Borrow Vessels, not a Few

Elisha was a prophet in Israel.

There were many who, though contrary to the “popular religion”, followed God.

They would gather together to hear Elisha, as he traveled the country.

He ministered to the people with the Word of God, and instruction.

Many followed the teachings of God, and they were called the “sons of the prophets”.

Some set themselves aside for ministering, and prayer.

Others had families, and lived for God in there jobs.

A widow of one of these men came to Elisha in dire straights. After her husband had died, things had gotten very tough financially, and they had come into debt.

2 Kings 4:1 “Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.”

This was very serious. Both sons being taken, must have meant a large debt.

But she came to Elisha;…..he would be able to pray for her, or tell her what she could do by the Word of the Lord.

2 Kings 4:2 “And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee?

Tell me, what hast thou in the house?

And she said, Thy handmaid hath not anything in the house, save a pot of oil.”

At first, it is as if Elisha is not asking the woman at all….but rather praying for direction…”What shall I do for thee?”

Then, he asks her, according as the Holy Spirit showed him, “What do you have in the house?”

She had nothing to sell, nothing to trade. She only had a pot of oil.

How often we think we need something more, before we can serve God.

More knowledge, more courage, more understanding.

But really, we need to just use what we have: God’s grace which He has already given us.

When we do, then God will enable us,…..and He will supply more of what we need.

2 Kings 4:3-4 “Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.

When thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee, and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.”

Here was the answer:

She would have to be obedient,……and God would supply her need.

She would have to borrow empty vessels; for the Lord was going to work a miracle for her.

But it was to be for her and her sons. No one else was to be present, or even see through the door.

Elisha was not present. He did not do this.

The Lord did this for her, and her sons;……..using empty vessels and their obedience.

Did God supply the need? Yes!

2 Kings 4:5-6 “So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.

And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel.

And he said unto her, there is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.”

Abundantly the need was met! All the vessels they had borrowed, were filled, till there was no more.

God would have us bring our “empty vessels” to Him to be filled with His Spirit, for our everyday needs.

Shutting the door, so we may be alone with God in prayer and devotions, is often the means He uses to supply our need for the day.

The oil of joy, and strength, and peace…..and increased faith is often given as we close the door on the world, and seek Him, only.

2 Kings 4:7 “Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.”

After the miracle, she did not get “swelled head” and say, I know what I will do.

No, she came and asked for guidance as what to do next.

Amazingly, the answer was an answer for the rest of her life.

God saw to the need, and more. He gave to her, so that she would be able to live beyond this debt.

That is what God always gives us: life. It is what He supplies, even if He is seeing to a specific need, for now.

Our life as His children, here and now; and every time we need it.

It does not say whether the oil came drop by drop, or poured out fast from the vessel she had.

Only that the oil came, the need was met. He supplied it for her and her son’s life.

Let us look to God to supply the need of our life, bringing our “empty vessels” for His Spirit to fill….that we may have His life for us,…..and live by His direction.

To be Drawn to Christ, Himself

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

(Wine is given here, for all that inebriates….all that lifts us up. But the Lord’s intimate love to me, is better than all)

Here is the cry of a Christian knowing full well her lack of spirituality. She knows Jesus as Savior….and she obeys what she knows to be His Will….but…

…she wants closeness to the Lord……and no matter how many commitments she has made, or how many times she determines to “have more of God”,….

Still she is troubled by the feeling of dryness in her personal devotions and prayers…..where can she find Him? Do we have this desire?

(I want to say here, that the Word of God is full of the names of God. It is a very interesting study….the places where God gives a fuller revelation of His character and care….and to whom.

He wants each of us to come to know Him more and more….so each name of God, expresses a means by which we can know Him better.

He is the Word, He is the Way, He is the Shepherd, He is the Prophet, He is the Branch, He is the Son of Man, He is the King of Kings….etc.

There are so many more….each to give us a more complete understanding of His character, power, and care.)

She reads the promises of God….she wants them, and more……it has become a yearning of her whole soul after Christ, alone.

She speaks honestly about how she is….she knows she is not worthy to have fellowship with Him….but if He would tell her how….she would follow after.

Song of Solomon 1:7 “Tell me, O Thou Whom my soul loveth, where Thou feedest, where Thou makest Thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of Thy companions?”

So she starts praying; “How can I learn of You, Lord Jesus?

Where is that personal relationship, I hear about?

I am afraid to stay still and afraid to walk ahead…..yet here I am, please help me.”

Song of Solomon 1:8 “If thou know not, O thou fairest among women (what a name He calls the one who wants to get closer to Him!),

…go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the Shepherd’ tents.”

