According to His Purpose.

Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to His purpose.”

The called according to His purpose, are those who are born again.

Everyone has “purpose”……

But God, through Christ, has opened up the way for us, as His, to know His purpose. To be included in it, by a subjection of our will……”to them that love God”

John 15:14-16 “Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Henceforth I call you not servants, for the servant knoweth not what His Lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things have I heard of My Father I have made known unto you.

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

So when Paul says “the called according to His purpose”; he is showing that we should know His Purpose…..and he goes on to explain what our purpose is:

Romans 8:29 “For whom He did foreknow, He did also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren:”

This is the purpose I am called to: to be conformed to the image of His Son, in His character.

(There are two things here, we are to know about our purpose:

1.) He foreknew us. Foreknowledge has to do with people, not things. So when He says “He did foreknow”; He means that He saw us in Christ Jesus before the world began. (2 Timothy 1:9)

1 Peter 1:2 “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”

2.). He predestinated us. Predestination means that God “marked out and set limits, beforehand”.

Predestination has to do with our works….the circumstances we are to pass through, and the work we are to do for Him.

He “marked out and set limits, beforehand”……for the things which would come into our lives…..and He set aside the things we need to do them.

Ephesians 1:4-5 “According as He has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.”)

Then Paul continues to tell of our Purpose:

Romans 8:30 “Moreover, whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified.”

As Christians, we are to walk in the reality of this verse….

Called….making our calling and election sure…

2 Peter 1:10 “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.”

1 Thessalonians 2:12 “That ye should walk worthy of God, Who hath called you unto His kingdom and glory.”

Our calling: We are His servants. We belong to Him. We are each given a part of His ministry, for now…..here, where we are.

Justified…..legally made free from condemnation;….and walking justly (rightly) before Him.

Titus 3:7-8 “That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

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

Our justification is to free us from the law and death,…..to live unto God.

Glorified…..one day in heaven, certainly;….but also tasting of that glory of God now.

(Glory is “making apparent the dignity and honor”, “splendor”)

One day we will see God’s glory face to face; and then it will be seen our honor and dignity…..in Him.

But now, He wants us to taste of that glory,….walking and knowing His Victory in our circumstances.

The honor of His Will being done….where we personally are concerned…..

….this is our glory.

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

The glory of God and our taste of it here, is to raise our thoughts and affections upward,….knowing the honor that being His child, is….even here.

According to His Purpose…….”the intention of God for our lives”……is that we be conformed to His Son….in character;…..and praise Him for the honor of doing His Will.

Ephesians 1:11-12 “In Whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the Purpose of Him Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own Will:

That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ.”

The Lord is My Shepherd

John 10:11 “I am the good Shepherd: the good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.”

In the Psalms, we are called the “sheep of His pasture” (Psalm 100:3), denoting His ownership of us. We belong to Him, and by this…..are under His protection.

It is a good thing that we are; for the Lord Jesus warns us of the enemies which are against us:

Thieves and robbers…wolves…and those that are not sheep:

John 10:1 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and hi a robber.”

John 10:12 “But he that is a hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, see the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth; and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.”

John 10:26 “But ye believe not, because ye are not of My sheep, as I said unto you.”

The true flock of God, hear His voice and follow where He leads:

John 10:3-4 “To Him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear His voice: and He calleth His own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

And when He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them, and the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice.”

Do you think Jesus doesn’t know you? Certainly He does.

He calls you by name—your name; that you may follow Him.

He does not drive the sheep before…..but leads them.

Anything that is waiting for the sheep, will first be faced by Him.

He has prepared the way, we are to go.

He measures every temptation, and trial….and makes a way through it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Psalm 23:1 “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.”

Rightly has Matthew Henry said:

“I shall be supplied with what I need. And if I do not have everything I desire, I may conclude that it is not good for me; Or I shall have it in due time.”

Psalm 23:2-3 “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name sake.”

His leading us is essential; for He knows where and how we are to get the safe grasses that we need…..and where to safely rest.

He restores me in His redemption, to God;…..in His forgiveness, to peace;….in His fellowship, to joy and love.

And we walk and rest, under the banner of His Name. (Song of Solomon 2:4)

Psalm 23:4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me, Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.”

Even in the darkest times…times of shadows between us…..and times when things are not so clear….

Thy rod….Your Word of correction, and instruction comfort me….for in the trials, it is so easy for me to become discouraged….and begin to “look around”.

