Eve, and Us

1 Corinthians 12:27 “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”

As my daughter was giving a Sunday school lesson on Eve, it struck me that Eve was taken out of Adam (his rib); and made a into a woman;……

……to be to him something he needed more….a partner….a helpmeet….a companion in all his life.

Genesis 2:21-22, 24 “And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof.

And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made He a woman, and brought her unto the man.

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

And as born again believers, we are put back into Christ to be His bride, and friend, and helpmeet for Him and His work.

Romans 12:5 “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and everyone members one of another.”

Revelation 19:7 “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.”

We become members together of His mystical body, here on earth….showing Christ Jesus wherever we go.

1 Corinthians 12:12 “For as the body is one, and hath many members and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.”

Eve was made a separate person, to show that the personalities of man and woman, could unite…..in the work God called them to do.

Adam was as responsible for Eve, as he was his own body….to take care of her, guide and direct her (if he had done this, she would have turned away from the temptation of the devil…..to get his help), and love her as he would himself.

Ephesians 5:28 “So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.”

So believers (each of us personally and together)…..is put into Christ’s mystical body to show that Christ has taken responsibility for us……to take care of, guide and direct, and love us…..as He does Himself.

And yet, we are separate personalities, each fitted into their place in His body….to show that we can unite with our Lord…..in the work God has called us to do.

Ephesians 5:25-27, 29-30 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it;

That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word,

That He might present to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.

For no man ever yet hateth his own flesh; but nourished and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.”

There is a fullness in the Purpose of God……what Adam lost, by not fulfilling his duty, and yielding to sin….

……Christ has regained in power; because He has paid my penalty and debt…..and has taken me into Himself in union (by faith and love)……

…..and more so…..for He has empowered me by His Holy Spirit to regain also, the place of helpmeet to Christ Jesus.

To speak for Him,…..to act for Him,…..

…..and He is the lover of my soul. (“Set me as a seal upon Thine heart, as a seal unto Thine arm:…” Song of Solomon 8:6)

Eve was taken out of Adam, to become a different kind of support (the rib cage supports the back, and covers the inner organs).

She was to support him spiritually, by learning about and obeying God. (A faithful wife is a wonderful thing.)

She was to support him emotionally, by encouraging him to be God’s servant and friend. (Not tempting him to sin, as she had done.)

She was to support him physically, by being where she was suppose to be,…..not wandering off to look at a tree she knew was not to be eaten of.

We, believers, are put back into Christ, to become a new creature….all things should become new within us (2 Corinthians 5:17)….

That we should be to His praise and glory, in our lives….

That we should honor Him and His Word, in obedience….

That we should overcome, by the faith He has placed within us….and be one with Him.

John 17:21-23 “That they all may be one, as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me.

And the glory that Thou gavest Me I have given unto them, that they may be one, even as We are one:

I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me.”

Eve, and us, as believers:

God’s purpose lost in Eve…..and can be regained in us…..for we are in Him.

We are called to “come….in the unity of the faith”….

Ephesians 4:13, 15 “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”

Will we come to Christ, and fulfill the work as His helpmeet?

(Let me say here, that if Adam had fulfilled his duty to Eve; she would not have been at the Tree of the Knowledge of good and evil….to be tempted of the devil.

And let me also declare, that the Lord will never forsake us….nor neglect His duty to us….who He loves.

He will never will He leave us….never will He let us go……but He will:

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

The Rock of our Foundation 

Matthew 7:24-25 “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the wind blew, and beat upon the house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock.”

Ephesians 2:21-22 “In Whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple unto the Lord:

In Whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.”

A building is laid on the foundation and attached to that foundation; then built on that attachment.

As Christians, when we are born again, we choose to build our “home” on the Foundation of Christ, as our Rock.

But we are attached to that Rock by faith, and love. We build on that.

Our “home” here, in this world, is the life we dedicate to Christ Jesus. We persevere to the end of our life in obedience to Him by exercising our wills to do His Will.

Then we are building our homes on Christ. This is hearing His Word to us, and doing it.

So let us look at our building, and see how our building stands:

Is it straight?

Have we progressed in the straight and narrow way of God, through His Word? Or have we settled unevenly?

Is our faith giving into doubt? Or is our love turning cold?

All houses settle;….in fact it is a good thing, if it settles together.

It actually firms up the house on it’s foundation.

But a house, when it settles unevenly, is (just a little) down on one side, and straight on the other.