And He does speak. He gives a slight rebuke (those who will not be corrected will never be true followers, for corrections come to all of us….to love we must obey)

“Shouldn’t you know where to find me?……but since you don’t……the answer is….follow the flock and get to the Shepherd’s tent”

We should not neglect the gathering together with other Christians….but when it come to fellowship and that direct expression of His love for us, ourselves….then we must find it in submission to the Shepherd, Himself.

This is not submission to obey….but submission of person to Person…..character to His character….my love to His love.

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

Jehovah-Raah: the Lord my Shepherd

The word Shepherd here means to Tend, to Feed, to Rule, to Associate with.

It is a full and expressive word, which covers the actions of One Who has taken responsibility for me……wherever He leads, and whatever is ahead…

Have we bowed to His authority here?

Psalm 23: 2-6 (condensed) “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…

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff…comfort me.

Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life (here); and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

If you read this psalm, you will notice that all the praise goes to our Shepherd for His care, and protection.

But there is more….notice that it is “He” and “I”. This is not the church….but me….personally.

(Some say that this was written by David in his old age….after a lifetime following his Shepherd…through battles, corrections, and blessings.

As a young man tending his father’s sheep, he knew what being a shepherd meant……he had defended the flock against a lion and a bear…..even taking one lamb out of the mouth of one. 1 Samuel 17:34-36)

Isaiah 40:11 “He shall feed His flock like a Shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.”

He carries us through many situations….in sickness, anxiety, and trouble, within and without.

He stops some situations from becoming worse…..He bears us up, by strength and wisdom, to go through others…..He makes us to feel His loving presence at times more strongly, to help us cope with circumstances.

I must explain here, that though He is the Good, the Great, and the Chief Shepherd….and He calls us….yet we must will to follow where He leads….

We choose where we are in His flock….following close to Him, or at a distance.

John 10:11, 14, 27 “I am the good Shepherd: the good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.

I am the good Shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine.

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me:”

The Good Shepherd knows His sheep, He calls them and they answer Him. He leads them, and they follow Him.

Hebrews 13:20-21 “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the Everlasting covenant,

Make you perfect in every good work to do His Will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

The Great Shepherd came to die for the sheep, that they might live. He covers us with the protection of His blood. Entering into an Everlasting covenant of peace with us.

1 Peter 5:4 “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”

The Chief Shepherd watches from heaven for any slight done His sheep….and will come again to reward all who seek the good of the flock. (Acts 20:28-29, 32, John 13:35)

Jesus Christ is the Shepherd of the sheep. There is a fullness in this title of our Lord Jesus….are we His sheep? are we resting under His gaze, following in His paths, eating at His table?

Are we following close to Him,…….or getting distracted and lost in the world?

He will come to find us….(Frankly, I think, that we sometimes put these verses just for children….but if we are born again, we are His sheep….following Him…..or lost,….having wandered away)

Luke 15:4-5 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if He lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, till He find it?

And when He hath found it, He layeth it on His shoulders, rejoicing.”

But why should we be wandering? What has claimed our attention? What can’t we give up, or talk over with Him?

(Problems, grief, pain, hurt? Maybe we are not even aware of what has come between us….He will show it to you, if you come to Him)

1 Peter 2:25 “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”

He alone is our Shepherd…remember it means:

to tend (to care and protect),

feed (meeting our necessities, spiritual and physical)

rule (to be our King),

associate with (He is personally there with us in all the things we go through).

Are we enjoying that relationship with Him?

If not, we can,…..for He says come to Him, as our Shepherd.

2 Corinthians 13:14 “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.”

Peter’s refusal, and quick acceptance.

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

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

That this night, everything would change.

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

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

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

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

“Lord, dost thou wash my feet?”

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

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

(How much He humbled Himself when He came to earth to save us!)

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

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

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

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

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

Jesus wanted to show that they should take care of each other. He had even washed their feet: the job of a servant. If He would do that for them, they should humble themselves in service for each other.

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

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

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

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

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

But a full bath was not necessary.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jesus wanted His disciples, especially Peter, to know that fellowship with Him is maintained by our letting Him cleanse our “feet”, or our walk. (That is why the feet were washed when coming into a house, because, having walked on the dirt roads, they would be dirty)

If we are to have fellowship with Christ, and the strength that comes from it, we must be cleansed, daily from our sins, and defilements.

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

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

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

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

Soldiers of Christ Jesus

Ephesians 6:10 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.”

Paul, here, tells the Christians at Ephesus, that…. as they are seated in Christ Jesus in the heavenlies; able to receive all the spiritual blessings He has for them (Ephesians 1:3, 2:6)…yet,….they must now take a stand against the wiles of the devil.

Every servant of the Lord Jesus Christ is called to stand with Him….and if you stand with Him….you stand against the world-system, and sin.

And in order to do that, you must be empowered….for we are not a well: a reserve of water unto ourselves…..but a sponge in an ocean of power….soaking up constantly.

