To be Saved Spirit, Soul, and Body

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Faithful is He that calleth you, Who will also do it.”

Now the very God of peace. What a wonderful name for our God!

This is not judicial peace….that, we get when we are born again. A not guilty verdict is given on us, for our sins….which we have committed against a Holy God.

How? Because Jesus Christ died on the cross, taking all our sins on Him, and fulfilling the penalty of our sins in His sacrifice and death. (As Son of God, His was the only worthy sacrifice which could pay such a price.)

But this title: “the very God of peace”, refers to the peace He gives us as we are His, in a world of woe.

This is, of course, as we yield to the Holy Spirit of God within us.

Peter has a verse which shows this:

2 Peter 1:5 “And besides this giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;”

Add to your faith, virtue….

This virtue is the “artea” of the Spirit. It is the force of Him in our lives.

He speaks, as the cooing of a dove (Matthew 3:16-17)….distilling peace, quietness and grace, into our busy lives.

He moves in our hearts, to give purity of thought, and action.

He influences us into “…things….true,…honest,…just,…pure,…lovely,…good report,..” (Philippians 4:7-8)

Our hearts become gentle in dealing with others….for that is what He is.

And He places His love in us….for God, for the brethren, and for others. (John 13:34-35)

This is all brought about by acts of our will. As you yield your will to the Holy Spirit, you find yourself being borne along….as the sails on a ship in the wind.

This is learned….though we receive the Holy Spirit at new birth, yet we have to learn to yield to Him.

His disciples, after three years with Him, still had a lot to learn….and so do we:

And of what spirit are we? Sometimes we think the motive we have is good,…but His will is always best.

Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem…”He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem,”.

(It was time for Him to go up and have the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem…whether they received Him as their King or not. Matthew 21:1-9)

As He went, He had to pass through a village of the Samaritans. But they refused His visit….because He was going up to Jerusalem, not staying with them.

(Remember He had preached and stayed at a Samaritan town, after talking to the woman at the well. John 4:6-40)

But now they refused Him….silly anger, because they thought they were being looked over. (How often our vanity leads us astray!)

Luke 9:53-56 “…And they did not receive Him….And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt Thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elijah did?

But He turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not of what manner of spirit ye are of.

For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.”

Now, I want to point out that this is James and John, two of the Lord’s closest disciples. They wanted to defend Jesus….but He needed no defense….He wants to save.

Sometimes it is better to walk away, and leave the angry to their own fumes.

Proverbs 25:28 “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.”

The cities in those days needed walls around them, or marauding bands would come through, and steal and kill indiscriminately.

So, we need to keep our spirits, so that they will be yielding to the Holy Spirit, and not the spirit of the times,

or the spirit of bitterness—looking back,

or the spirit of scorn.

Trust me, I have been corrected so many times, about feeling “insulted”,

Or thinking what others think….maybe they are smarter than I.

But…

What I need to know….is…what does my Lord think, or feel about this.

Psalms 51:17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.”

(This “broken” here, is like a horse….you break down their independence, not destroy their spirit. They will only be able to trust and respond to you, as they are broken of their “wild” spirit.

So with us. David’s spirit of independence: he had sinned as a king, doing what he wanted…had to be “broken”; and it was.

But that had only brought him to lean on, and trust God more.)

The God of Peace offers salvation: spirit, soul, and body. Let us come to Him and yield to the Holy Spirit’s force, “artea”, within us.

Let us yield to the sweet influence of purity….the purity of the Holy Spirit within us, making us more like Christ.

The Blind Man

Mark 10:46-47 “And they came to Jericho: and as He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.

And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry, and say, Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.”

Going up to Jerusalem, going toward the end of His ministry here, Jesus goes through Jericho.

On the side of the highway, where he could be seen, sat Bartimaeus. He was a blind man. He was a beggar, and he did not want to miss an opportunity for anyone to give to him.

He heard the crowd passing, and eager to get a coin, he asked what the procession was.

It is interesting to note, that after three years of ministry, Jesus’ name is well known.

As soon as Bartimaeus hears Who is passing by, he knows this is his opportunity for healing.

This is belief. He believed that this Jesus, Who he had heard about, could heal him. He called Him “the Son of David”, for this was one of the titles of the Messiah to come.

The Savior would come as the Son of David, and Bartimaeus believes that Jesus is He.

Mark 10:48 “And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.”

“Quiet! We are going up to Jerusalem. We have important things to do, we don’t have time for a blind beggar.”

But….

Mark 10:49 “And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; He calleth thee.”

But Jesus did have time.

Jesus had waited to answer Bartimaeus, and given others the opportunity to mention him; to show kindness to a blind Israelite. (Deuteronomy 15:11)

But they only told him to be quiet…..which he wasn’t……he yelled even louder trying to make Jesus hear him….which He did.

