is nothing between us and the Son of God, our Light source.

Our Lord, here, is inviting us to come with Him further into the Light of His love, so even the shadows “flee” away.

Now shadows are not the thing itself, but the impress of it. But it is in darkness.

What this means is that the sin itself has been taken care of:

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.”

But the influence of the sin, or the resentment because of the consequences of the sin are still there.

These are the shadows.

They are darkness, but not the substance of sin.

Many people are confused about this.

They think that if the sin is confessed, and they know they are forgiven; then all the other emotions concerning the sin, are gone to.

Suppose you have a habit of lying: you have hurt your family, people at work, etc. by your habit.

Then you are given real light about this, and you confess it.

(Perhaps you say, why would we need light about lying. Surely everyone knows it’s wrong.

Maybe they know in a general sense, but the offense of lying when it lays upon my personal heart, is an eye opener.)

But even though you have confessed your sin, and asked God to cleanse you from the desire and habit of lying;…..the reason for it is still there to face everyday…..the desire to look better than you are….

…and that “shadow” needs to be dealt with.

These are the shadows, the image of the sin, though not the sin.

The trouble with Shadows is that the influence of our Adversary, the Devil can be felt through them.

But how do we deal with shadows?

First, it is the work of the Spirit of God within you to show you light. Light to see and deal with the attitudes surrounding the sin.

Philippians 3:13-14 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

There is putting behind,…..and there is reaching forth.

This requires us to be in subjection to the Holy Spirit, for He asks you to be obedient to the Light He gives in these matters.

These shadows that remain, are shadows only; but they are there and the influence of the the Adversary can be felt through them.

They are there because of the choices we have made, true; but we can also make choices which remove them, by coming more into the Light.

Shadows do not exist in light

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

We are to go to the high noon of Light with Christ Jesus. Many choose, instead to stay in the shadowy existence of the fear of the truth.

But don’t.

God’s Light shows truth, yes, and when we see the reasons of our actions, it gives us the ability to deal with what is really behind the: “why we did what we did”.

Let’s face it, we all have reasons we act the way we do. But have you dealt with the reasons? Or just the actions?

True Light; the Light of Life, deals with both. It frees you from both the sin and the reason of the sin.

And gives you joy.

John 16:24 “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”

Joy is one of the grandest attributes of God, Himself.

Joy is not dependent upon the people or events around me.(That is happiness, which has to do with how things or people treat us.)

Joy springs from the presence of God in my life, for He is the abundant power of good, and peace.

In this, we know the purifying of the Holy Spirit, assuring me that I am right with God.

I am made right with others,

And, importantly, I know that I all is well between me and myself.

(How many things come from the disappointment we have about ourselves? How many times have we hated what we have done, but refused to look at it? How many times have we hidden our hurt behind a phony face of ridicule?)

These all can be brought out into the Light; and put behind us. We can be free from them.

The Joy of the Lord can become a force in my life.

It is a great light, illuminating the whole of my being; dispelling the darkness, and despair that dominates so often. He has it for us, in His Light.

The Day of the Lord

Amos 5:18 “Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord! to what end is it for you? The day of the Lord is darkness, and not light.”

Amos was from Judah, who was sent by God up to the northern kingdom of Israel….to preach against their sin….giving them time to repent and turn back to God.

(Judah was made up of the tribes of Judah, and Benjamin. Whereas, Israel was made up of the other ten tribes)

Amos 5:6-7 “Seek the Lord, and ye shall live; lest He break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Bethel. (Bethel was one of the places they had put a golden calf….calling it the Lord.)

Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth,”

The Israelites at this time were very prosperous….so much so, that they were known for their large and fancy sacrifices,….although God did not accept them.

Amos 4:1-2 “Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, (they were herdsmen, known for their beautiful and fat cows), which are in the mountains of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink.

The Lord God hath sworn by His holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that He will take you away with hooks, and your prosperity with fishhooks.”

God would rather that they taken their sacrifices…..down the street to the poor….for He was not pleased with the sacrifices of thieves.

Amos 5:11-12 “Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat;…

For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate (the place of the city court) from their right.”