And that is what the original word means: “..in the power of His might.” To be constantly empowered.

Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

This is one of the provisions from God, to us…..but we are responsible to put it on. It is said twice….a witness to us, of our responsibility, and privilege as His soldiers:

Ephesians 6:13 “Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

Notice it is “stand against the wiles of the devil” , And “withstand in the evil day”.

The wiles of the devil, or tricks or stratagems……we stand against them….they are the “fiery darts”. The devil is always making suggestions…reminding us of how we used to be….telling us not to believe God….this thing is not so “bad”….and so much more.

The evil day….we withstand it, in ourselves, and from others……we will not let the world’s way of seeing, affect us.

Worry, tension, fear,….anger, malice, revenge….spiteful words, gossip, slander….and so much more, can turn any day into the evil day….and we are to withstand it.

Ephesians 6:14 “Stand therefore,….”

I have preached before about the armor…..but the armor is not so many pieces that you wear….rather it is the truth of the experience, that each piece signifies….

A soldier puts on his armor before the battle….in preparation for it. And we are in a battle every day against the tricks of the devil.

Truth : the truth of our salvation…..knowing we are saved.

Romans 8:16 “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”

…..and then knowing the truth of His love to us, personally. (1 John 4:16, 19)

Righteousness : we are clothed with the very righteousness of Christ. But if we want our heart and conscience to be cleansed and protected, we need to live righteously….no hidden sin….all confessed, up-to-date.

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

Peace : the place of rest, being sure of our walk with Christ—garrisoned about with peace.

Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

It is the hiding place for every Christian in the turmoil of battle…..learning how to depend upon the promises of God for inner peace….no matter what is going on around us, then we are sure-footed.

Faith : this is the practical use of the faith given you at new birth,……putting it to use, to overcome in the battles of life.

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.”

Faith always sees God in the situation….and places our confidence in Him. Faith is “moveable”, like a shield…….it covers our minds, our hearts, and our wills….it goes down and covers our walk, and work…..reminding us of God, not the circumstances.

Salvation : this is to think saved…..think that I belong to Christ, therefore, I am to act as His.

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

The Word of God : what a mighty weapon, if we use it. (Read it, and learn it). A growing knowledge of the scriptures, and how they apply to our life.

Accusations from the devil and the world, come…..and we should do as Jesus did, when He was tempted (Matthew 4:1-11),……we need to meet those accusations with the Word of God.

It is that Word that the Holy Spirit reminds us of, at the time……for then it is delivered with power. (We have so many promises in His Word, we need to know and use)

All-prayer : God answers prayer because we believe Him.

Mark 11:24 “Therefore I say unto you, whatsoever things ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”

We should pray in Jesus Name (John 16:23-24)….asking His will done.

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

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

To put on the whole armor of God, we need to get in our experience, the power that the Lord has made available for us in this battle…..whenever and wherever that is…..the power of His Might.

The power that is set forth in the experience that these pieces picture……and then we need to….”Stand therefore….”

Forgiving

Matthew 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

When we pray “forgive us our debts”, we are not asking to be removed from our responsibilities.

We are asking that God would “acquit” us from our guilt. That is to have the punishment due our sin, removed.

It is a legal term, for God is either our Savior, or our Judge.

If He is our Savior, then He has taken our guilt, and the punishment of it on Himself, when He was offered on the cross.

His precious blood covers us and we are made “righteous”.

That means we are not just “not guilty” before God, but that Christ righteousness is applied to us.

We stand in Him, and God sees us as such.

So when we have committed sins (and we do each day: sins of omission, or of not doing right. Or sins of commission, or of doing wrong.); we may come to Him as ask forgiveness.

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

And He forgives us.

Then He asks us to be like Him, and forgive our debtors; those who have wronged us.

We are not excusing their sins, only forgiving them, as we have been forgiven by God.

To forgive is to invite peace, peace with God and man, into your life.

When we forgive, we do not let things, like anger and bitterness, come between us and God.

We know He could change circumstances in my favor, if He wanted to.

But what He wants is to change us,….in the circumstances.

To show us His saving strength, and His bubbling joy, even in dark times.

To have us walk in His light.

The Bible says:

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

I had a cousin once who was the daughter of a missionary in a foreign country.

She would go with her father through the jungle paths, to visit the people of their congregation.

They always carried a lamp and a flashlight, in case it grew dark before they came home.

At night, her father would walk in front, holding the lamp, and shining the flashlight behind him on the path, so she would know how to walk safely.

She said that often as they were walking, this verse would come to her mind, and she would thank God for their safety; both spiritually and physically.

Jude 21 “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

Eternal Life begins the moment we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior; and continues forever.

The Holy Spirit helps us forgive. We are not left to ourselves, but helped on all sides.

