Ask, and You Will Receive.

Luke 11:9 “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”

The disciples have just asked. “Teach us to pray” after seeing Jesus pray.

Then Jesus tells a story:

The story of a friend who comes to his neighbor at an inconvenient time. “At Midnight.” (Luke 11:5-8)

He has company. Someone who has come from a long journey and is in need of bread. But the man has none to give.

So he goes to his neighbor and knocks.

“Forget it…it’s midnight, I am in bed, and I’m not getting up!” Is basically the word given the knocker.

But he keeps knocking.

So…..not because he is his friend (he might not be, after this);……but because he kept knocking; the neighbor opens and gives the man what he has asked for.

Then Jesus says, the way to get from God is the same:

Ask, like you really need it.

Seek, like you really want the reply.

And knock, till the answer comes.

When we pray to God, Jesus is saying that we should come believing God will hear,……and expect that He will make known His will.

Ask, and you will receive. Ask till you receive an answer as to what and how you should ask. (How many times we think we know what we need, but as we are praying we receive what we really need to know)

Seek, till you get the means of getting your petition answered. (Sometimes there is a verse to claim, or a prayer promise to use: Hebrews 4:16, 1 John 5:14-15)

Then knock, using those means, till you get the answer that you were seeking.

Just to be clear, “means” are those parts of the promise that we must use:

Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy ladened, and I will give you rest.”

“Come unto me”, is the means; His rest is the promise.

When Jesus healed the ten lepers: (Luke 17:14) “When he saw them, he said unto them, Go show yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.”

Jesus healed them by His word, but they were only healed, as they went to do what He said. That is the means.

Luke 11:10 “For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

As Christians, our lifeline is prayer.

Paul said:

Philippians 4:6-7 ” Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

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

The promise is: you will receive, find, and have an open door set before you.

The means is: ask, seek, and knock.

The Power of God and the Power of the Word of God

Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

John 1:1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.”

“Created”: God made something out of nothing. He spoke and it was so.

Christ is the Word. And He spoke all things into being; and they were as He spoke.

Psalm 33:6-9 “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and the hosts of them by the breath of his mouth.

He gathereth the waters of the sea together as a heap: and layeth up the depth in storehouses.

Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of world stand in awe of him.

For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.”

The power of God is often displayed through His Word. What He says will be, will be.

Isaiah 14:24 “The Lord of Hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so it shall it come to pass; and as I have spoken, so it shall stand:”

When God created the heaven and the earth, He was well aware by His Omniscience (all seeing ability), that the earth that He spoke into being, would be ruined by the fall the devil and then the fall of Adam.

Yet God’s purpose would not be altered:

Isaiah 45:18 “For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else.”

So God’s Voice rang out in re-creation. Re-making what had been.

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

God began to re-create with light; for darkness was upon the earth by Lucifer’s (the devil’s) fall. (Isaiah 14:

God is Light, and in His light we see light.

After re-creating the earth, forming man after His image:

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.”

No other of His creatures are living souls. They have instincts, but no souls.

Man’s soul was the faculty God gave him alone, so that man could have fellowship with His Creator.

He has a mind to think after God, to understand His Words.

He has a heart to love God, and want to please Him.

And he has a will, to will after God’s will.

But Adam sinned, disobeying God’s Word, making all people, sinners…..separated from God.

God was not surprised.

He saw this, and made provision for it, before times eternal.

For in His determination and purpose, Christ would come and save out a people for His Name’s sake.

God made the first promise of Christ right after the fall:

Genesis 3:15 “I will put enmity between thee (the devil) and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed (Christ); it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heal.”

Christ Jesus came and fulfilled the Father’s Will in everything. Jesus said:

John 12:45-46 “And he that seeth Me seeth Him that sent Me

I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on Me should not abide in darkness”

As God spoke light to the re-creation; He sent His Son as the Light to the world, to all who would believe in Him.