Amos was sent toward the end of Jeroboam’s reign…..within thirty years, all Israel was killed or carried away captive….for refusing to hear God’s warnings, through His prophets…

You think…..thirty years!….they had plenty of time to hear God’s Word…..to repent….to change their ways….

….and so have we, had….are we hearing what the Lord is telling us?

2 Kings 17:13-14 “Yet the Lord testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep My commandments and My statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers…..

Notwithstanding, they would not hear, but hardened their necks….”

Revelation 3:18-19 “I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich;….

(The pure “gold” of God’s life in my life….no dross of self-glory to dull or tarnish it)

…and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear;….

(He clothes us with His righteousness, which empowers us to do the righteous acts we are to be walking in….with Him. Ephesians 2:10, 1 John 3:10…..and if we are not walking in them?….we are naked.)

….and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see.

(The eye salve of honesty with God).

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

He loves us…..so He rebukes….speaks first;……then chastens….so we will awaken to what He is showing us.

But as I said, Israel was very prosperous…..living it up….believing the bigger the sacrifice….the bigger the blessing….

….when what God wanted, was righteousness.

He wanted His people to act according to His commandments of righteousness, brotherly kindness, and mercy.

Amos 5:22, 24 “Though ye offer Me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.

But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.”

This is what they should have been doing…..judgement, the knowledge of what is good in God’s sight, and wrong to Him.

This should have been as the rain on a thirsty ground….being right in their actions, to all people—rich and poor.

And righteousness should have been flowing out, so that all Israel would have been cleansed and turning to God.

About that time….the phrase: the day of the Lord, was given.

It has to do with the day that the Lord will come and deliver Israel from their enemies….in the last days. (The tribulation period)

But many appropriated it to any time of trouble….believing that since they were God’s chosen people, that God would have to honor His promises………forgetting God’s commandments….as though they could ignore those.

Amos 5:18-19 “Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord! To what end is it for you? The day of the Lord is darkness, and not light.

As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall and a serpent bit him.”

He was telling them that to claim His protection, while refusing Him…..was ridiculous!

They talk of worshipping God, but it was a god of their own imagination…..not Him.

They were not walking in Light….but darkness, and self-deception.

God told them, if the “day of the Lord” came to them,…as they were, now…..He would not see them as His people, but as enemies….

They would feel as though a lion was chasing them…..so they run the other way, expecting relief…..when a bear would meet them.

So they run into the house….ahhh, safe….and put their hand on the wall for support….when a serpent would bite them.

How this should have shown them, that God will not be used….

…..He is God….His promises and commands go together….and they were to “seek Him”.

Amos 5:8 “Seek Him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The Lord is His name:”

There were a few, that listened to Amos….but most were swayed by their prosperity…..

……how could God be angry with us, when we are so successful?

And so they refused His rebuke…..to awaken them.

And what is the Lord saying to His church…..even while standing outside of it?

Revelation 3:20 “Behold, (Look and really see)

I stand at the door, and knock:

(This is certainly the door of the Laodicean church….and is also the door of every believer’s heart)

if any man hear my voice,

(He is speaking….through His Word, through His Spirit, through His preachers, and teachers…to any who will hear HIs rebuke and call)

and open the door,

(this is to open the door of our life….and to be receptive to Him…to His commands, as well as His promises)

I will come into him,

(It has often been said that the door latch is on the inside….we must open up to Him…..but, though we have been cold, or lukewarm and miserable, poor, blind…….He will come in to us, in authority and power…….when we open to Him.)

and sup with him, and he with Me.

(This is the fellowship, which dining together means….remember the “come and dine”……Jesus call to His disciples after His resurrection….and the restoration of Peter, after His denial. John 21:12-19)

Through the years, there has been a lot of controversy over “the day of the Lord”….

I believe we should look for Him….His Rapture certainly could come at any time….but the most important thing I need to see, is:

Am I ready to stand before Him? Have I done His commands, as well as seek His promises?

Do I love Him? Or just what He gives?

Today, He is still speaking, calling us to awaken to His Voice,….and His counsel…..will we?

Standing before the God Who is there.