Forgiving others frees us from the tangled emotions which bind us to the world,…..and lets us fly over the circumstances….and people, in peace.

Are You Listening?

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

To answer the call of Christ in this Laodicean Age, requires not an answer of words, but an answer of a life open to, and receptive to Him.

What is sup in this verse?

It means fellowship, which is the reaction of a love relationship. The Creator having fellowship with His creature.

We forget that God is God.

At the head of this church letter, He calls Himself the Amen.

And He is the only one who can say Amen, or “so let it be”, to any plan, or suggestion, or purpose.

Then He calls Himself the Faithful and True Witness.

He is Faithful, never letting the Purpose for which we were created, out of His sight.

And therefore, He truly tells us how we are, so that we can,…if we will,….bring ourselves to Him, so we can be made what He wants us to be.

He is a faithful and true witness to His church, as how they are.

Then He is The beginning of the creation of God.

When God thought of creating the earth, and mankind; Christ, as the Man Christ Jesus, was His first thought.

For He knew the world, by Adam’s sin, would be lost without providing a Savior.

So, before anything was created; God the Father, and God the Son entered into the Everlasting Covenant. (Hebrews 13:20-21)

God promised Christ that if He would come, and die on the cross as the Perfect Man, then He would raise Him up from death, and give Him a people which would love and obey Him.

Christ Jesus tells us here; what we are…lukewarm, and about to be vomited out of Him; so we will be without His sustaining.

He also tells us how we are…we are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.

All of these things speak of a people, who are not letting Christ make them into what He has planned for them…….

They think they are, but He says they are not.

Then He gives us very good advice.

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

In Psalms the Lord tells us that His counsel will stand. We can count on it , because we can count on Him. That He gives us the best counsel for our situation.

Psalms 33:11-12 “The counsel of the Lord standeth forever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations.

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

He tells us that the best advice for the strengthening of our Christian lives,….is buy of Me.

We are not to buy salvation, no. But we are to buy the things He has already purchased for us, for our Spiritual Health.

You may ask, Why do we buy, if He has already purchased them for us?

We buy them…..of Him. Again, we are not buying Salvation….that is a free gift for all who will come to Christ as Lord and Savior. Once He is our Savior, we are to come to Him in faith receiving all He has for us.

But if we refuse?

They are set aside, till we….”Wake up”; and want them.

Often, since we have refused them before; He will prove how much we want them; and this is when He requires that we “buy them”.

We buy them by Obedience to what He says. If we will Obey Him in these things, we prove that we really want His Will and gifts.

We buy of Him the things that we have refused to use before.

Has He not offered the grace to grow and the power to do? Yet we have often prayed for these things,…..but did not like the way they came.

“Sorry, Lord, I’m going to refuse this gift, for now, because I don’t like the people I have to work with; no, no, I just couldn’t do it now”

This is often the way we treat Jesus.

That is why He says we are: “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked……not clothed with the righteous acts whereby we manifest His Light to the world.

So He says, Buy of Me.

“If you finally are willing to Obey Me as your Lord, and Savior; buy these things that I have for you by obedience to My Will.

Get them, and I will manifest Myself unto you in a special way, for you have finally opened your life to Me, as you should.”

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

This is Fellowship with the Almighty Christ.

He knocks, and speaks to your heart.

Are you listening?

Sin

There are two definitions in the Bible for sin:

Romans 14:23 “….for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”

James 4:17 “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

But there are many examples of sin:

Of course the first one is Adam and Eve.

I have talked of this before, but I want to describe the way we got here.

God created Adam in His image: God is Father, Son and Holy Ghost….we are spirit, soul and body.

He is a Trinity….we are a tri-unity. He made us that we could have fellowship with Him…the greatest joy. (Genesis 1:26, 2:7)

God also gave Adam a help-meet: Eve. Eve was taken out of Adam, from his rib, and formed….she was not formed separately from the dust of the ground as Adam was….she was from Adam.

They were placed in a garden and told to keep it. The animals were brought to Adam to name them….he was given dominion over all the creatures, as God’s vice-governor;…..with one law…..

Adam was not to eat of one…..yes, that is right, just one of the trees of the garden.

All the other trees, he could eat of, but that one.

Genesis 2:16-17 “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

Why was there any law?

Because God is a God of holiness and beauty….therefore a government of order, even among those He fellowships with, is necessary.

When God breathed into Adam the breath of life (the Holy Spirit), Adam became a living soul….conscious of his feelings, of his thoughts, and of his will….conscious of God and His love and care.

That gift of life, by the Holy Spirit within, brought faith with it….a knowledge of God, Who He was, and His character and government over him and Eve.

Adam was fully grown, intelligent, and had experienced God’s love, care and power. In him all the generations of mankind lay ready to experience supreme happiness…if he would continue in it.