John 12:49-50 “For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent Me, He gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

And I know that His commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.”

Christ came to reveal the purpose, and determination of God: And to present the light of Salvation by receiving Him by faith.

Hebrews 1:1-3, 2:1,3. “God , who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the father’s by the prophets,

Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds;

Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”

“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;”

God’s purpose and determination is that all that believe and receive Him should be saved.

Do you believe in Christ Jesus the Lord?

Do you have the salvation He purchased, at such a great price, for you?

Are you walking in the Light He has made available?

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.”

This is God’s power, for “cleanseth” in this verse is in the past, present and future tense.

Cleanseth means forgives, and then gives power to get that sin out of our lives.

For yesterday, today, and tomorrow; for every sin that comes up. Power for it!

This is the power of God and the power of His Word.

God’s Rest for your Soul

I want to start this by saying….our only true rest of soul is…..Christ Jesus.

Otherwise, we are often restless, or doubtful, or angry, or frustrated, or envious,….discontented in so many ways….and unable to solve these.

Isaiah 55:1-2 “Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? And your labor for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto Me and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.”

This is a merchant, as in the old days, going up and down in the world….crying out what He has to sell…..”Come, buy the best; wine and milk.”

Only this merchant is selling His wares, “without money and without price”.

This “merchant” is Jesus Christ; calling for all who will, to come and get rest of soul and true satisfaction from Him.

(The “without price” is in a double sense: It means those that come, do not pay, for He has paid the full price for us [1 Peter 1:18-19].

Also….that which the Lord offers, is priceless.)

You may say….we do not “buy” our salvation; and this is true.

I believe it is not talking of Salvation here, but the “wine and milk” of spiritual life, after we are born again.

I believe the Lord is talking to those who belong to Him:

Israelites in the Old Testament, and Christians, now….He uses the same term in Revelation 3:18 “I counsel thee to buy of Me…”.

And we “buy” from Christ, as Christians, by coming to Him,

acknowledging our need in our life,

and taking off our old man to put on Christ…..

….which is what the Merchant is offering here…the very best of things….His life lived through us, everyday. (Wine and milk)

Ephesians 4:22-24 “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man,….

And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

Are you hungering to have the Holy Spirit guiding and helping you more?

Are you thirsting after more peace and strength in life?

He calls to everyone that thirsts (Matthew 5:6), And to everyone that “hath no money”……

First, to want what He is offering.

[Some want Heaven, but not Christ.

And Christ in our life, He is the “wine and milk”. The wine of the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), and the milk of His Word (1 Peter 2:2)]

He is asking….do we know how desperately we need Him?…..for to “hunger and thirst” are the terms of need.

(I have come to experiences in my life where I thought, “it could not get better than this…”. I have had things taken care of in my life, where I thought….Wow, look how far I have come with You, Lord.

I was so close to Jesus (so I thought) that it seemed like a small part of heaven.

But I found out, as wonderful as it was, it was just a stepping stone to the next trial..and help….the next lesson from my Teacher, Jesus)

If we don’t know our need; we may come, we may hear…we may even look at His “wares”……but we will not “buy” from this Merchant.

Many think Jesus Christ was a great man….or a good man, falsely accused and killed.

But those who come to Him for satisfaction…..find that He is a Savior, King, Lord, Almighty, and full of joy….and wanting to share all of it with us!

Proverbs 23:23 “Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.”

Again, how do we buy? And why is He calling us to buy?

We “buy” from Jesus, again, by wanting His satisfaction in all that He has for us.

(Isn’t that the real problem of Laodicea?

They are “poor”, and they think they have, everything they need….

so they will not “buy” the “eye salve” of the Spirit’s enlightening by honesty that Jesus offers…..

for they do not need it….or so they think.

But Jesus is standing outside the door of their church. Revelation 3:16-21)

Why we have to “buy” is because; though we are born again, there is much we do not understand, or many things of the Spirit we do not have……we are in need everyday, for what that day, holds.