Mark 10:50-51 “And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.

And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.”

Notice how the blind man, when he knows Jesus calls him; how he throws away his garment (his outer cloak).

He wanted nothing to hinder his step to Jesus. He was sure that the old garment of a beggar, he would wear no more.

“What do you want me to do for you?” (How many times, when we have come to Jesus in prayer, do we believe He will hear, and act for us?)

“Lord” (one of the most important Names of Jesus Christ. Lord: when you say it, it is almost like you are bowing before Him). “That I might receive my sight.”

Mark 10:52 “And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.”

“Go thy way;”. You can go home, you can stay here in Jericho. But Bartimaeus chose the best way: he followed Jesus.

“Thy faith hath made thee whole.”

Jesus healed because of his faith in Him.

What the blind man had heard of Jesus, caused him to believe that He was the Son of God,…..so he put his trust in Him to heal.

And that faith led him to cry out to Jesus, and be healed; but also led him to follow Jesus.

The blind man was blind no more; not in eyes, or in heart.

True North on the Compass of your Life

There is a magnetic north, which is not true north.

You can navigate with magnetic north for short trips. It will get you in the general vicinity.

But to navigate across the vast spaces, you need true north…..for that is calculated by lines of longitude.

So to navigate accurately, especially for long trips, over long distances and time; you must be able to ascertain true north.

As Christians, we have a long journey ahead of us. Whether we are born again as children, or adults; we have the rest of our lives to be guided as we are on our way to heaven.

This is called Eternal life….for it is a condition of life…now and forever in heaven, with God.

As journeymen in this life, we are all given a part in the Purpose of God….a personal calling and gifts, from the Lord; who gives us His Holy Spirit to enable us to do.

He give us a “goal or prize” to head for…

Philippians 3:13-14 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things where 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.”

All are called as witnesses….some as teachers of His Word, some as prayer warriors, some as preachers, some as peacemakers….etc.

We are never without purpose each day.

Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

For we are His workmanship,…..and that means that we are molded into the character of Christ Jesus,…..for good works:….and He has made full provision, so we might walk in them.

(Full provision? How? First…The Lord has provided us with His Holy Spirit, Who gives us faith by which we can overcome the way of the world (1 John 5:4-5)

Second…There is guidance….by His Word.

Third…the Holy Spirit enables us with His “fruit” in our lives: peace, joy, long-suffering, gentleness, etc. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Fourth…there is love…His love encouraging, and yes, empowering us to go on.)

Our purpose is to walk in those good works, He has given us to do.

This includes our words, and actions:

Titus 3:8 “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.”

So, if we are to navigate our life through this wicked world; from here all the way to heaven, we need to find true north.

What is true north for each Christian?

True North for each of us is making Jesus Christ, Lord of our lives.

And He is not Lord of us, until we determine to obey Him….in all our ways.

If we were talking about a car; His Lordship is the power in the engine…submitting to Him gives us power in our lives to do anything……and our obedience is the wheels,….they are in the world…but going forward.

And of course He is driving.

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.”

John 7:17 (LNT) “If any of you really determines to do God’s will, then you will certainly know whether My teaching is from God or merely My own.”

I rarely use any other translation but the King James Version. But this translation in the LNT describes what I have found to be so: We need to “really determine” to do God’s Will.

“If any man will do His will” also describes it; it is, of course by our will, which is the action to do anything. We need to will it.

But for myself, at least, this is a picture of digging in : “I’m going to do this no matter what it cost me” determination.

That is what making Jesus Christ our Lord takes.

We know His will by doing it. If we do it today, then tomorrow when we seek His Will, it will come easier.

(And of course, if we hesitate and put it off, tomorrow it will be harder to find it)

The world’s influence, and our old selves, and the devil are against us.

The old me will tell me, “Well, if I was still in charge, I would not require you to pray so much. After all, we’re busy. God knows what we need.”

And the world will say, “Why not laugh at that joke? So what, it was a little “bad”. A little won’t hurt.”

But if Jesus is Lord to me, it is not what I would do, or what the world says is OK, but where He leads, and how He would have me to go.

It is a process. I believe you can commit yourself to the Lord, as Lord; but then it is a matter of putting everything in our lives in His order.

What is first for me to see to…and sometimes it comes down to what is first today, Lord?

(I have found that five minutes to pray at the breakfast table for my family, places them before God, today. Of course, He knows what is ahead for each of us….but placing them in His hands for their conversations, actions, and the influence of the Holy Spirit in their lives….is our responsibility as their mother and father.)

No, it is not a list that is handed out; but a conviction from the Holy Spirit within which shows us the way.

This is His order:

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.”

Notice that we are to work out what God works in.