Would Adam continue to believe and trust God?

Though Adam was innocent, without sin at this point,…..still he was changeable.

Would he stay true to God, on the one point of law that God required?

As a tree, would be established…root, trunk, and branches; so Adam, and His dependents, would be established in righteousness forever had he been obedient to this one thing.

And as a tree, Adam and His descendants, would be cut down….if he disobeyed.

We know what happened: Eve was tempted by the devil….he was under a guise of a serpent; and started talking to Eve.

This must have startled her, for no other creature could talk.

(I might add here, she should have immediately turned from him and ran to get Adam, and told him and God what was going on….but she listened. A wile of the devil we still fall into)

Genesis 3:4-6a “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. (Silly, they already knew good, why know evil?)

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise,…”

As she listened….he started to make “sense”. She started to imagine what he was offering….

They would not die, as God had said….but instead (yes, her imagination is getting into full swing)

They would be able to “see”….(the only thing she was seeing was illusion)….

beauty and food (she already had that in every other tree);

We will be as gods……(the idea of bondage in obedience to God came in here…they had absolute freedom, joy and peace with themselves and the creation around them, including animals….but the idea of “something more” dazzled her.)

Now again, I must say….we did not die in Eve. She came from Adam, so it was all up to Adam to say for the human race.

Would he believe God and stay true to Him…..and save himself, and his generations?

Or would he “see” with Eve, and kill himself, Eve, and millions of his children?

Genesis 3:6b-7 “…she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave (offered) also to her husband with her, and he did eat.

And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.”

Naked…their souls, which had been clothed with the goodness and peace of God; became bare before a Holy God.

God, their God,….became God, the Judge. A horrible place to be…so they tried to hide.

Of course they could not hide…..but God, even then, gave them the chance to confess their sin…but instead they continued to try and hide their choice:

Adam blamed God for giving him Eve….(Genesis 3:12)

Eve blamed the devil for tempting her….(Genesis 3:13)

(We are certainly like our father, Adam….we blame God for all the illness, death, and destruction which comes….when it is sin, Adam’s for all; and ours in particular which separates us from God and His blessing for us.)

And the sin just kept getting worse: the second son of Adam and Eve was murdered by the first…and so it continues…

But God did not give up on the human race: He had a plan, which is called the Everlasting Covenant.

Hebrews 13:20-21 “And the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the Everlasting Covenant,

Make you perfect in every good work to do His Will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

In eternity past God made a way for all mankind to be saved from the sin of Adam….and their personal sin.

1 Corinthians 15:21-22 “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead,

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”

Christ Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life….only by Him shall any be saved from their sin. (Matthew 1:21)

He was the Son of God come to earth as the Son of man. He was both man and God in one, and as such was the only man of worth, who could pay the penalty for the sins of the world.

Christ Jesus came, and lived a perfect life…fulfilling all the law, doing all God’s Will, speaking all that the Father wanted Him to.

He gave Himself a perfect sacrifice

(none could have held Him, if He had chosen….but He chose the Father’s Will of sacrifice; unlike Adam who chose his own way. John 18:37, 19:11)

He commended His own Spirit into the Father’s hands….

Luke 23:46 “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said, Father, into Thy hands I commend My Spirit: and having said thus He gave up the ghost.”

None took His life from Him…..even with all the pain and agony……He gave His Father all the payment that God required to free us from condemnation.

Christ’s sacrifice was accepted, for God raised Christ from the dead, and set Him at His right hand….the place of power and authority. (Matthew 28:18,

1 Corinthians 15:27)

Christ rose again by the Father’s power, to give us Eternal Life (Romans 6:23)….which is His life in us, now, and forever…..making us righteous before a Holy God….in Him.

That same power which raised Christ, He works in us, who believe:

Ephesians 1:19-20 “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.”

When we receive Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior (John 1:12), then…..

God is no longer our Judge…..He becomes to us the Living God,

the God of all grace (1 Peter 5:10),

the God of peace (Phil. 4:9),

our Father in heaven,

the God of patience (Romans15:5),

the God of hope (Romans 15:13),

the God of all comfort (2 Cor. 1:3),…..all this and more…. for His presence by the Holy Spirit teaches us that nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:39).

Now all this is the grand and glorious life we have in Christ Jesus…..our standing in Christ.

But are we obtaining all that His life offers us?

Romans 6:6 “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”

Here is the Way we should go, as servants of our great Lord and Savior, we should not serve sin.

And Christ has placed within us, by His Holy Spirit, the light, the means, and the power to be free from all our personal sin….we can be obedient….and follow Him into real liberty.

Romans 6:16 “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death (for Christians it is death to our joy, peace and closeness to Christ), or of obedience unto righteousness.”

We are born again to glorify God….to be His lights.