But Your “rod” awakens me to who I am…..I am Yours; and that You are here, with me….now.

Your Staff….the Holy Spirit….nudges me along….rescuing me from dangers.

They both are used on me, to keep me safe behind You….and on the enemies which wait for my soul.

Psalm 23:5 “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”

We walk through this wilderness world…..with temptations, anger, and even hate, all around us…..Yet, He has supplied a feast….in Himself…..for us.

We can come to Him anytime, getting protection….and guidance through this maze of life.

The Holy Spirit gives us His “anointing”:

“But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth,….”. (1 John 2:27)

So that I may testify to others of Your overflow in my life.

Psalm 23:6 “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

In this life of troubles, and trials, and joys……I will praise Your goodness to me. And praise Your mercy in my weaknesses, my doubts, my backsliding, my failures, and my discouragement under them all.

I praise You for all You have done….and I am confident it will continue forever, with You, in Your heavenly home.

The Good Shepherd is Jesus Christ….is He your Shepherd?

Perhaps you have said you would follow….but your confidence is wavering…

You know your calling….but, you are feeling anxious…

He has always known the way, and delivered you….but time has passed….

Then, read again Psalm 23…..and put your name there. For if you are born again, then He is “my shepherd”……

Call out to Him, and hear again His voice….and follow Him.

(Throughout this whole psalm, we are pointed again and again to “the Lord” (at the beginning and the ending verses); “He”, “Thou”, “Thy”…..it is saying: all our satisfaction and contentment is in Him.

Praise God for what He gives…..double praise for Him being mine.)

The Beauty of Holiness.

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

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

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

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

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

is Mercy,

is Peace,

is Grace,

is Love,

is Supreme Goodness, and our Refuge,

Is Wisdom, and Judgement, and so much more.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Partakers” here, means to accept and use.

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

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

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

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

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

Translated to Our Inheritance

Colossians 1:12-13 “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son:”

Translated is a military term. When it suited the purpose of Rome, Rome would move one city,….and everyone in it;…..from one place to another. When this would happen, they were made City-states….citizens of Rome, from that time on.

They would take the whole city; people, government, and trades; and move it from one place to another.

Here Paul is saying that we, as Christians, are so translated: God has brought out of the Kingdom of Darkness, into the Kingdom of His Dear Son.

We simply need to work it out in our everyday life.

This is our inheritance.

(If you look at the word “inheritance” in scripture, from Genesis to 1 Peter;……in most instances it has to do with something God has set aside for a particular person, or people.)

As in Paul’s commission on the road to Damascus, as he testified of it before king Agrippa:

Acts 26:15-18 “And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And He said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest,

But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light , and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me.”

The message given Paul was of deliverance….from darkness to light; and of an inheritance left to us from our Lord and Savior.

“Light” is what we are given when born again.

Light comes as the dawning light to our souls, which shines more and more unto the perfect day. (Proverbs 4:18)

That dawning light comes by the Holy Spirit, which is the earnest of our inheritance (there is that word of promise, again):

Ephesians 1:13-14 “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,

Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

An earnest is the down payment of all that will come in our inheritance.

And again what is our inheritance? Which comes from God, through the Holy Spirit to us?

Ephesians 1:17-20 “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him:

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power,

Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places,”

The “riches” of our inheritance through the Holy Spirit,…..is the spirit of wisdom,….understanding and knowledge of our calling,….and power;….the same enlivening power that raised Christ from the dead.

Our task, then, if we are to have the Reality of this,…..is to see that we are “translated”……practically.

To get everything we have out of the kingdom of Darkness; into Christ’s Kingdom, and under His control. Of course, this is by His power, working in our willing it.

This is every area of our lives…..for Rome would take everything: homes, families, shops, markets….everything; from one city, and set it up into another area.

Anything we leave under the rule or influence, of the old life; from the kingdom of darkness;…….will cause an occasion to the Adversary of our souls…..to use on us to trick us or tempt us.

And what does “everything” mean?

It means everything. To move everything, so it is under the reigning power of Jesus Christ.

He works within us to do it:

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

But we are to will with Him in it.

He hath translated us.

(Which means that He has moved in, surrounded us with His might, and made the proclamation for the whole universe that we are His…..under His Light, and that He is moving us….and all we are, to a place in His kingdom…..for His glory and honor.)