We are to work out, practically, the power to be saved from our sin that Christ Jesus works in us, by His Holy Spirit.

We are to work out that grace God gives….putting it to use in our lives.

We are to work out that peace which should be a hallmark of “Christ in us the hope of glory”.

Then we have that true north on the compass of our lives;……His guidance will guide us for today….tomorrow….and we will surely get to our destination…..in the joy and peace He has for us.

Ezekiel

We never hear of Ezekiel, until he was taken captive, and called of God, by the River Chebar. He was of the priestly family.

Ezekiel was in the second mass of people Nebuchadnezzar carried away to Babylon.

(It is interesting to note: that God did not leave Himself without witness to His people, wherever they were.

Daniel to the kings in the captivity….but also his actions and writings encouraging fellow Israelites there, and in generations to come.

Ezekiel to the Israelites, as slaves in Babylon.

And Jeremiah, still in Jerusalem, warning kings, priests and the people to “Return ye backsliding people”; till, when they would not, Jerusalem was destroyed…for a time.)

Ezekiel was with the other captives which had been herded to the River Chebar.

But God showed Himself to him, in a magnificent way.

Ezekiel 1:1, 3 “Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.

The word of the Lord came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest….and the hand of the Lord was there upon him.”

If you read through the rest of the chapter, you see the color of the rainbow: “the color of amber, the color of burnished brass, the color of beryl, the color of the terrible crystal,”….till…

Ezekiel 1:28 “As the appearance of the bow (rainbow) that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of One that spake.”

When God gives His light……it can show itself in many “colors”….knowledge, joy, words, peace, love, etc.

God is Light, and in Him is “no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17)…..but how the light manifests itself to us is in amazing, various ways.

(Do we need to see which way to turn in any situation? He opens the Word and shows an example which suddenly is the answer.

Need help in dealing with a co-worker, a boss, a teacher, a friend? Suddenly He gives you grace to say and do, exactly right.)

When the Lord gives us His light we see things in their “true colors”. We are not looking through the dark glasses of the world, or the rose-colored glasses of illusion…..but truth is set before us…..in the true colors of the Almighty God.

2 Corinthians 4:6 “For God, Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined into our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Ezekiel also saw motion…..but it was all according to the Spirit: “ a whirlwind (tornado), they went straight forward, it went up and down, ran and returned as lightning, the wheels going on their sides, the wheels were lifted up”…..

….but all “whither the Spirit was to go, they went.”

All the things which are “moved” in heaven, and on earth; are according to the Permitted Will of God; either above the earth, or on it.

So any real movement in our lives comes by the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit of God.

We go straight, or turn, or go up or down……..we can mount up as wings as eagles; or run and not be weary; or walk, and not faint (Isaiah 40:31)

We hear a word behind us….”this is the way, walk ye in it.” (Isaiah 30:21).

And all by the Spirit of God.

God is showing Ezekiel that He is in charge,……whether he was in Israel or in Babylon….nothing hinders God’s power for Ezekiel,….or for His people.

And above all these: the Voice of God (Ezekiel 1:24), then a throne and a Man on it, in the brightness of fire.

“….and when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of One that spake.”

Ezekiel was then spoken to. He is the only recorded one to see such a sight….maybe the only one there, that believed God was still God,….even in Babylon.

(What do we believe when circumstances change and things get hard?)

Ezekiel 2:1-2 “And He said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee.

And the Spirit entered into me when He spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard Him that spake unto me.”

The Lord told Ezekiel that He would send him with His message to the children of the captivity…

It would be a hard message…nothing they would want to hear, although you would think, now, they would,…..

“….repent, and seek Me, and do My will.”

Ezekiel 3:10-12 “Moreover He said unto me, Son of man, all My words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thy heart, and hear with thine ears.

And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of My people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord God; whither they will hear, or whither they will forbear.

Then the Spirit took me up, and I heard behind me a voice of a great rushing, saying, Blessed be the glory of the Lord from His place.”

Repentance,….and consequent peace and joy from this; was what God was offering them again.

He wanted them to know Him as their God….and all He was, and would do for them….anywhere.

Ezekiel 3:17 “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at My mouth, and give them warning from Me.”

(Ezekiel means “strengthened of God”; and he was. He preached for at least twenty-two years…maybe more…warning His people against the sins which brought them into captivity.

And to return to the Lord God.

His message, though often refused, set a line in the sand for those who really wanted God’s Will….and when it came time for them to return to the land,…..they, at least, had already returned to God, in their hearts.)

He was to warn them against sin and rebellion.

Ezekiel 3:21 “Nevertheless, if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also, thou hast delivered thy soul.”

Ezekiel 18:27-28 “Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.

Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.”

They may think God had forsaken them….they may think God did not see them in this foreign land….but God was there, and would continue to speak to to His people through Ezekiel….