Hopefully, harbor lights to show others the Way,……and not warning lights which say,….serving God is bondage.

(I truly believe any who thinks that serving the Lord is bondage, needs to set things right with God….something is wrong. They are listening to the devil’s wiles, like Eve did)

But the horribleness of our world surrounds us….what are we to do?

I have heard people ask, If God is so good, why do terrible things happen?

God is good,……and in this world, covered in the horribleness of sin, He offers Himself….to save us from it.

He also heals (Spiritually and often physically), comforts, strengthens, and leads us in the right way.

But often there is fear and distress….very real trouble.

Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Once we look up, we can breathe again…..God is in charge….

Then…….we are to get up……and get about the work He has called each of us to do…. to do the next step, and the next…

I have been given the illustration of a pebble—not a boulder—but a small pebble thrown into water.

The ripples outward are from the force of the small pebble influencing the water around it.

So are we…..obedience is to be first in me. Christ’s kingdom must reign within me….He must rule…in me.

Matthew 6:10 “Thy kingdom come. Thy Will be done, in earth (me) as it is in heaven.”

Then, the influence of my obedience is in ever widening circles….those of my influence….my church, my home, my job….they should know the power of God,……because they see it in me.

Then it just keeps going….God’s Word spoken, God’s peace noticed, God’s mercy given.

Titus 2:11-14 “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;

Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

For though we are not here to serve men,……….the Lord, Himself, serves, encourages, helps, strengthens, and ministers to men….through us.

James 1:27 “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless, and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

Sin is truly the evil God said it is….it brings death: both physical and spiritual—which is separation from God.

It is bondage of a terrible sort….no joy, no peace, no true satisfaction.

“More, more” is the language of sin….there is never enough, for it swallows whole parts of our lives.

Come to Jesus….

Psalms 37:4 “Delight thyself also in the Lord;..”

Those who come to know the Lord, learn that He is a delight, following is a delight, and learn that the way of faith is delightful.

May we all be more saved from our sin….leading us into more joy, and usefulness to God’s great work of love…to Him and others.

Blessed.

Psalm 65:4 “Blessed is the man whom Thou choosest, and causest to approach unto Thee, that he may dwell in Thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of Thy house, even of Thy holy temple.”

Blessed means twice happy!

God sees us blessed; How do we see ourselves, in His work?

When He chooses us, He causes us to draw near to Him. Would we resist that drawing?

When I was first brought back into the right way, after wandering away from God; I was in awe, that He loved me enough to welcome me back.

My thought was to grow closer to Him. Nearer, Nearer, I prayed. That is what I want.

The song of Nearer My God to Thee, seemed to play in my head, often.

“Even though it be a cross that raises me…”.

The “pig pen” of the world I had experienced; I wanted the “home” of closeness with God.

Blessed I was, and am, for God’s mercy to me.

This Psalm typifies God’s great arms.

Drawing us, even when we run away.

Calling us, even when we have refused before.

“We shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house,”

For Christians, the closer we get to the Lord, the more satisfied we are. The further away from God, the more opportunity for things to come in between us.

These cause barriers.

The barriers we place, between the Lord and ourselves, cause discontent.

And discontent is to be dissatisfied.

And when we are dissatisfied, we start looking for other things.

There are many temptations in the world, the best place to be safe is in the “holy temple” of fellowship and nearness to the Lord.

Blessed is the one who is close to the Lord.

Blessed, also, is the one who is given opportunity to get near to the Lord, again.

Most blessed is the one who never looks for any other satisfaction, than in Him.

The Still Small Voice

1 Kings 19:12 “And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.”

When we think of God’s power, we think of miracles from the Bible:

The sun standing still (Joshua 10:12-14)

or time going backward as a sign for the healing of king Hezekiah. (2 Kings 20:8-11).

Indeed, there was power there….

But, when God’s power is usually seen, it is thru His Word.

(He stressed this , at the first:

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

He did not have to speak; all He had to do was will it.

But He did speak, to show the value He places on His Word.)

To stress the real Power of His Voice, we would do back to a cave and a hiding Prophet.

1 Kings 19:9 “And he (Elijah) came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?”

Indeed, What was Elijah doing in that cave? How did he come to this?

Elijah was a man of Gilead, who was distressed at the low spiritual state of Israel. They were worshipping idols, and killing those who worshipped God. Yes, things were very low.

So he began to pray. God had told Israel that if they worshipped other gods , then He would withhold the rain. (Deuteronomy 11:16-17).

Elijah prayed God would withhold rain, to get Israel’s attention…..so they would turn back to God.

James 5:17 ” Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.”

For six months Elijah prayed for God to withhold the rain, and He did.