Romans 11:29 “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”

If the Lord has ever called you to a ministry or work (we call it work, because so many people feel “ministry” is only for preachers), He has not changed His mind concerning you.

Our whole existence should be: to will to please our Lord, as His creature and servant.

As creatures, we are responsible for all He has given us.

Who I am and what I am, rests with the God before Whom I stand.

I can not make myself what I am not; nor can I excuse myself for what I have been.

But I can give myself over to the molding of the Holy Spirit within, and do God’s Will in obedience, now.

He will work within the increase of faith, hope, peace, and joy that I need, as I yield to Him.

It is: I stand, as His servant, before Him in each situation.

It is not as someone else, or someone I might be someday, but who I am, using the faith that God has given me, now.

Example:

Acts 3:1-2 “Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them which entered into the temple;”

Peter and John, had been filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.

But they were still Peter and John.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit, is to be filled to the capacity in your soul at that time, to receive the rule and power of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit never interferes with you being you, in your personality, but only guides you away from sin, and into knowledge of God’s Will.

Then He gives grace or the empowerment to do God’s Will. (We still have to use it)

Peter and John were going along to prayer service, when they see this lame man.

He sat at the gate of the temple to beg alms.

He saw Peter and John, and as usual, he asked them for some money.

Acts 3:4 “And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.”

The lame man saw nothing different in them, for he expected some small change, as others gave him.

But Peter wanted to direct his eyes away from the coin, to what he said. For he knew that the Lord wanted to heal him. (“Fastening” here, means looking with a purpose in mind.)

Acts 3:6-8 “Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.”

Notice Peter said, “such as I have give I thee”. What did he have?

He had the knowledge of Jesus Christ and of the power of His name.

For Jesus Christ can change men’s lives.

And Peter knew the Lord’s Will, and used what he had, to obey.

Notice also, he took him by the hand. Peter did not wait for the man to believe, but “lifted him up” in faith, himself.

And God did the rest: “his feet and ankle bones received strength” to walk and leap.

Then faith in the man caught up and he did not run home; but went into the temple to praise God.

If you read further, you will see how God used this to enable Peter to preach about Christ to others. Many believed. (Acts 4:4)

(Yes, they were put in “hold” for a night, but even that gave them the opportunity to preach in Jesus Name to the rulers, elders, and scribes.

They were threatened, but told the council, “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”)

After such an experience, Peter and John went back to the company of believers and told what had happened.

All the gathered believers, prayed for boldness to “speak Thy word”.

Acts 4:31 “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 of God with boldness.”

Here they were filled to the greater capacity in their souls. They had a larger capacity because of what they had done, and they needed more of His help.

And He gave it.

Standing before the God Who is there, is simply being His obedient servant;…….and receiving and using the faith and help, He gives.

When we go on in this way,…..more grace and help, is given, as we need it.

The Greatest Need for our day is a return to First Principles

Matthew 16:24 “Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.”

The very first principle for all who would follow Jesus, is the message of the cross—your personal cross.

Luke 9:23 “And He said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

We will never have what Christ Jesus has for us in reality, unless we will deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him….

Bearing our cross to the place where we no longer resist His Will in anything….(This is not sinless perfection, but it is final obedience….you will obey what He wills.)

And He sits enthroned in our hearts, and lives.

What is our personal cross? This deals with our wills.

First, it is something you can say “no” to; for it is “whosoever will”, “ if any man will”.

Second, it is personal. My cross is not your cross, and visa-versa.

Third, it is any thing in God’s Will that crosses our wills; or brings up resentment and a feeling of wanting to run away from it.

[I usually feel a bristling in me. And as soon as I do, I know I need to talk to the Lord about this….

“I am not liking Your Will, for whatever reason, but I surrender right now, and ask that Your blessed Holy Spirit will help me, not just do this for Your sake, but change my attitude about it.”]

When we come to the willed decision that Christ is going to rule our lives; then Jesus calls us on to a more intimate calling:

Matthew 16:25 “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: And whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.”

This deals with our personality: that which is truly us.

You see, from children to grown-ups, we take on the mannerisms and habits and attitudes of the world around us.