Offering them life, real life…..even in captivity,….with Him.

(It is interesting to note….that the outward form of their religion was not there….but God was…and He was speaking to all who would hear Him.)

If they would hear, and turn, they would be healed…

Or they would “forbear”.

Forbear means to be idle or lacking….they just would not come:

Maybe it was lack of concern…indifference…for their situation…..we are here, what does it matter?

Or by putting if off….I will repent tomorrow.

Through various types, Ezekiel spoke to God’s people….warning them; encouraging them to “turn to God, and His ways”.

We, too, have been exhorted through God’s Word to “continue in the faith” (Acts 14:22).

We are to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…”(2 Peter 3:18)

2 Thessalonians 3:13 “But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.”

1 Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear:”

2 John 8 “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.”

Hebrews 10:35-36 “Cast not away therefore your confidence, 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.”

At the end of the book of Ezekiel….he is giving a prophesy of the coming reign of the Messiah (it will be in the Millennial).

But Ezekiel ends the book with a name of God: Jehovah-shammah.

It means…”The Lord is there.”

It is fitting for this:

This has been his message from the vision at the first…to the end; God is there….He has never left us…..will we believe that, and turn to Him?

Can two walk together except they be agreed?

Amos 3:3 “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”

This is God speaking to his prophet about Israel; His own people.

Can He say the same about us? Are we trying to walk with God, without bringing ourselves into that “agreement” with Him.

Maybe, in general, you agree with God. But do you agree with the way He is bringing His will to pass in your life?

Do you agree with the circumstances you are having to pass through?

Don’t we at times reject the way God presents His Will to us?

And then we, in some way, refuse it?

We want God’s will. But just not that way……or with these people,……or at this time.

Can two walk together except they be agreed?

Paul says:

Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

You begin this by presenting your bodies to God, the Holy Spirit.

As Christ gave over control to God, the Father, in the garden of Gethsemane, for the sacrifice He was going to make.

So we do the same.

We give the Holy Spirit control: “Not my will, but Thine be done.”

Then we are to stay away from conformity to the world’s system. That is stated in:

1 John 1:16 “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”

Lust here is desire. What we desire in our flesh….perhaps to lose our double chin….or have that large burger with a half pound of bacon…..or a larger house, truck, etc.

These are desires that would please our flesh.

That would not add honor to God, but would just please ourselves.

What we desire with our eyes……Eve started this with a look a the Tree of knowledge of Good and Evil. It looked so good.

So does the newest movie star, or that car, or that job.

And what we desire to make us a “Someone”. Whether by ability, fame, wealth, or notoriety. (Pride is the sin which caused Lucifer to become the Devil. Isaiah 14:12-15)

We are to stay away from these things, for they are of the world.

We are to renew our mind: Col.3:9-10, Eph.4:22-24, Titus 3:5 All talk of putting off the old man, and by the Holy Spirit, being renewed, by putting on the new man.

The new man is the “Christ in you, the hope of glory”. (Col. 1:27)

That means we are to use the faith given us, and in the power of the Holy Spirit within us,…..to live as Christ did:

Loving our Heavenly Father, and doing His will;

Loving the brethren and seeking their good.

Telling the world of God’s will and way, as the Lord directs.

We really can “agree” with Christ, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit and His Word, everyday.

Bringing everything to Him: every desire, every need, every promise…..and the Holy Spirit will make us pliable to God’s Will…..with contentment.

1 Timothy 6:6 “But Godliness with contentment is great gain.”

Jesus’ lesson on Prayer

Matthew 6:5-6 “And when thou prayest,

thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the street, that they may be seen of men.

Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut the door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”

This is pretty straight forward,….Jesus said that praying for admiration, or attention from others is not anything God will answer….”they have their reward”……in the applause from others.

But to pray aright, is to go to God “in secret”.

Or where others can not hear, and “shut the door” on the world….and talk to God alone about everything.

Our Father in Heaven, shall hear such a prayer, and will answer you.

(Yes, there are hurried prayers….any where….”Lord, I need calm now…”. Or “Lord, help me say the right thing.”

But the general tenor of our prayers should be between us and God, in the quiet times of our lives….or making quiet times for Him.)

Then Jesus tells us the way in which we should pray…this is not just a form-prayer….pray these words……but the pattern for all prayer….beginning with:

Matthew 6:9 “After this manner therefore pray ye; Our Father which art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.”

We come before God as our Father….and honor His blessed name, for He is worthy of our praise and of our all.

For it is in His presence, we gather together….and to Him, we ask our requests. (John 16:23)

To praise and honor God lifts our spiritual affections and prepares our souls to hear from Him concerning our requests.