But now He calls for our willing cooperation with Him to work it out, and move everything of our life into God’s kingdom of Light.

Philippians 2:12-13 “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

Our inheritance is given to us of God…..but will we get it? Will we move along with Him into the new life….into His kingdom of Light?

To be enabled to do what we ought.

How many times do we go to do the right thing; but fail to see it done?

How many times do we say, “We won’t do that again.”;….but soon, do?

How many times have we gone where we know we shouldn’t?

The Power of God in my life, makes freedom from sin and darkness a reality.

It is our inheritance; “hath translated” is the reality where God is concerned; and He is faithful.

But on our part, we need to understand what our inheritance is; and we need to possess it by willing with the Holy Spirit…..and moving everything out of the influence of our old darkness…..into His marvelous Light.

1 Thessalonians 5:5, 8 “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day, we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.”

He has the power, He will work within us. Will we let Him, by our willing obedience, and gain our inheritance, God has put aside for us?

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

We know this story:

Jesus had bee so tired, He had been asleep in the boat–even thru the storm.

But his disciples, had become scared (even though He told them “let us go across to the other side”

Did they think He would take them out into the sea to drown?

But notice…He rebuked the wind. Like a father to a child which was acting bad.

He said also to the sea;…..Also like a father,…..comforting a child which had been teased by another. “Peace be still.”

He Who created them at the first, keeps them; rebukes and speaks to them.

So He does to us. Sometimes we are like the boat in the wind, and sea.

There is a great storm going on and we are getting tossed about.

Whether in our heads, or our emotions.

Life is sometimes storms.

How much we need Jesus Christ to speak to the storm and calm it.

Like the disciples, we are at a loss to do anything.

I have been in a panic that rose and rose…..and seemed as if it was going to take over my reasonable thoughts. I did not know how to stop it.

But I knew Jesus could.

So I started to pray….”Lord I am in desperate need.. Please help me…Tell me what to do or just stop it yourself…. “.

And so on I prayed covering everything:

What it was about.

What had just happened.

How I felt.

What I felt I should feel.

All the attitudes toward these things, and what I really wanted to do.

First, He rebuked me.

Panic comes from our Adversary, the Devil.

If I had gotten that far in fear,……..there had been a time when I had been spoken to about this situation,……and neglected to receive His Word.

Then, He began speaking to me about all the things I had talked to Him about.

We crossed that Sea of Panic,……storm and all,……and we made it safely to the other side, because Jesus heard my cry for help and arose to help me.

Sometimes the help we need is the rebuke of:

Mark 4:40 “And He said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?”

For faith always sees God in the situation…..and leads to trust.

He will do the same to you.

If you are out in a Sea of emotion, or in a wind of indecision;…..cry to Him.

Get honest with Him. And He will get you to the other side, in peace.

The longest Day

Joshua 10:12-13 “Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, moon, in the valley of Avalon.

The sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasten not to go down about a whole day.”

A little background is necessary:

Israel was in the five year process of fighting the different sections of Canaan, to inherit the land God had given them.

Five kings got together to come against Gibeon, which Israel had made a league with. Gibeon was a great city, and the men were mighty. (Joshua 10:2)

So these kings thought if they all came together to destroy Gibeon, then the Israelites would be no match for them, at all.

But in this process, they did not take into account, Israel’s God.

Israel had made a league with Gibeon, and God honored the league.

(Actually, it was wrong to make this league. They failed here.

Joshua and the rulers of the tribes “looked” to what the Gibeonites wanted them to see, when they lied to Joshua;…..instead of asking counsel of God. Joshua 9:9-11, 14-15

But their mistake did not annul the league. And God said they had to honor it.

The Gibeonites had been made servants of God’s house, and they believed in the Lord God of Israel.)

So when Gibeon, who was now an ally to Israel, was attacked by the five kings,…….word was sent to Joshua and the Israelites, to come and help.

Joshua 10:6 “And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp of Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us.”

This was a mighty force…..not only a huge army….but warriors of superior status!

(“Gathered together against”…..how many times have we, as His Church, had a mighty force come against us?)

When they got the word, Joshua and his army took a forced march of 20 some miles…..at night,…..to get there;…….so they could honor the league, and then started to fight the five kings and their large armies!

Thankfully they heard from God about the march and the battle.

Joshua 10:8-9 “And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thy hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.

Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night.”

Now I want to add a word of our Great Shepherd here:

John 10:4 “And when He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them, and the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice.”

He goes before….

God has a plan and a way; even when we fail. He is ever ready to lead us into the right way.

Joshua 10:10-11 “And the Lord discomforted them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way…

And it came to pass, as they fled before Israel, and were in the going down to Beth-horon, that the Lord cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: there were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with a sword.”

The Lord “discomforted”them.

If you look at other scriptures that this word is in, for battle, it means: the Lord sent thunder and lightening, scaring the horses.

And then, He sent hailstones! (These, God had reserved for the day of battle. Job 38:22-23)

God had said, “Fear not,…I have delivered them into your hands”. But the day was waning. It would soon be sunset.

So Joshua asked for help. He would need more time, so he asked for it.

To me, this is amazing faith…..(faith always sees God)….for Joshua asked God, for what God wanted….and promised…..the defeat of these five kings.

But what did Joshua ask for? Light and time….to see the job done.

(And we too, can ask for the light we need, to fight our battles,….to see them done. For the Lord wants to fight for us.)

He did it publicly, in front of his men, to encourage them in their faith.

God was with them.

He did not guide from a distance; but was in charge in the battle.

So he asked for the sun to stand still, for twenty-four hours.

Joshua 10:12-14 “Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, moon, in the valley of Ajalon.

And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies….So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hastened not to go down about a whole day.

And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord harkened to the voice of a man: for the Lord fought for Israel.”

The sun stayed up for an extra day, so that the enemy could not escape. It was to stand still over Gibeon, where they were fighting.

(Some believe that God’s might was shown here, so strongly, because these city-kings were sun worshippers.

God was showing them that He was greater than the sun above them. That the sun was at His command. And could do nothing but what He said.)

The battle continued the extra day. “For the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel.”

The territory they took in this battle was large!……More than they had taken so far. “For the Lord fought for Israel”

We often fail. Israel had failed in making a league with the Gibeonites.

Can God get “good” from our failures? Yes. All things work together for good…..it is God’s good…and God’s glory….and isn’t that what we want?

Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”

This showed the Israelites a new power of God in them, and for them….and taught them the faithfulness of God to His people.

It showed them that they are to honor the word they speak to others.

And it showed the Gibeonites that the God they began to believe in, was worthy of their trust and subjection.

Yes. We can learn the lesson our failure teaches us; that to rely on God alone, is true victory…..and then be obedient, honoring Him in it,…..and He will honor us.

Notice that in this battle: Israel fought, but God really won the victory. The “discomfort” of the thunder and lightening. The hailstones. And the sun standing still.

Yet Israel had to hear the call for help, march all night, fight, and keep fighting till the victory was won…..throughout the longest day.

The longest day, was a day of power….God’s power above all,….and the power of obedience to His Word….in them, and by them.

We can learn a lot from this story.

How many times we fail or fall; yet God forgives and restores us to victory,…..by His power, light, and faithfulness.

And He calls us to “Fear not,”…..but trust Him, and be obedient.

Say not, that there are yet four months to Harvest.

John 4:34-35 “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the Will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His Work.

Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.”

This was said, when Jesus had rested at a well in Samaria,…..and had a conversation with a women at that well. (John 4:4-42)

The Bible speaks often of seed time and harvest. Though they are different, they are connected;….though the harvest should be a time of rejoicing; yet it will never happen without the planting of the seed.

The sowers and the reapers are both necessary….both will be equally rewarded….both are sent of God.

If they do not harvest, when the field is ready….then some of the grain would be lost….

Johns 6:39 “And this the Father’s Will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, and should raise it up again at the last day.”

The Old Testament, for Israel was a “seed time”. God sowed His Word, and His laws in the hearts of the people;….sending leaders (Moses, Joshua), judges, and prophets to spread God’s Word, and message of the coming Christ.

But now, He has come, and He speaks of this here to His disciples,…..because in a few minutes they will experience a great “harvest” in this Samaritan town.

There was a saying in those times: “Sow and in four months you will reap a harvest.”

So here, Jesus is speaking to His disciples, so they can “Look up” and see what God is doing,….by the Word God has spoken in the Old Testament,……and the Word that He speaks, now, through His Son.

(How much training in “seeing” do we need, in order to see the way the Lord sees things!)