What this call deals with is: Jesus freeing us from these entanglements; and giving us liberty to be us….the true us, He created.

He redeemed and saved us…not someone we think we would like to be like.

This is to “lose our lives in ourselves”.

We believe, our souls are the seat of our personality. We are unique, no two are exactly alike.

We believe also, that our souls are the most precious thing to God in all of His Creation….for Christ Jesus paid the Atonement price to save them.

When we are freed and under the liberty of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17-18), only then do we find our life in Christ.

As we continue to deny our self-life (our attitudes, our way of thinking things out, our affections, our reactions),…..so we may find our life in Christ.

Christ deals with us in His own way.

(I knew a child, that every time he became scared…..he would get angry. This was a “mechanism” he used, to cover his fear.

He would yell, he would stomp,….not for the reasons his parents thought, but because he was really scared.

Once they saw that, they were able to deal with him…..not as a brat, having a fit….but as a scared kid……trying to act tough. And that changed everything.)

You see it is only as we get past the “covers” of our attitudes,……that we can deal with the real issues.

Then our attitudes change.

We walk by faith and not by sight.

We “learn, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11). We learn discernment…what is good for us, and what is not.

And we gain confidence in our walk with God. We know…

Philippians 3:15 “Let us therefore, as many as be perfect (complete), be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.”

It is ever an onward walk with Christ….more and more of Him in us, freeing us from every sin and iniquity (anything unequal to your high calling in Christ Jesus)….

….till we are complete: there are no half measures with God.

Free from the bondage and influences of the world, and sin;

Obedient—having our obediences up-to-date;

Surrounded by His peace (Philippians 4:7), practically…..we are at peace with God, with the circumstances….and even, at peace with ourselves.

Rooted and grounded in His love (Ephesians 3:17).

He wants us to be fully free, and fully His.

Will we begin to “follow Him”, by denying ourselves and picking up our cross (those things of His Will that cross what we want,….how we think…..how we feel)…….till we no longer resist His Will in anything.

Then going on to lose “our life”, that we might truly be who He has created us to be….finding our life and purpose….in Christ Jesus.

The Lord’s Personal Prayer for His Believers

John 17:6 “I have manifested Thy name unto the men Thou gavest Me out of the world: Thine they were, and Thou gavest them to Me; and they have kept Thy word.”

They were still in the upper room where they had had the Last Supper.

Before they left to go to Gethsemane, Jesus “lifted up His eyes” and prayed to the Father for these gathered here. (Judas was gone)

He prays for them to be “kept”

(How much we need this; we are so weak and helpless against sin, self, the malice and temptations of the world, and the devil.):

First, they would be kept through the Word that He had spoken to them when He was on earth.

John 17:8 “For I have given unto them the words which Thou gavest Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I have come out from Thee, and they have believed that Thou didst send Me.”

Notice that they had “received” it. This is truly an amazing statement about these unlearned men.

Thousands had heard Jesus. But these men had received the words and message that He had given.

They received that He was the Son of God (Matthew 16:15–17).

They received the call that He gave them: Peter, Andrew, James and John from fishing boats; Matthew from collecting taxes; others from the lives they were living.

They received His corrections for their unbelief in the storm (Luke 8:23-25), and when they sought prestige for themselves….being above others. (Mark 10:35-37).

They had received His Words and by these Words of knowledge and guidance, they could be kept safe; when Jesus went back to heaven.

Second, they would be “kept” by God’s Name.

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

When we are said to be under the Name of God, that means that He has declared that we are His, and by His authority, we are under His protection.

“That they may be one, as we are.”

That we may be one with The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; in peace, and love.

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

What stronger bond, surrounding us, can we have, then that of love?

And that is the bond that Jesus prayed to the Father that they have. God’s bond of love would keep them.

Praise God, Jesus did not leave us out of this prayer:

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

He prayed for all who would believe the word that was preached and written by these disciples.

He prayed for us.

Next, Jesus would go to Gethsemane, and pray for Himself : “Father, not my will, but Thine be done.”

But, first He prayed for those who believed in Him…..and received His Word.