Philippians 4:6 “Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

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

Here is our first request, and we should always consider God’s glory, first……that Christ will rule and reign in us. His kingdom will come “in earth”….in us….for today, and every day.

We are asking that His Holy Spirit work within us….”both to will and do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

Matthew 6:11 “Give us this day our daily bread.”

Here, the Lord, tells us that we should come to Him for all our needs….this includes physical…both health and financial.

For help with our emotional wellbeing,…..and, we should pray for our family and friends, the same way.

This teaches us that the Lord is ever mindful of our days….we should be, too.

Today is important…we may not even know all the things we will need for this day…but we can bring what we know to Him, and commit whatever else the day brings into His hands.

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

Sins are “debts”.

As His creatures, made in His image, we owe God perfect obedience and love.

But since Adam fell, this has not happened….sin entered, and marred the work of God in us.

Even when we are born again, we often fail to hear, or respond to God and His Word as we should; but He has made provision for us in Christ Jesus.

All our sins are forgiven the moment we are born again;……but for fellowship’s sake, we are told to confess our sins….bringing them before Him in honesty, and knowing they are forgiven, and our conscience cleansed. (1 John 1:9)

Hebrews 9:14 “How much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

And He shows us that we should forgive others, as Jesus Christ has forgiven us….how important this is for fellowship with other Christians, and that our prayers are not hindered…(Mark 11:24-26)

Matthew 6:13 “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:…”

He alone can uphold us….we can and are exhorted, to “hold on” to Him and His Word….but it is His grace (the unmerited favor of power) by His Holy Spirit which can show us the right way to go….

(We have been told to “watch”….Mark 13:35-37)

And to pray that He will deliver us from the wrong path we have wandered into…..by error or choice….sending us help (Jude 22-23)…..or pulling us out of it, Himself.

1 Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

Matthew 6:13 “…For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”

Here, we tell God that we know He is, and He has all authority to do. We praise Him, that He is our God….His kingdom rules over the world we see, and that which we do not.

He is All-powerful…and therefore He is worthy of all our confidence and trust. He never slumbers, or is weary of us….nothing is too hard for Him.

And we give Him glory for all His excellencies: His character is all glorious, for He is everything we need. (1 Corinthians 1:31)

Here we are telling God that because He reigns supreme, we know He is able to grant our requests.

“O Father, how many enemies are against us….from within our own heart…and from without….from the world, and the devil.

We come to You, because we belong to You,…..and we ask for strength and courage to overcome by Your faith the corruptions of our habits and old nature within…and to stand with You, in Your protection, against our enemies without.

We pray for Your Will done in us,…help us to know it and do it; that we might be to Your praise and glory.

In Jesus Name. Amen.”

“Forever. Amen.”

When we pray, we can look beyond time, and begin to measure the things of now, in the scales of eternity,….which helps us see things clearly.

Amen…so let it be.

Colossians 4:2 “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;”

Psalm 67:5-6 “Let the people praise Thee, O God: let all the people praise Thee.

Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.”

Not willing that any should Perish, But that All should come to Repentance

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; But is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

Jesus’s promise is:

John 6:37 “All that the Father giveth Me, shall come to Me, and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.”

Christ Jesus came to save all who would come to Him.

Salvation is four fold:

First, from the love of sin. (Conviction)

Second, from the guilt of sin. (By being Born Again)

Third, from the power of sin. (Called Sanctification, or the Natural man becoming the Spiritual man)

Fourth, from the presence of sin. (In Heaven)

And we are saved by the Word of God, believing and receiving what Christ has said, in the Bible.

1 Peter 1:23 “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.”

Jesus said, “Ye must be born again.”

John 3:7 “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”

Now this was said to a very religious Pharisee.

He had come to Jesus (although at night, for he was concerned what others might think), to understand Jesus’s message; for he knew it was of God.

John 3:1-2 “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto Him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.”

And Jesus got right to the point: If you want to see the kingdom of God, you must be born again.

Nicodemus asked what that meant,….exactly.

So Jesus begins to teach this very religious Pharisee, exactly what God requires from the man who would have everlasting life.

John 3:5-8 “Jesus answered, Verily, verily,(or Truth, truth), I say unto you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but can not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is everyone that is born of the Spirit.”

In other words, Nicodemus, you must be born of the Holy Spirit from above to enter into the kingdom of God.

It is not natural birth, even for a Jew (though they had the oracles of God, they refused to honor and obey God).

It is the “birth” of the Holy Spirit within you,….in your heart and life,….that makes you a subject of God’s Kingdom.

This new birth gives you a new nature (desires, and attitudes),…..for it is Christ’s life in you.

And, Nicodemus, like the wind which blows;…..it is shown by it’s effects within you…….you can not see the wind: but you can see the leaves and things blowing around.

“So is everyone that is born of the Spirit”: they will show it, by changing into His character, and doing His Will.