In the other places where Jesus speaks of sowing and reaping: He is preparing to send out the twelve into the fields, to say:

Matthew 9:37-38, 10:5-6 “Then saith He unto His disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few;

Pray therefore the Lord of harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest.

These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Israel was to be presented the Way to the Kingdom of heaven, first. The harvest was to begin with them.

Later in His ministry,….Jesus sent the seventy. Seventy of His disciples went two by two; to preach “the Kingdom of heaven is at hand”.

Prepare the people’s hearts to hear Me, when I come through their towns.

(This was in His last year of ministry…..there was an urgency, therefore He sent more of His disciples out….to minister, and to prepare them for His coming through their towns…..prepare them for His Word.)

And the encouragement from the Lord is the same…..look, for the harvest is ready.

Luke 10:1-2 “After these things the Lord appointed other servants also, and sent them two and two before His face into every city and place, whither He Himself would come.

Therefore said He unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of harvest, that He would send forth laborers into His harvest.”

Jesus is showing them (and us) the work they are called to do: sowing and harvest.

1 Corinthians 3:8 “Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.

(Planting, is to spread the Word….the good news of Christ. Watering is to pray for the Word to take root in the heart and life of a person.)

Psalm 126:5-6 “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bring his sheaves with him.”

Later, right before the Last Supper,…..Jesus speaks again about that “Precious Seed”……which will die that it might produce a great harvest.

This time, not just in Israel…..but throughout the whole world.

A harvest of believers in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

John 12:24-25 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

He that loveth his life shall lose it, and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.”

The Lord was showing His disciples that He, as the Son of God, was going to die,…..but that was not the end.

He would be raised up in newness of life (in His resurrection, and ascension) to produce a further harvest: “much fruit”….

…..the fruit of a believing “harvest”….in hearts all over the world.

From His death and sacrifice, the knowledge of His atonement, has spread……and from His resurrection and ascension, the power of His eternal life has been given……To those that believe on Him, to the saving of their souls.

And He went on to say, that, as His believers, we, too, are not created, to be unto ourselves…..

Our Salvation was not an end,…..but a beginning…a sowing, for the harvest to come.

We are being “sent forth” today…….to bear our “Precious Seed”—Jesus Christ,……that we might return in joy,…..rejoicing in His Salvation for men.

Sanctification is not imitating Christ; but Living by Christ’s Life.

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

Sanctification is the setting ourselves aside to God.

Sanctification does not require us to fulfill the will of God as He makes it known to us, without the power to do so.

That would be like the Egyptian taskmasters which required Israel to make bricks without straw. (Exodus 5:9-11)

Instead, Sanctification is the growing life of Christ, in our life; whereby we experience by His Holy Spirit, the holiness, patience, love, peace, and power that is in Christ;……over the enemy of our souls.

When Paul said:

Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life that I live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

This is what he meant. That the life he used to live as the self-righteous Pharisee was over. He saw himself dead in Christ’s death.

“Good riddance” was probably his thought, for the life he had before, did not bring him closer to God, though he worked hard at it.

He also saw that now he lived by Christ’s life. That the life of Christ was so powerful that, not only for himself; but everyone who trusted in Christ, could have His character formed in them.

For some time after being born again, I prayed about sanctification.

I had thought this must be some sort of holiness experience, which we have at some altar; or with some crisis experience in our lives.

Years ago, a man was teaching a Sunday School class about:

Matthew 16:24-25 “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.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”

And, if no one else got the message; I did.

This was the means of being sanctified.

I was to deny myself.

We think, that when we talk of denying ourself, we mean: just not doing what we want. We think it means denying things in our life.

When Jesus speaks of “denying ourself”, He means denying our intention to rule our life. And denying every way it shows up in our lives.

It is not just things, we deny,……but ourselves we deny.

If I wanted to follow the Lord, then I must co-operate with God, when He shows me His will. I must put aside my thoughts in the matter and do what He commands.

I must be honest about my attitude toward what He shows me, and ask for the power to change.

But again, Christ does not demand that we do His Will,…..without His enablement.

Christ has given us His Holy Spirit, not only to indwell us, but to give us the grace and power we need.

That power comes from our Risen and Glorified Christ. He has all spiritual blessings for me in Him, in Heaven.

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

Ephesians 2:6 “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”

They are there in Christ, for us.

But how do we get them down here into us, especially in these circumstances?