Doorways are affected, strength is lessened.

Sometimes, it is not the winds or storms which hinder our building on Christ; but weariness in well doing, and discontent.

We feel we are not getting “ahead” like we should.

(often this is caused by looking at others, and what we think is happening to them; Instead of looking to Jesus. Hebrews 12:2)

But where has the imbalance come from?

Often is comes from focusing too much on the present,……or the future:

When you get to focusing on the present

(let’s face it, things happen that gets us “out of sort”….because they are not what we intended to happen)

…..then we can, forget that there is a goal to reach out for.

When this happens, we need to heed Paul’s exhortation:

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.”

For you see, it is always how we deal with what happens that makes the difference: going to God for His Will in it,…..or struggling through yourself, sometimes going nowhere….fast.

There is focusing too much on the future…….the “someday things will be great” attitude…….and forget to see the work done for now.

When we do, we need to:

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

For God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind [or disciplined mind].”

Hebrews 10:35-36 “Cast not away therefore your confidence [boldness], which hath great recompense of reward.

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.”

Our lives are a “holy habitation” where the Holy Spirit abides in us, and with us.

We are to face each day with Him, as another chance to:

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, praise His holy name.” (Psalm 103:1)

It is when our joy gets silenced,……by doubt, hesitation, anger, guilt, or worldliness;…..then the praise becomes just words….and the emptiness we begin to feel.

Then our peace is attacked…for we feel like God has moved away from us;…….when it is actually us, backing away from Him.

Christ, as our Foundation, our Rock does not move.

Circumstances around us, and the temptations they cause…..make us feel like were in that wind storm….or rain storm;

It is how we deal with those storms; Who we cling to, in obedience to His Word;…..that makes the difference.

And we often waver….

….but He is immovable where we are concerned.

He is a Rock to us…..let us cling to Him….and stand firm.

A Kingdom must have a King

We have been made in the image of God: He is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.

We are spirit, soul and body…and within each of us there is place where someone rules. Who rules in the kingdom of Mansoul?

(We have often pictured it as a throne in our hearts….Who sits there?)

Psalm 24:9-10 “Lift up, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors: and the King of glory shall come in.

Who is this King of glory? The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah.

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

A King rules…..that is His job. He is at the head of His army….He is directing circumstances for His kingdom,……He is commanding His people. That is what a King does.

He does it according to His due order, and for the good of the Kingdom and His people.

The Lord Jesus Christ is King…..is He our King?

In the beginning, Adam was put under a trial of his faith to God.

Yes, the devil’s wiles, and the temptation through Eve, was part of the trial….but, it came down to: who was Adam going to choose, to rule his life…..himself, or God?

And for each of his decedents, it is the same choice: who will we choose to rule us?

The natural man never chooses God….

Psalm 10:4 “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.”

Romans 8:7-8 “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

So then they that are in the flesh shall not please God.”

The natural man fights against Him in his life, everyday. This man may be religious, go to church, or do charitable works…..but it is always them doing it, their way of doing it, and for their own praise.

But the born again man, will…..by the Holy Spirit within,….be lead into a Narrow Way,…..where trials and choices, will bring us to give our whole life over to the Lord, as King.

Psalm 11:4-5 “The Lord is in His holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven: His eyes behold, His eyelids try, the children of men.

The Lord trieth the righteous:….”

If we have faith in the Lord,…..it must be tried….to strengthen it and prove to us that it is real. For faith digs in and holds on to God….faith moves us ever closer to the Lord;…..for the object of real faith is God.

We call this life: A life open to and receptive to Him, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Because we must open up our life in so many areas…..today it may be here, in our guidance.

And tomorrow, or next week, it will be in some other area,….in our friends, and family.

Next, it will be in the area of our health, our finances, our time….and it is amazing how many area’s of our life, we have never really given over to Him….

(I know this was the case with me….until He tried me there, then He said, “Is this Mine?”)

But we must “open to Him”……for we have a tendency to “close Him off” from things in our minds, and affections.

Though in the main stream, we will do His Will,…..yet our eyes look elsewhere, our minds think other plans, and our hearts can yearn after other things.

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

“Thy kingdom come.” Full stop. It is a statement all on it’s own. One which we are to pray for.

Christ’s kingdom will come one day on earth…..and we are to pray for it.