John 3:9 “Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?”

Under the Law, it was your own power which was at work. And Nicodemus wondered how could he do such things!

But here, Jesus was saying that God would by His Spirit, work within each man, who came to Him to be born again.

This was something wonderful. So much so, that at first Nicodemus did not understand it.

(It had been spoken of in the Old Testament:

Ezekiel 11:19-20 “And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh:

That they may walk in My statues, and keep My ordinances, and do them: and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.”)

So Jesus again explains exactly what would happen, and how this life could be; but first He corrects Nicodemus:

John 3:10 “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master in Israel, and knowest not these things?”

Jesus was saying, “Are you a ruler of religion, a Pharisee, which ought to know the Scriptures; and yet do not know these things I am speaking about? This life was foretold in the Scriptures, do you not know them?”

Jesus was doing this to awaken Nicodemus to what God had promised in the Word of God….to remember that the Messiah….Jesus, was promised as the Way to this life….that all that God had said, was coming to pass.

John 3:14-18 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

And whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.

He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

(Condemnation from God is a horrible thing: To hear “Depart from Me” will sink a man to Hell.

“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John 3:19)

Jesus is saying here, quite plainly, that He was going to be “lifted up” (on the cross),…….and that all who looked to Him and believed on Him as the Son of God, would be saved.

(Moses “lifted up” or put on a pole, a serpent. He placed it high above the camp of Israel, when they were in the wilderness.

He did this by command of the Lord, because the people had spake against God, Moses, and the manna God had given them.

He , therefore, sent fiery serpents among the people; which when they were bit, died.

Repenting, the people came to Moses to pray for them; and the Lord told Moses to place a serpent of brass on a pole.

Anyone who was bitten by a serpent, and would looked up to the Brazen serpent, believing in God’s promise, would live. Numbers 21:5-9)

John 1:12 “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:”

We are to receive Him into our heart and lives.

And How do we receive Him?

Romans 10:8-13 “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.

For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

For whosoever that call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

We receive Him, by coming to Him in belief, and calling on Him with our mouths to save us from our sins.

“God, be merciful unto me, a sinner; and save me for Jesus sake. Amen.”

The Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Have you received Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior?

The Work Goes On

Acts 5:12 “And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.”

To be of “one accord” is to be in complete subjection to Christ Jesus. The accord is with Him. We “agree” with what He wants for us.

This is what they all were here.

On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Ghost was given to the believers gathered in Jerusalem, as Jesus had told them to do. Many were saved under Peter’s message of:

Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

But as soon as there was a church, there was also opposition. (Our Adversary, the devil, seeks to wreak anything of God.)

Acts 5:17-18 “Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees) and were filled with indignation.

And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.”

Peter and John had been threatened before, and told by the religious rulers, not to preach in Jesus name.

(It is a Name at which every knee shall bow one day. Philippians 2:9-11)

But they continued to speak and preach in the Name of Jesus; for they told them “we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

So now they were put in prison.

Yet, The Lord sends His angel and delivers them.

Acts 5:19-20 “But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,

Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”

A command was given them to go right back in the temple,…….right where these religious rulers would be able to find them,…..and preach “all the words of this life”.

What Jesus had taught, and how He had been crucified, and raised up the third day; to save all who would receive Him.

Acts 5:21-22, 25 “And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together,…and sent to the prison to have them brought.

But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison,…

Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.”

This was what the Lord wanted, both to encourage His disciples, and to awaken the religious rulers (if they would be awakened) to His Presence with His own, and the power of His Word.

When they were brought again from the temple to the council, the high priest asked them:

“Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name?”

Now, under the Old Testament Law, they should have obeyed the high priest; But…

Acts 5:29 “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”

Then Peter begins to preach to them:

(How many times have they heard? Yet Jesus Christ is presented again…how long-suffering He is, “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9)

Acts 5:30-32 “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

(But you have to acknowledge you are a sinner)

And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him.”

Hearing this, the council “was cut to the heart”—simply they knew absolutely within themselves, that Jesus was God’s Son, and they were being offered forgiveness and a way to come to Him….again.

But they refused this mercy: “When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.” (Acts 5:33)

Yet one man, Gamaliel, stood up. He knew the Law, and trusted in the God of that Law.

He spoke of how God brings to nothing those who say they are something, when they are not.

He gave some examples, and concluded:

“Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:

But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.” (Acts 5:35-39)

Very good advice….

Now I believe that each man knew they were fighting against God: had been and were.

So they agreed with Gamaliel, hoping to ease their guilty conscience.

What did they do? They could not kill them, or imprison them (if God wanted them out).

But they beat them, and threatened them again, not to speak in Jesus’s Name.

Acts 5:41-42 “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His Name.