Therefore He calls to all who will, to come….”Come to Me”.

Again we “buy” when we come with the desire to lose our self-life, to gain our Christ-life.

(In effect, we exchange one for the other.

Christ gives us peace, as we let go of our worry, and cares

Christ gives us victory, as we yield to His Spirit’s power in us….not to do this, or to do that.

Christ changes our attitude about things, as we let go and confess our resentments and bitterness….our desire to “get even”….even if it is just a thought.

Christ gives assurance of His Word, as we refuse the nagging doubt.

Christ life flows into us, as we deny our selves.

What a life we can have, if we keep turning our lives over to Him…He is King, here, in my heart; and I am buying everything I can get from Him! Hallelujah!)

But it starts with wanting the change, and coming to Christ for it.

Isaiah 55:2d “…..let your soul delight itself in fatness.”

God’s rest for our souls is a complete rest.

It is of heart….contentment.

It is of mind…instruction and understanding.

It is of will…giving us the solid foundation of His Will.

He offers us this to us, if we know our need and want to have the Lord’s satisfaction.

Take Heed

Luke 8:18 “Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.”

If you have the desire to hear what the Lord is saying to you….you will. If you do not really want to hear…you won’t.

Take heed, or pay attention to those things that will hinder our profiting from the Word that we hear.

Jesus just gave the parable of the Sower sowing the Word. There were four kinds of soil which it landed on:

1)The wayside….really the hard ground around the prepared field where the workers walked.

The seed was so little considered, that when it landed there, it was walked on; “trodden under foot”.

This is the way some people treat God’s Word…they might listen to it, but they do not regard it, so they eventually trample all over what it says…and Jesus, Who said it.

2)The rocky ground…the part of the field where they had taken out the large rocks, but there were still smaller ones there.

The seed there was starved for moisture…or the healthful influences of the Holy Spirit.

It “sprung up”….started to hear and to see what was being said, but the hard places in the heart (resentments, hurts, anger) quenched the Holy Spirit….and because they refused to remove these “rocks”, the Word withered within them.

3)The thorny ground…the part of the field where the seed grows up with the weeds.

At first, it looks like you can get some harvest, though it maybe small.

But the “thorns” or the things of the world (worries, riches or wanting them, and pleasures of this life) are too strong….they pull all the life from the plants, and do not produce anything.

(How many times have we felt our desires taking over our thoughts, and actions?

And these desires can be for a better home, job, car, or anything else. It is not the desire, itself….but how much it influences our affections.

Are we becoming depressed because we do not have them?

Are we thinking about them all the time?

These are thorns, which if we continue to let them grow; and do not pull them out, will choke the Word of God from our hearts.

We pull them out by coming to the Lord and turning them over to Him; confess any sin about them, and ask Him to remove the affections for them.)

4)The good ground…the part of the field where the most preparation has taken place (Jeremiah 4:3).

The ground has been turned over, and smoothed, so when the Seed was placed there, there was nothing to hinder it’s growth.

Luke 8:15 “And that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”

There is nothing that God loves so much than a person that get’s honest with Him…..it is an acknowledgement that our hearts are open to Him in everything.

Jeremiah 17:10 “I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

If a person’s ways are honest with the Lord, He will reward his honesty with spiritual fruit.

This heart produces fruit….for the Word we hear, we keep, and we use to help us.

Any honest man who comes to God as he is, comes to the ground where God can meet with him.

Isaiah 57:15, 18 “For thus saith the High and Lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, Whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

I have seen his ways, and I will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners (those that sympathized with him).”

On that same ground of honesty, God grants grace….the unmerited favor of power to do something about ourselves, and the situation we are in.

John 1:17 “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”

Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

When we face the truth about ourselves, in any given situation….His grace is applied, right then….and we can produce the fruit of the Spirit within us.

Grace changes us….enabling the weakest Christian to remain strong, patient, to forgive, or any ability we need…..when we get honest with the Lord.