Then Elijah was told to go to Ahab, king of Israel and tell him:

1 Kings 17:1 ” And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.”

This might seem the wrong way to go about it….for Ahab did not believe in God…he had completely become an idol worshipper.

But someone coming and saying , in effect, “The true God of Israel is listening to my prayers,….And He is going to stop the rain, all the rain and dew; until I pray again.”

That got Ahab’s attention!

Elijah was told to go and hide…for Ahab would try and kill him. He did try. But God hid him….till:

After 3 years, Israel was in famine….cattle, crops, everything withering,

Then…

Elijah was told (1 Kings 18:1). “….Go, show thyself to Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.”

How would he do that? Through Elijah’s prayer…but first, Elijah wanted to showed Ahab and all the Israelites,…..the power of God,…..when you obey Him.

So , he set up a “contest” between the priests of the idol, and him.

1 Kings 18:19 “Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred which eat at Jezebel’s table.”

It was a simple contest :

1 Kings 18:23-24 “Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:

And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.”

So the prophets of Baal began:

1 Kings 18:26 “And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that heard. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.”

Notice, “No voice, nor any that heard”. Tricks and show…..but no reality.

So now it was Elijah’s turn.

Remember Elijah began this, by praying that God would withhold rain, so Israel would be awakened to their sin of idolatry and come back to God.

But how would they be awakened?

By a mighty demonstration of God’s Power?

For even under famine, the people had not turned back to God.

Called to the work of making everyone know that God was not pleased with Israel’s sin.

This he did when he went to Ahab.

Everyone knew that he had gone before the king and declared “No rain or dew” till he said.

And there had been no dew or rain for 3 years!

What were the means to Awaken the hearts to God’s demands for His people?

How were they to “hear” for themselves, and return to Him?

Well, it is through His Word spoken to our hearts…..

After three years of drought and famine; Elijah was told to go back and God would send rain.

God puts HIs people through a measured chastening….It was time to send rain. He would send it through Elijah’s prayer, but…….

As for the “contest”, I believe Elijah thought (as most of us would),…..if the people could just see some mighty work, that only God could do, then that would believe

it.

God’s people would know….once for all–that God was God….and return to Him.

(Remember the people are standing around, watching as the priests of the idol fail…..and now their attention is turned to Elijah)

1 Kings 18:30-35 ” And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down.

And Elijah took twelve stones, ….And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.

And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.

And he said, Do it a second time. And they did….And he said, Do it a third time. And they did it the third time.

And water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.”

(Where did he get the water? Mt. Carmel is about a few miles from the Mediterranean Sea)

He made the Altar so wet it could never burn….except by the Power of God.

Listen to the Prayer of Elijah:

1Kings 18:37-39 “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.

Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know a that thou art the Lord God, and that Thou hast turned their heart back.

The the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.”

Two things to notice:

Elijah did not pray for rain, here.

And the people said “the Lord, he is the God”…….not our God.

The fire came down! First the burnt sacrifice was consumed, which meant God heard Elijah, and honored him before the king and the people.

Then the wood,

Then the stones of the altar, itself

Then the very dust on the ground where the altar sat.

And licked up the water in the trench.

Then the prophets and priests of Baal were slain!

This was a mighty demonstration; so….

Everything is set in order, right?

But what did it do for King Ahab, or the people?

Where was the rain?

It came, and at Elijah’s prayer, but who was noticing , then?

1 Kings 18:42-45 “So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, And said to his servant, Go up now , look toward the sea. And he went up and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand……..And it came to pass in the meanwhile, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain.”

The fire falling was a mighty answer to prayer, but the people’s hearts were not turned back to God.

They might have been shown the true God…….

But I believe, that to turn their hearts back , required Elijah to preach God’s Word to the people that he had prayed for,…..till their hearts said The Lord is our God.

That requires people hearing for themselves God’s requirements on their own lives.

And that comes through preaching, and teaching God’s Word, and prayers.

(We can know God is able, without ever knowing God is able for me. That is the problem here; God was real now, They had to believe in His power…but they did not believe in Him for their lives)

Then what did this mighty demonstration do for Elijah? For Ahab? For the people?

For Ahab there was no change in his heart.

1 Kings 19:1 ” And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.”

He ran home and told Jezebel; nothing changed in his life.

For the people? Some say that the worship of Baal was never the same. And the servants of God we’re not brutally killed as before.

But most did not turn back to God, even though they knew He was “The God.”

And for Elijah? That is the saddest situation of all.

Having done such a Mighty Demonstration of God’s Power….

Since the rain was given in answer to his prayer….he thought:

Surely everything is over with….Israel will now worship The Lord God , and Elijah could go and relax.

Everything was fixed…they were God’s People again. Right?

God enables His servants….there was ample power at Elijah’s disposal.

But……God requires His servants to see the job done; and Elijah thought the job was over with.