And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”

These religious rulers could not stop the spread of the gospel….for the disciples had more than a knowledge of the truth of these things….they had fervent love for Jesus Christ.

Joy and rejoicing should be our heart’s reward for obedience. Courage and strength also come to those who obey Him.

Today the work goes on, as well.

Are we entering into our part?

Rain

Hosea 6:3 “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.”

Christ Jesus, when He comes to us by the influence of the Holy Spirit, is like a shower of rain, to a dry and thirsty ground.

When we are without Jesus in our lives, our hearts are hard, and nothing seems to soften them or make an impression on them.

Often when we fall into sin after becoming Christians, we can again become “hardened”. So we need to turn to Him again, and pray for showers of His mercy and grace to come to us, and soften our hearts.

Wherever Christ comes, the rain of the Holy Spirit and of grace, comes to our souls;…..and we are turned into a well watered land.

Fruitful and beautiful, for we drink Him in;…..and by His Spirit’s influence, we are changed little by little, into His character.

As rain is a free gift of God to the earth. To poor and rich alike, the rain falls.

So Christ is offered to all who will.

The rain is most necessary to all the parts of the plants: roots, trunk, branches, leaves, and blossom.

So Christ is necessary to every part of us: our understanding, our will, our emotions, and our memories.

He strengthens us in good things, and enlivens us as we grow.

He increases our peace, and love for Him and others.

He preserves us within, by His Spirit; and without, by HIs Word.

As rain sometimes comes amid thunderstorms, as well as the gentle warm rain; so Christ comes to us to warn us, as well as to encourage us.

As rain satisfies the dry earth, so Christ comes and satisfies us.

He gives us the fruit of His Spirit within 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.”

Psalm 16:11 “Thou wilt show me the path of life: in Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.”

If we follow on to know the Lord,…..He will come unto us as the rain, the former and latter rain, upon the dryness of our souls.

Right place, God’s Will, our Surrender

Esther 5:1 “Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the kings house,…”

Obedience to a command from God, we often think, will turn out well….

Yet here, Esther, a Jewish woman, made queen in Persia, stands in a place of complete surrender….not to the command of God,….but to the Will of God.

You may say that there is no difference….but the Will of God transcends “good”, and “bad”.

It is what God intends done, how He intends done, and for the Purpose which pleases Him.

(As believers, we obey His commands or not; but we “fit into” His Will by surrender to Him….whatever happens.)

(Someone has written that God and prayer, is ever mentioned in this book…and it is true. These people, when they had the chance to return to Israel, and build lives in the land God gave them, refused….for they now had lives in Persia.

But equally true, is that wherever His people are….He has His eye on them.

He does not forget them, but brings His Will to pass,….even through them; and for them…..though it is not in the same personal way He does for those who gather close to Him.)

Background:

Persia had conquered Babylon and had given invitation “to all of a willing heart to return to Israel and build a house for God”, to do so.

They had, and God had helped them….though they had many enemies.

Yet, now, things are going to take a dramatic turn. Back in Persia…..

Two things happen: The king, Ahasuerus, wants a new queen….and a Jewish woman, Esther is picked as one of the choices.

And Haman, an Agagite (a descendent from a people who, since Israel came out of Egypt, have sought to destroy them….down through the generations Exodus 17:16)……this man comes to power, in the king’s court.

This is a battle brewing which is amazing to read…..for behind the scenes is God working His Will….even in the things which seem to work for His people’s hurt.

Esther is the niece of Mordecai. And when Esther is taken to court, Mordecai tells Esther not to lie about her heritage, but only to keep quiet about it.

Esther 2:17 “And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight…..so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen…”

And when she is chosen as queen, he warns her again, to hold her peace….at that time there was no danger….but soon enough, there will be.

He will be at the gate, sitting each day, if she needs to send a message to him.

(During this time, Mordecai has a chance to do the king some kindness: he overhears two men servants plotting the kings death…and he sends word to Esther. She tells the kings servants in Mordecai’s name, and they stop the assassination plot….and the deed is written in the Chronicles of the king Esther 2:21-23)

Esther 3:1-2 “After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman….the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.

And all the kings servants, that were with him in the king’s gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman:…”

Here comes the trouble. Haman is promoted above everyone else! Exactly the kind of power this evil person would want. Real influence with the king, and in court….people bowing….this is the life.

But a man who sits at the gate…..and yes, this is Mordecai….does not bow to him.

Esther 3:2,5-6 “….but Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.

And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.

And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had showed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.”

What should he care?

But it infuriates him…..so much so, that he finds out that Mordecai is an Israelite….and he begins a plan….to destroy him and all his people—everywhere in the kingdom.

(As I said….the Agagite of the Amalekites, were sworn enemies of Israel…and he is taking vengeance, not just on Mordecai but on every last Israelite he can.)