(To be frank, this is the hardest part….for when we pray, we often just ask for grace, without telling the Lord all our deepest feelings. Tell Him all, and let Him heal all…that is the truth and grace of Christ Jesus being applied to us…to make us whole.)

If you read this parable, it was only His disciples who asked, “What might this parable be?”

They wanted to understand the Word that they heard.

To “understand” means “to come together”……..to comprehend so that the actions follow the mind.

The crowd seemed happy just to listen and be around Jesus. Like a vacation from their life….but with no change in their life.

Matthew 13:13, 15 “Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their hearts, and should be converted, and I should heal them.”

They did not understand…because they let their hearts become heavy with cares. (Their life was hard….This might be natural)

They let their ears stop hearing Him, because He required more than they wanted to give.

[He asked them to trust and believe in Him….they wanted Him to keep feeding them, and healing all their illnesses John 6:26-27].

(This is a turning away with their hearts)

Their eyes they closed, because they did not want to “see”, that the Lord was calling them to be His, completely. (This was a choice of the will…they closed them)

Luke 8:15 “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”

A good and honest heart: Good because it is honest with God.

(In the Greek, the word for “honest” (“kalos”) here, means “beautiful, valuable, or virtuous”. I believe the Lord shows that to be honest with Him, is beautiful.)

Again, any honest man who comes to God….as he is….comes to the ground where God can meet with him….and He will.

“…I have seen his ways, and I will heal him…”. The Lord says “I will” and where He wills, there is power.

Ezra, a man of Prayer

We meet Ezra, after the captives have come back to the land of Judah, seventy years after the fall of Jerusalem.

He is a priest, and devoted to the Word of God. He wanted to return to Judah and teach the returning people what the law said, for their good.

Ezra 7:6, 10 “This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him.

(This is a phrase we will hear again about Ezra)

For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgements.”

(Scribes had been established under the good king Josiah; and Jeremiah the prophet, who was also of the priestly family, was one. They were to go around the land and reacquaint the people with the law of Moses. This was before the captivity….Josiah being the last king who loved the Lord and followed His Word. 2 Chronicles 34:1, 15-33)

Ezra’s love of the Lord and his Word was known, and so the king sent him to gather more people of a willing heart to return to Judah….to teach the Law of God to those who were already there.

They were to take a offering of gold and silver to the Temple at Jerusalem for the king, as well.

Ezra 7:25 “And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.”

Ezra was more than grateful….he was thankful.

Ezra 7:27-28”Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem:

And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counselors,….And I was strengthened as the hand of the Lord my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.”

So he gathers the men, and the gold and silver….weighs everything, and sets certain men over the keeping of them.

Then he gathers at the river of Ahava, to start the journey.

But men who knew the Word of God were lacking….till….”And by the good hand of our God upon us” (Ezra 8:16-18) men of understanding came.

After so much preparation, I would think they would be anxious to begin, but they first prayed.

Ezra 8:21-23 “Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of Him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.

For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek Him; but His power and His wrath is against all them that forsake Him.

So we fasted and besought our God for this: and He was entreated of us.”

Wow! What a testimony….and what a life, that backs it up!

Ezra 8:31 “Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.”

And God blessed the prayers….

It took four full months to go to Jerusalem….and “the hand of our God” was protecting them……without soldier or horsemen from the king to keep them from thieves along the way. (Ezra 7:9)

When they came to Jerusalem, everything was great, right?

Many of the people of God had returned; and more were coming back into the land, according to promise.

But…..

Ezra 9:1-2 “Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, the people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the land, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites…..

For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers have been chief in this trespass.”

God has always said that we should be in the world, but not of it…not tied to it, or under it’s influence.

2 Corinthians 6:14, 17-18 “Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

That we are to not love the world or the things in it…

1 John 2:15 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

We are too easily swayed by these things…therefore we are to keep our hearts separated to God.