What a Lord and Savior we have!

He came for us,….lived a perfect life to honor His Father’s Will……He prayed for us….He died for our sins…..He arose to manifest the life we now can have in Him….and….

He is still praying for us before the Father…..with all Authority (Matthew 28:18)

1 Timothy 2:5 “For there is One God, and One Mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus;”

Launch out into the Deep

Luke 5:4 “Now when He had left speaking, He said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.”

Here, the Lord is getting surrounded about with people , who want to hear more of what He was saying, by the lake of Gennesaret.

Two fishing ships were at hand, although the men were out of them, so Jesus enters into one of them and asked the owner, named Simon Peter, to:

Luke 5:3 “And He entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And He sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.”

There was some effort to this favor for Jesus, and now Jesus is going to do Simon a favor.

“Launch out into the deep, and let down your nests for a draught.”

Surprised, Simon, here, was trying to be polite; and gently tells Jesus that they had already done everything they could to get a catch of fishes.

After all, they were seasoned fishermen….

Luke 5:5 “And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all night, and have taken nothing: Nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.”

But he also added, “But at Thy word ”

Here is obedience.

Peter might not have agreed with the plan.

Might not have thought it would work;…..but he would do it anyway, for Jesus’ sake.

And should not we do the same….

Jesus had “borrowed” Peter’s ship, and now He would “pay” him for the use of it.

Luke 5:6-7″ And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.”

A net full of fishes,…..to the breaking point of the nets…..was what Jesus gave!

“Pressed down and running over” (Luke 6:38).

He spoke this command……..and He fulfilled His word to Peter, here.

But now, with the “payment” given,……Peter realizes this Jesus,……was who John the Baptist testified; “The Lamb of God”. (John 1:35-41).

That He was indeed the Christ.

Peter then fell down before Him…..

And cried “Depart from me for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

It is often true that when light breaks in on us, as to the reality of Jesus for ourselves (Who He is, His might, His grace),……we also get a view of the real us…”for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

Luke 5:8-9 “When Simon Peter saw it he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes that they had taken:”

“Lord” is the right title for Jesus.

And knowing Him this way, led Peter to leave all and follow Him.

Luke 5:10-11 “And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed Him.”

They forsook all and followed Him; leaving their father in the ship with the hired servants. (Mark 1:20).

Not alone, but seen to. But their place was now with the Lord.

Here they received the best gift–to be called to follow Jesus.

Launch out into the deep. A simple command, simply followed; which led to becoming a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus also calls us to “Launch out” with Him in our everyday lives, to be obedient to Him.

We may not “agree” with the command;

or the timing;

Or maybe we think we have already done all we could:…..

but if we will obey Him, He will bless.

“They forsook all”; they had known Jesus before (as John 1:35-41 shows), but now their lives were at Jesus’ command.

What about us? Do we know Jesus, yet have not “launched out” with Him into true discipleship?

He calls, will we follow?

We are all called to “forsake all” in our old lives, and place Him first.

And with Him first, everything else is seen to.

Matthew 6:33. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Hear, O Lord

Psalms 27:7-8 “Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me and answer me.

When Thou saidst, Seek ye My face, my heart said unto Thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.”

I love these verses…..

They speak so clearly as how we should pray…..what we should pray.

Some people struggle with “how” we should come to God. Should we kneel, or bow our head, or is it alright to pray walking or jogging.

I believe:

Reverence in our personal prayer times….kneeling, when we can.

Bowing our head (again, in reverence to Him), when praying with family, church, or friends.

Otherwise the “meeting-place” of us with God in prayer,……is in our hearts. We can pray….anywhere.

When God shows us our need, “seek ye My face”……then we should respond with that prayer….”Thy face, Lord, will I seek.”

When I pray, I often find a verse that the Lord has showed me, concerning what I am to pray about…….and use that as a start.

I start with what it says to me….and move outward, claiming it for others.

(One our “go-to” verses is:

1 John 5:14-15 “And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His Will, He heareth us:

And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.”

To pray the Lord’s will is to open up for ourselves a lighted path…..it is to open the way to the Lord’s ear….it is to show Him how willing we are that His Will, not mine, be done.