Now, let me ask you….was it God’s Will that Mordecai not bow? Or just an occasion to the Adversary, the devil, to stir up trouble?

(True conviction is of the Holy Spirit…and if followed, will lead to more knowledge of God’s Will for ourselves…..but it must needs be followed through, no matter what it costs you.

Mordecai had the conviction for himself that he could not bow to an enemy of his people, so….he did not bow. But it could bring terrible trouble not just for him, but for his people.)

Haman now had to persuade the king to make a decree for all the Jews to be slain.

(It is interesting to note, that the decrees of the Medes and Persians were unbreakable…”altereth not” (Daniel 6:8)….but we will see how God changes what man decrees, and does all His Will.)

Haman goes to the king with a lie…”there is a people…their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them (put up with them)”. So Haman offers money to the king to pay for the cost of destroying them. The king believes Haman, and so the plan is made.

Then, Haman casts lots for the day of his vengeance…..

Esther 3:7 “In the first month,….they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month….”

…and when he does, he places his plans unwittingly under the Will of God….for the lot—like dice thrown in chance—is ruled by God. (Proverbs 16:33)

The slaughter was to be in the last month of the year, a whole year away.

It was then proclaimed through the nations under Persia….and when the Israelites heard it, they wept, and lay in sackcloth and ashes.

What could be done?

But God is not upset…His plan is already in motion, although unseen.

Mordecai did not know what to do….but he showed the decree to Esther, and asked her to talk to the king. She was saddened, but she did not know what to do either.

Even she could not go into the king, unless she be called…..and she hadn’t for thirty days.

And if she did without being called she could be killed…..unless he would hold out his scepter to her.

Mordecai realizes this is why she was there….and even though she was afraid, he was faithful, and told her the truth (“speaking the truth in love” Ephesians 4:15):

Esther 4:13–14 “Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shall escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews.

For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed:

And who knowest wither thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Now was the time, to stand up and be shown as an Israelite…no matter what the outcome for her or her people. Her duty was shown to her….now it was up to her.

(This is a word in due season… Proverbs 15:23. How many times, we too need a word given us, to remind us of Jesus’ Way for us)

Plainly, after hiding in the palace for some time, Esther did not want to show the king her people. If she was out of favor, she could do no good…for them or herself.

But Mordecai’s words brought her to see the situation clearly…..and her duty.

Mordecai believed that Israel would survive….somehow. He might die, and she might die….but deliverance would come;…..but he thought maybe Esther was “come into this position,….to do this very thing.”

Esther 4:15-16 “Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,

Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise: and so I will go into the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.”

This was not said in despair or passion, but in holy resolve to do her duty….no matter what happened to her.

And so she did her duty….she came into the court…..and was accepted by the king.

Esther 5:2 “And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the scepter.”

The king asks her, What is thy request?

Esther does not charge right into the matter, but….knowing the king,….she invites him and Haman to a banquet for the next two days, where she promised to tell the king what is on her mind….

They come to the first, and Haman is proud as a peacock in his privileged position;……bragging to all his family and friends.

In between the two days, the king can not sleep…..(and here is the amazing part):

The king hears in the Chronicles which are read to him,….(to help put him to sleep)…..about Mordecai’s saving him from assignation.

But what had been done for him, as a reward? Nothing…..so…

The next morning, Haman, so full of pride, comes into the king….wanting to talk of killing Mordecai, that very day….no waiting for the rest of the Israelites….he wanted his blood now.

But, he gets a surprise…the king wanted to honor Mordecai for saving him!

Esther 6:6, 10 “So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor?

Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honor more than to myself?

Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew,….”

The very person Haman wanted dead, he had to help honor……this was not what he had planned….but God has more surprises for him.

In the second banquet, Esther tells the king of Haman’s plot to destroy her people….he listens to her, and ends in destroying Haman.

The enemy is destroyed, but what about the unchangable decree against the Israelites?

How will God take care of that?

Well, the king promotes Mordecai….telling him that the decree can not be altered…..

….but, he can do what he can…..

And God made a way: they made a second decree….so that the Israelites could destroy all those that would come against them…..signed by the king….backed up by the king.

and that sent fear into their enemies,….and stopped the massacre of the Israelites!

Against all odds….God saw to His people.

And the principle is the same for us.

How many times things seem impossible and against us, and Him….but He is working His Will….perhaps puffing up those proud rebels….just enough to destroy themselves.

Perhaps putting us in a place of duty, to do His Will,……speaking His Word faithfully.

Psalm 94:21-23 “They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.

But the Lord is my defense; and My God is the Rock of my refuge.

And He shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the Lord our God shall cut them off.”

God still sees to us….His Will is still being done.

Let us surrender to our part in it.