But what to do? Ezra was eminently a man of prayer. He knew his word was not going to make a lasting difference.

God must speak to the people’s hearts….there must be an awakening there….if God’s Word was to be obeyed.

Ezra 9:3 “And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonished.”

The first thing was to pour out his anguish to God about this sin….and soon many “that trembled at the words of God” were gathered with him.

Then he prayed out loud….(Ezra 9:6-15) “O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased…and our trespass is grown up…..since the days of our fathers….for our iniquities have we,…been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands….

And now for a little space grace hath been shown from the Lord our God…and to give us a little reviving in our bondage. For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us….and now, O our God what shall we say….after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds,…seeing that Thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve….

Should we again break Thy commandments….O Lord God of Israel,…behold we are before Thee in our trespasses; for we cannot stand before Thee because of this.”

(It is interesting to note in Ezra, Nehemiah, and Daniel that each have a prayer for confession of sins…the people’s sins that have returned from the captivity,…in chapter 9. That in each, they include themselves…”we” and “our”.)

And what was the result of such prayer?

Those that had gathered…”assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation…for the people wept very sore.”

Then one stood and said, “We have trespassed against our God,……yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this…” because Ezra had come….

The man suggested a covenant between the people and God, which Ezra should write and see to.

Ezra 10:4 “Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: We also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it.”

It was if they had been waiting for someone to come and see to this matter….they knew it was wrong, yet did nothing till they saw the Lord’s reaction to their sin….through Ezra’s prayer!

Ezra did this very thing, and this covenant continued.

By prayer, Ezra showed a powerful king the greatness of his God….He was as Mighty as Ezra said He was.

By prayer, Ezra confessed the iniquity of Israel, including himself; waiting upon God for His Power for the people. And he got it.

Ezra continued to serve his people….teaching the Word of God to them (Nehemiah 8:5-6)….and encouraging the joy of the Lord.

Nehemiah 8:9-10 “…mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.

Then he said unto them, Go you way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: Neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Joy is strength; and joy is from God.

It is not happiness…that is in circumstances or the things or people that effect us…..there is nothing wrong with happiness, but it centers on what happens to us or others we love.

But joy is from God to us…no matter the circumstances. And it is a great strength in us, to carry us through good and bad.

Ezra did, “according to the good hand of the Lord upon him”.

And prayer was the means God gave him.

So can we….

Psalm 17:6-7 “I have called upon Thee, for Thou wilt hear me, O God: incline Thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.

Show Thy marvelous lovingkindness, O Thou that savest by Thy right hand them which put their trust in Thee from those that rise up against them.”

Isaiah 41:13 “For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.”

Psalm 91:14-15 “Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known My name.

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.”

Psalm 37:24 “Thou he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with His hand.”

We can know these promises for ourselves, too.

Our Armor of Proof

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

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.”

We are to put on the whole armor of God; to stand, that we might withstand.

Stand in this military context, means “to hold the ground given”. In other words, we are to hold the ground Christ bought and paid for; and has given us (individually) to stand on.

To withstand means to resist or oppose. We are to resist or oppose evil, that we might continue to stand on the ground Christ has given us.

The ground Christ has won for us is life….eternal life, lived now in the circumstances we are in. It is our ministries, and our gifts….it is peace and joy.

This ground Christ has won, but we are to hold on to it…..and not let the world or the devil deprive us of them.

Our armor of proof is not so many imaginary pieces, but real, spiritual helps; that we might stand in the evil day.

Ephesians 6:14 “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth,..”

We first need truth. It is pictured as surrounding us, as protection.

This truth covers the will. When we do God’s Will, we are yielding to the Truth. We are in the Light, in the path we are to tread; and as such, certain things can not touch us. There is power in the truth, and it is at our disposal.

(There is the truth of our salvation, the truth of our convictions….these are personal, the truth of our confessions, etc.)