Matthew 6:10 “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven”

Notice, it is “in earth”, in us.

This is the means whereby we receive into our lives what Christ has for us.

As we yield to His authority in our lives, we become His servants, in obeying our Master;……His soldiers, in standing with Him;…..and His ambassadors, honoring and speaking for His Kingdom and authority, here.

Sanctification is the setting aside of ourselves to God, for sacred use.

It is the practical work of having Christ’s Kingdom come within our hearts, and lives.

Where He rules, there is peace, joy, patience, and all the characteristics of Christ, in our lives, for us…(Hallelujah)……and through us, into our circumstances.

To be a Good Steward

1 Corinthians 4:2 “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

A steward is one, who under the owner, manages part of the house, or property.

As Christians we are to be good stewards, and administer or manage our part of the household of God….our gifts, those we are responsible to teach, encourage, or pray for.

We are going to consider a “good steward” of Abraham.

Genesis 24:2-4 “And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:

And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.”

Abraham was old, and “stricken” or weakened, so that he could not go out and do the things he had before.

Sarah, his wife, was dead. Now Abraham begins to consider a wife, for Isaac.

Abraham was not to return to his land,…..so he calls for his trusted steward, and makes him swear (put your hand under my thigh),….that he will go and see about a wife for Isaac,…..from his family in Mesopotamia.

There is some question about whether the steward was to take Issac to Mesopotamia again…….

…..No, this is the land the Lord gave me after He brought me out of my homeland;……so do not take Isaac back.

And if the woman is unwilling to come……then the steward would be free from this oath.

Abraham gives a promise to the steward: “He (the Lord) shall send His angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.”

So this steward sets out with ten camels laden with goods from Abraham, to give as presents to the family of the woman who would come.

(First to notice, that this steward did all this effort for someone else: his Master’s son…..not for himself.

And aren’t we to be faithful servants for our Master’s Son, Jesus Christ?)

How long this journey was, it does not say….but the steward arrives at Nahor in Mesopotamia….in the evening……” the time that women go out to draw water.”

He makes his camels kneel down by the city well, and wait.

And he prays…

Genesis 24:12-14 “And he said, O Lord God of my master Abraham I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham.

Behold, I stand here by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:

And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink,

and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also:

let the same be she that Thou hast appointed for Thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that Thou hast shown kindness unto my master.”

(How this shows us the spiritual witness Abraham was on his household and servants: each knew God,…..and what God could do…..because of him.

Abraham wasn’t just a good man…..but a Godly man.)

Before the steward was finished praying, Rebekah, who was of Abraham’s family came to the well, with a pitcher, to draw water.

Genesis 24:17 “And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.”

She not only gave him a drink, but as he prayed,….she watered his camels, as well.

He was cautious, and waited till she was done, and them asked: “Whose daughter art thou?” Is there room in your father’s house for us to lodge in?

As soon as he heard who she was, and who her family was:

Genesis 24:26-27 “And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the Lord.

And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of His mercy and His truth:

I being in the way, the Lord lead me to the house of my master’s brethren.”

(Abraham had been promised the land of Canaan for an inheritance….not to him but to “his seed”. Without a proper wife for Isaac, this promise would not be fulfilled.

So the steward praised God for His mercy…..not to him…..but to Abraham.

And praised God for the truth of His promise….that an angel would go before him and lead his way.)

Rebekah goes home, and her brother comes and leads the steward and the camels to their house…..for a steward from their relative Abraham, was come!

How exciting.

Then the steward tells the business of his journey, and how the promise was fulfilled concerning the Lord’s guidance; and how his prayer had been answered…..

…and he asks:

Would Rebekah come? Would she leave her family, and come and be Isaac’s wife?

The family gave permission…..but when they wanted her to stay for at least ten days….the steward said:

Genesis 24:56 “And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the Lord hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.”

(Part of our business as stewards of the gospel, is to deal with hinderances. To not be persuaded to “put off” till tomorrow, what should be done today.)

Rebekah is called, and she agrees to go….right away. “I will go”

(When speaking about our Master, and the gospel He gave us to tell…..we need to know that often delay is hinderance. “He commands all men everywhere to repent.” “Today, if you will hear His voice.”)

Genesis 24:61, 63, 66-67 “And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.

And Issac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.

And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.

And Isaac brought her into her mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.”