It is to hear from our own lips the Will of God, and in prayer ask Him to perform it.)

Prayer is talking to God…..about our troubles, confession of sins, praise for mercies received, and seeking direction,…..seeking peace…..seeking the Lord’s face….to come into His presence, in a special way or time.

“Hear, O Lord”

If we expect to be heard…..we need to come as servants, wanting to really know what to do….and how He wants us to do it. He is Lord, and should be our Lord….in this situation.

If He is asking for us to pray….then He is asking us to agree with Him, and seek it from Him……

….Putting us in our place in the Battle which always rages between the Lord and our Adversary……

Most people do not realize that prayer is so hard, because it is so powerful.

In it, we are asking the Almighty God….to act on our behalf or someone else…..we are asking Him to speak….to move…..people’s hearts and lives;

To change circumstances, which are adverse to His Will;

To remove hinderances.

No wonder the Adversary of our souls, fights it so hard…….interfering in thoughts from yesterday, tomorrow, or next year.

(an old proverb says, “You can’t prevent birds from flying over your head…..but you can keep them from building nests in your hair.”)

1 Peter 1:13 “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Daniel is our example:

Daniel had been praying for a particular promise for the people, back in Israel….one which had been shown him from the Word of God:

Daniel 9:2-3 “….I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:”

Once Daniel knew the Lord’s Will concerning the time for restoration of Israel and Jerusalem……he prayed…..earnestly seeking God to do what He said.

And what did he pray? Confession, first….then claiming the promise, according to His righteousness and mercy.

Daniel 9:16-19 “O Lord, according to Thy righteousness, I beseech Thee, let Thine anger….be turned away…:

Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of Thy servant, and his supplications, and cause Thy face to shine upon Thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake.

O my God, incline Thine ear, and hear;…..for we do not present our supplications before Thee for our righteousness, but for Thy great mercies.

O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for Thine own sake, O my God: for Thy city and Thy people are called by Thy name.”

(I love Daniel’s prayer, here…..like Ezra and Nehemiah to come, they confess as representatives of the whole nation of Israel…their sin….praising God, that in His chastening and wrath….He remembered mercy to them. All three great prayer chapters are in the ninth chapter. And all are for the restoration of Israel to God’s Word….in their lives, in Israel, and in Jerusalem.)

And what happened, when Daniel prayed (how long he prayed this prayer or other’s like it, it does not say…a day, a week,….but…)?

Daniel 9:21-23 “Yea, while I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.

And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am come forth to give thee skill and understanding.

At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.”

Our prayers, matter…..to God. This is His means of bringing certain things to pass….we ask for them.

Nothing takes the place of obedience (if you are a child of God),…..nothing…..but to pray is the first sign of an obedient heart….the seeking of His Will…..and asking Him to perform it….through you, or others.

New Testament example:

Herod (all of which were bad), saw the church growing, and arrested James the brother of Peter….and beheaded him.

He saw that it pleased the ruling religious body, so he arrested Peter and put him in prison….for the same death.

Acts 12:5 “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.”

They were praying day and night for God to do something to save Peter….

Acts 12:6-7 “And when Herod would have brought him forth (to behead him), the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains:…..

And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side (had to wake him up!), and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.”

The angel wakes him up…..the chains fall off, and the angel guides him through the prison, across the Romans walled fortress, to the gate, separating it from the city…..which opens before Peter.

The angel then guides him toward the right street and departed from him.

Peter then went to the house of Mary the mother of John Mark….and knocked.

(It is interesting to note that when the maid heard it was Peter, she went and told those gathered to pray inside….they did not believer her……

…..this is just like us, so many times with out prayers…..we often pray, wanting God to hear us….but not believing, as we should, that He does.)

Acts 12:16-17 “But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door;…

But he, beckoning unto them with his hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go show these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.”

Prayer is God’s means of accomplishing certain things…..

….and He blesses it.

In the last days of this year…..let us make sure our confessions are up-to-date….and let us seek to know His promise for the days, and months ahead….

….that we might ask for it,……and have His blessing in us…..for us…..and for the church.