And Jesus again said:

John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

As we let the word of God surround us in our everyday life; it will be like armor to our soul. Nothing will be able to get in that is not according to His will, for we know His Word.

(This is not the offensive weapon of our sword, but defensive knowledge)

Ephesians 6:14 “…and having on the breastplate of righteousness;”

There is the righteousness of Christ, which is imputed to us; which makes us righteous before God.

(2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”)

We can come before God in boldness (Hebrews 4:16) because of Christ’s righteousness.

But there is also the righteous acts we are to do:

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, or obedience unto righteousness?”

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.”

This breastplate of righteousness, covers the heart.

The term here “having” for the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness, suggests the thought: “Will you have it?”

For these are the beginning of our protection. And we can not stand without truth and righteousness in our lives.

Ephesians 6:15 “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;”

We need peace to stand on. The peace that passeth all understanding.(Philippians 4:7) keeps us in all sorts of circumstances. The storm may blow, but we are at peace. It keeps us grounded, so our emotions and thoughts do not “run away with us.”

And when we have experienced this for ourselves, we are able to stand firm , no matter the storm.

Ephesians 6:16 “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”

Faith is that amazing gift of the Holy Spirit, that delivers us in times of doubt (Hebrews 4:1-2), in times of temptation from the world (1 John 5:4), and here it states that it keeps us from the accusations and suggestions of the devil.

It will “shield” us by covering the mind with Light to see these tricks as they really are.

It will “shield” us by covering our heart with Love, God’s love for us.

It will “shield” us by covering our walk with the knowledge of God’s forgiveness, and power.

Remember, this piece is movable…for faith covers all of us.

Ephesians 6:17 “And take the helmet of salvation,…”

“Take” implies use.

Take the knowledge of your salvation to keep you from sin:

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.”

Our salvation can protect our mind:

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;)

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

Ephesians 6:17 “…and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:”

This and all-prayer are our offensive weapons. All the rest are defensive. For we don’t go out to conqueror; but we are standing, holding ground that Christ has already won.

But when attacked, we need to defend ourselves.

And the best offense is:

God’s Word given to you at the time of attack….by the Holy Spirit to you.

It suits what the devil is suggesting, or accusing you of……taking the influence of that attack away.

It is verses, or parts of verses, and promises.

Then God’s power is there for you.

James 4:7-8 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded.”

Ephesians 6:18 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

We are to pray always (1 Thess. 5:17)

Jude 20 “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,”

Prayer is our life line to direction, comfort, correction, everything we need.

This kind of prayer is “in the Spirit”.

Both of the offensive weapons are by direction of the Holy Spirit.

The sword of the Spirit, and prayer…in the Spirit.

He guides us into what to say to the attacks of the devil; And what to pray for, to get the help we need against these attacks….both for ourselves and for others.

I titled this Our Armor of Proof, because the Lord has provided these spiritual helps…..He has given us His Word, His Spirit, and knowledge of our enemy’s wiles….and in our “Stand”, we need to prove them, for ourselves.

They are all we need to stand against the wiles of the devil….will we use them?

Through the Knowledge of Him

2 Peter 1:1-2 “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ:

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.”

How much we need grace (the unmerited favor of power), and peace in these days for our individual lives.

It is to be had, in Christ.

If you are born again, you have access to it by the Holy Spirit within.

But you get it “multiplied unto you”, through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.

(You will notice that our “faith” is through our Savior Jesus Christ; but the grace and peace multiplied is through Jesus our Lord. Is Jesus Christ Lord of your life?)

He is our Savior as we believe and receive Him, through the faith that is given us by the Holy Spirit. (John 1:12)

He is Lord, but He is only “our” Lord, by our submitting our wills to Him, in obedience.

And we only do this as we get to know Him, and submit to His character through the Holy Spirit.

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

(“According as His divine power”; It is not according to my miserable ability. But according to His divine power. The limitless, and Almighty power of God.)