(Revelation 11:15)

But this whole prayer Jesus taught, is practical…..it is for His people, for today. In fact, it stresses the day….this day…

…..the praise and honor for the Father,

….the provision, physically and spiritually for today,

….the forgiving of our sins, and our forgiving others for today,

….the prayer for His keeping us from evil,….today,

….the reason we can pray for these things….because He is King of His kingdom, now….with power and glory….for ever.

So the prayer for His kingdom to come, is for today…..”in earth”…..in us.

We are to be expressions of His kingdom, here, today……because His kingdom has come with in us…..and He reigns as King of my life….remember, a life open to Him,……and receptive to Him, in all that He says.

Luke 11:2-4 “And He said unto them, When ye pray, say,

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

(Let me honor Your name and character)

Thy kingdom come. (In me and let it be shown by me to the sphere of my influence, today.)

Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

(With the joy that all the angels do Your will, let me do it….in me and by me)

Give us day by day, our daily bread.

(Supply my needs, spiritually, and physically)

And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive everyone that is indebted to us.

(Forgive me, Lord, for my sins this day. And as You have forgiven me, I forgive everyone who has injured and sinned against me.)

And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.”

(Help me, Lord, to know the Way to go, this day….keep my steps from slipping, and me from falling….for their is so much to trip me in my walk.)

He calls us to have a life open to and receptive to Him…..will we?

When Jesus is our King, we are always behind Him….protected in His guidance,…..and He is always in us….helping us, cheering us,….and calming our minds….for He is always in charge, where I am concerned.

The Fruitless Fig Tree

Matthew 21:17-19 “And He left them, and went out of the city into Bethany, and He lodged there.

Now in the morning, as He returned into the city, He hungered.

And when He say a fig tree in the way, He came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.”

(In Mark, it was the next morning that they saw the fig tree withered…..from it’s roots, up. Mark 11:20-21)

Here is the only thing our Lord cursed while here on earth……the fruitless fig tree.

(The fig tree’s leaves, were what Adam and Eve put together to cover themselves after their sin! Genesis 3:7)

This was the last week of Jesus life here on earth, and He has been in the city of Jerusalem teaching during the day…but at night went out to Bethany.

(It is interesting to note, that the Lord never spend a night in the city, after He rode into Jerusalem as “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna to the Highest.” Matthew 21:9.

He left Jerusalem, and went out to Bethany: home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus)

In the morning, walking back into Jerusalem, Jesus was hungry,…..when He saw a fig tree that had leaves.

(Fig trees first produce the beginnings of the fruit of figs, at the same time the leaves come on….so if the tree had leaves, whether it was the time for figs or not….it should have had fruit.)

But this tree had no fruit, to satisfy the Lord.

“Fruit” is the term used by the Lord to describe what we, as His people, are to give to Him. It springs from the life He implants within us…..in obedience to His life within us.

From John the Baptist’s charge against Israel…..to prepare the hearts of the people for Jesus, which spoke about fruit:

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

And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the tree: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”

And Jesus’ sermon on the mount:

Matthew 7:19-20 “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”

To the end when Jesus was talking to His disciples:

John 15:2, 4 “Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch can not bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.”

“Fruit” is how we show the life of Christ, through us. We bring forth the fruit of HIs life…..in our lives.

That is what He asks from His people…..to show that we are His.

That is how we satisfy the Lord Jesus.

And this is what the Lord was showing, in cursing the fruitless fig tree. “Let not fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever.”

If there is no fruit, but leaves only….it is worthless.

The leaves cover the tree, and make it look good to those who pass by….but leaves will not satisfy the Lord Jesus.

Matthew 21:20 “And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!”

After three years with the Lord, you would think the disciples would not be amazed at the fact that everything in creation, obeys the Lord…..but it was beyond natural,….yes, it was by the command of the Son of God.

Matthew 21:21-22 “Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”

Jesus was not giving a formula for rearranging landscapes……but a way….by faith (which is given to us when we receive His life in us)…….to remove from ourselves, any thing which would hinder us, from showing forth His life through us.

Whether is be a “fig tree”, which needs to be destroyed…..

….or a “mountain” which needs to be removed out of our way…..each is done, by us……by the faith the Lord has given us.

1 John 5:4 “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”

As Christians, we are to bring forth fruit to God….the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), and the fruit of a Christian…which is another Christian; by prayer, witnessing, or soul winning.

We are not all called to the same work…..but we are all called to satisfy the Lord Jesus Christ by giving Him the fruit of His life,…..lived out through ours.

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.