This is a story of a good steward…..working not for himself, or his family,…but for his mater, and his master’s son.

(This man is never named…..I believe it is because he illustrates all “good stewards”.

Those, that fulfill their duty,…..out of love and honor for their Master,….down through the ages…….which should include us)

It is a story of fulfilled promises….and promises that were to be fulfilled later, because of the obedience of the steward.

[Abraham’s children did obtain the promise of the Land….and Abraham’s Seed (Christ. Galatians 3:8-9,14,16) came from this line.]

Yet, we too, have stories like this. We too, have been sent to deliver and bring home to our Master, God,….and His Son, Jesus Christ….those that will belong to the Church (the bride of Christ. Revelation 19:7-8)

As with Rebekah;……if they will not come,…..we are free of our duty….we have done what we could.

Like this steward of Abraham,……we need to follow the Lord’s guidance,….pray for blessing,….and deal with any hinderances,…..that we might fulfill our duty to our Master, and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Let us go on to Perfection

Hebrews 6:1-2 “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God.

Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection from the dead, and of eternal judgement.”

These verses follow a correction to the Christian Jews, who had failed to “go on”.

They were still viewing Christ as their Messiah, coming back to re-establish the traditions of the Law.

They were to “leave the word of the beginning of Christ”; or the ceremonial law, which had in it a repentance which had to be repeated….sacrifices which were repeated.

Or even for the baptism of John to repentance….for he said “believe on Him that comes after” (Acts 19:4-5)

They had not let go of the fundamental doctrines, which linked their ceremonial law to the fulfillment in Christian teaching.

The one leads to the other, but you must let go of one, when the other comes….and they had not.

Instead they clung to the old, as well as trying to hold on to the new.

But Paul tells them to “go on to perfection”.

And this is what we will deal with: Going on to perfection.

Someone has said, that this verse pictures us as a sailing ship in the current of the sea, and the wind of the air…..being pushed along under their power.

For a sailing ship, there are two things which stabilize and move the ship along…..the ballast, and the sails.

The ballast is the weight in the bottom of the ship which keeps it from being knocked about by the waves.

Which holds it in the sea, which for us, is the Will of God.

We need that weight.

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

1 Timothy 6:18-19 “That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate,

Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”

This ballast, then, is when we are established in the faith: we have surrendered to the Jesus as Lord of our life. It is a life open to and receptive to Him….all the time.

That gives us real weight in the storms of life…..in our troubles and in our joys. We neither ride too high, or sink too low. We are “settled” in our will….we will with God.

Then, the sails, which move the ship along,…..when they are filled with the wind.

Of course the “wind” is the Holy Spirit. He comes and blows on our sails, and we move forward….again and again.

The sails are our willingness to yield to the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

The sails will get a breath of wind,….and at first they “flap about”,…not really doing anything to move forward…..but feeling the wind.

Then, as the sails open up to the wind….suddenly we are moving toward God’s goal.

And isn’t it true, that as we yield to the Holy Spirit’s guidance,….our lives open up in light!

Romans 15:13 “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

1 John 2:20 “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.”

(Unction means anointing for consecration)

So with the “ballast” of our surrender to Christ;….and the willingness to open up and yield to the Holy Spirit, in our “sails”……we move across the waters, to our Rest.

The Captain of our vessel is Christ Jesus:

Hebrews 2:10 “For it became Him, for Whom are all things, and by Whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the Captain of their Salvation perfect through sufferings.”

Our Captain has laid a course for us….through many waters.

But they are measured waters (Ezekiel 47:3-5).

Waters which He has passed through before, and given grace for us to pass through, now.

The Helmsman is navigating, looking to the Captain; and relaying all that He says, to us, about our course:

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

Let us go on unto perfection!

Let us,…..as a ship under sail yields to the wind,….and is driven before it……..Yield to the Holy Spirit,……that He might bear us along to the accomplishing of Our Father’s Will.

Praising God for the privilege of being surrendered and settled; so that the storms of our life will not wreak us.

(Yes, they will get us wet….soaked at times; but not sink us.)

Psalm 17:5 “Hold up my goings in Thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.”

Psalm 119:117 “Hold Thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto Thy statues continually.”

The writer to the Hebrews called all who had first begun to follow Christ….to go on….on to perfection, or the completing of the Will of God for them.

The call is for us, as well…..Go on with Christ….to complete all the Will of God for us.