“Hath given” means they are given us in Christ Jesus. They are ours to have and use by the Holy Spirit within us. They are all the things we need to have Christ’s character formed in our everyday lives. “All things” means all things.

Again, it is through the knowledge of Him.

How important it is that we know Christ, and continue to gain knowledge of Him.

He has indeed called us to “glory and virtue”; to manifest His glory (His light and goodness), even here in these circumstances, and among the people we know.

And called us to the virtue of His Holy Spirit within us: The Artea of His power.

Artea means “force”. He is that force within us, “working in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

So we manifest His glory–the glory of His salvation, of His calling, of His love by the force of the Holy Spirit within our spirits; helping us to obey, and joy in it.

2 Peter 1:4 “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

Christ has given us promises….His Word to claim and obtain for yourself; they are ours , but we must get them into our experience. That is what obtain means; to get them for ourselves.

They are given to us, that you might have the character of Christ, and escape the corruptions (envy, anger, lying)that the world’s system lives in.

We each have our own lusts.

Whether they be spiritual, mental, emotional, or physical; we lust after what we don’t have.

Until we make Christ Lord of our lives, and yield to His will and way for our lives.

And the way that happens is to : Know Christ more and more, for ourselves.

This not to know about Him (although that is not bad), but to know Him.

It is to know what He requires of me.

It is to know the force of the Holy Spirit , and how we are to yield to Him.

It is to know what He will do for me in the temptations, and trials that I go through.

It is to know Him. Through the Knowledge of Him, we multiply grace and peace.

Lovest thou Me more than these?

John 21:15-17 “So when they had dined, Jesus saith unto Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonah, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, yea, Lord: thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

He saith to him a second time, Simon, son of Jonah, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonah, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, loves thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”

Love Me more than “these”, Peter?…..what were “these”. “These” were the things of Peter’s life that he had gone back to (Jesus found them fishing, again catching nothing, when He invited them to “come and dine”).

Peter had been afraid and denied the Lord, and then been afraid that because of his denial, he had been turned out of being a disciple of the Lord……fear does bad things to us….but….

Jesus restored Peter after his three denials……with three affirmations of love.

Jesus knew Peter loved him. But there is a big difference in loving the Lord, as long as it is not going to cost me anything, to do so.

Or loving Jesus, even though it costs you everything to do so.

Peter fell into sin and denied the Lord, because he stood outside with those waiting to see what would happen….rather then go in with John to the palace and be there with Jesus during the judgement of the Sanhedrin.

Outside, neither with or against, is a dangerous place to be. For surely someone or something will make you choose.

And when you do; you may find, like Peter, you have just denied your Lord.

But Jesus knew Peter’s heart; and had made provision for it:

Luke 22:31-32 “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not : and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”

The Lord has also made provision for us (1 Timothy2:5 As our Mediator He prays for us)……that we might be restored any time to Him and that we might go on and be used for Him……..Peter certainly was.

We, too, are asked, “Lovest thou Me?”

What does our heart answer…for Jesus knows if we love Him, by our obedience.

And He calls us to do it, for His sake.

The Christian walk is a love story–or should be.

Yes, in every relationship where our hearts are concerned, there are going to be arguments. (Some call these differences of opinion, some call them having a fit with God)

Even in the Old Testament times God wanted a love relationship with His people and asked them to:

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

He wanted them to come and talk to Him about what was between them.

What reason had they for seeking idols?

What reason had they for refusing to understand His corrections?

Proverbs 1:23 “Turn you at My reproof: behold, I will pour out My Spirit unto you, I will make known My words unto you.”

He was and is ready…..always…..to give more understanding and grace by His Holy Spirit, to us in any situation (yes, even the ones we are not suppose to be in…..to help us out of them)

His call to us , is always, to come and go with Him, because we love Him.

What about us?

Lovest thou Me more than these?

By His Word

Mark 11:2-3 “And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, wherein never man sat: loose him, and bring him.

And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? Say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.”