But it wasn’t:

1 Kings 19:2 “Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time”

Now as God’s Servants, we should expect trials, and enemies in this world.

But Elijah was thrown off guard, by thinking that the work was done, that he and God had won. There would be no opposition.

But, again, that was not the case.

1 Kings 19:3 “And when he saw that , he arose, and went for his life,….”

After such a mighty demonstration, then running for his life.

Now , I would not judge Elijah….I have been tricked up myself, thinking things were not what they actually were.

And thinking that if I could just somehow show God’s Power, too, things would be different.

What we need to come to is God’s Word, and Voice.

What was it that began Elijah’s ministry?

The Word of God spoken to Moses so many years before…a promise that God surely would; and did, bring to pass by his seeking it.

And what caused Elijah to return , to pray for rain, after three years….God’s Word to him.

So now let us consider a lesson that God used to teach His runaway prophet. (For He was not done with him, though he had run away.)

1 Kings 19:9-10 “And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?

And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life , to take it away. ”

Maybe he actually thought he was the only one left. A sure sign that no one seemed to stand with him. And here he was hiding inside the cave.

1 Kings 19:11-13 “And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by , and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; BUT THE LORD WAS NOT IN THE WIND: and after the wind an earthquake; BUT THE LORD WAS NOT IN THE EARTHQUAKE: And after the earthquake a fire; BUT THE LORD WAS NOT IN THE FIRE: and after the fire A STILL SMALL VOICE. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And behold, there came a voice unto him and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?”

God’s Word and Voice began his ministry; and here God teaches His prophet a lesson about His Voice in comparison to Mighty Demonstrations of Power.

God calls Elijah to come out of hiding, after showing him He was not in the wind, earthquake, or fire….but it is His Voice that brings out His real servants to Himself.

Here God gives his runaway servant some instructions, and Elijah just goes and does it. No need for anything else.

And what else does God show him? The prophet who said “I only am left”?

1 Kings 19:18 “Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.”

There were seven thousand of God’s servants, throughout Israel.

The important thing here, is: Having heard the Word of the Lord again, Elijah just goes and does it.

There is no fear, no hesitation, he just does what he is told.

This is true power…God’s Voice speaking to us…..and us doing what He says.

He can do what He promises,…….and He can take care of us, through it all.

The Potter, and the Clay

Jeremiah 18:5-6 “Then the word of the Lord came to me saying,

O house of Israel, can not I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord, Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.”

Paul says the same thing in:

Romans 9:20-21 “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?”

(These verses have often disturbed people….yes, me too, at one time. But I have come to see that God’s molding me, is not because He does not love me…He made me, me…..but because He wants to make my character like Christ’s. HIs poking me, and prodding me, here and there is for one purpose; that I might enjoy the freedom which is knowing the fullness of His love and care, every moment. There is no darkness with God….all is light….enjoyable, warm, loving light…and HE needs to bring me into it.)

This is not our bodies; yes, they are all different, but God is speaking of molding our souls.

God has used every experience of our lives to shape our souls.

Our souls are that which makes us unique. They are a gift from God that no other creature has.

Genesis 2:7 “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

The soul is the apartment of self-consciousness. It is where our personality is. There, our individual character is formed, and rules our thought life, our emotions, our will, our conscience, and our social interactions.

When we are born again, we are given the blessed privilege of having the Holy Spirit come and dwell with us, for Christ said He would not leave us comfort less, He would come unto us.

John 14:16-18 “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;

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

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”

As Christians, Paul is saying that as God’s “clay”, we need to accept what we are,

how we are,

and even, where we are,

and then be reconciled to Him, in them.

How much of our discontent lies in this.

God wants to make us a vessel unto honor, and has given us His Spirit to enable and mold us:

2 Timothy 2:20-21 “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth, and some to honor, and some to dishonor.

If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”

To move forward with God, you must be in your place before Him. To know that He is there with us, because He loves us.

So many people say, “God knows best”;……yet doubt every time trouble comes.

They are anxious, burdened, and worried.

(Haven’t we all experienced this doubt?)

But we are called to “possess our souls”….our souls are our mind, heart, and will….which make up our personality.

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

We are to gain, by subjection to the Holy Spirit, real power over our affections:

Proverbs 4:23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.”

Proverbs 23:26 “My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.”

Our thoughts:

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

And wills:

John 7:17 “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whither it be of God, or whither I speak of myself.”

There is always trouble here, in this world; but as you submit to the Holy Spirit, the influence of the trouble is less, and less.

His power to help, strengthen, and encourage is more and more.

He is the Potter, we are the clay.

Submitting to Him we have liberty, and begin to have the fruit of the Spirit working in us and through us.

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

Let us yield; or give in; or submit; or surrender; all terms which mean that for us,…we choose Christ…..and Christ will choose for my life.