This is, of course, the colt that Jesus rode into Jerusalem with the shouts of “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord”. “Hosanna in the highest”.

This is where Jesus presents Himself to all who were coming to the Passover in Jerusalem, as King, according to prophesy:

Zechariah 9:9 ” Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”

As King, although unrecognized by the rulers, He goes into the temple:

Mark 11:11 “And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.”

And as King, He sees all that needs to be set in order in the temple.

But He does not stay in Jerusalem….but goes out of the city.

The next day, coming into Jerusalem, to do the work that needed to be done; He was hungry.

Mark 11:12-13″And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:

And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find anything thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.”

Here Jesus was hungry, and walked out of His way to have some figs.

(On fig trees, the figs come on before the leaves; and there were leaves, so there should have been figs.

It was not the time of figs, but there were leaves; so there should have been figs.)

But He found none.

So by His Word:

Mark 11:14 “And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter forever. And his disciples heard it.”

You will notice “And Jesus answered”; Why this term?

Because the tree had “spoken”.

It had no fruit for the Son of Man, for there were no figs, therefore Jesus “answered” it’s fruitlessness, and made it continually barren.

(Some say the fig tree is a figure of Israel: Religiously looking good, but without fruit unto God.

But is there any among us, that can say that the Lord has not looked for fruit from them, and found leaves, only?)

So they continue into Jerusalem, where yesterday they had praised and blessed Him.

Mark 11:15-16 ” And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves;

And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.”

Yesterday it was to manifest Himself as King, today it is to do the work of His Father, for His house. Setting in order that which was wanting in the service of God.

He did this Himself, casting out those that sold animals in the Temple……and refusing entrance to those who would violate the temple.

He had done this once before at the beginning of His ministry (John 2:13-16).

Now He would do it again, as a witness against the hardness of their heart.

Then by His Word:

Mark 11:17 “And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? But ye have made it a den of thieves.”

Not only did He cleanse, He spoke concerning God’s will for His house….God’s House was not for the greed or convenience of buyers or sellers; but to come and meet God in prayer.

To set in order.

Mark 11:18-19 ” And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought out how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.

And when even was come, he went out of the city.”

But here again, He was rejected.

The people were amazed at Him speaking with authority the doctrine of God. Amazed but unresponsive.

And the rulers, instead of submitting to God’s Word, only sought to destroy Him….for His “interference” in their business.

The work He was to do that day, He again leaves the city.

He would not stay a night in Jerusalem, until the night of the passover feast.

By His Word the fig tree was cursed, and by His Word the temple was cleansed.

Mark 11:20-21″And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.

And Peter calling to rememberance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree that thou cursedst is withered away.”

By His Word it was all done.

Then the Lord Jesus, wanting to set forth the importance of our words, showed His disciples what it was all about.

Mark 11:22 “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.”

Faith is that active ingredient in our life which makes real the things of God.

God will act for you if you have faith in Him. For real faith, trusts Him.

Are you doing and saying because God wants you to?

Leaves are words……Fruit is obedient deeds.

A temple serving man……is not God’s temple.

Have faith in God….don’t just look good, or go along with everyone else. But believe God’s Word and obey Him.

Mark 11:23 “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.”

What a wonderful Word from our Lord Jesus!

What an encouragement to His disciples, for soon everything was going to change. The reality of their faith would soon be shown.

There were going to be plenty of “mountains” that would need to be removed in front of them, to bring them past Jesus crucified…..to Jesus resurrected…..to Jesus ascended….to the Holy Spirit given….and onward.

Here is faith in action.

And what is the mountain that I want to see cast into the sea?

It is that “mountain” (within me, and within my circumstances) that hinders me from seeing done, what I’ve been called to do by the Lord.

I want that mountain or mountains removed!

It is according to :

“And shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass.”

Faith sees God; “shall believe” is the hearts response to God’s Word to us.

The disciples were called to put their faith in action and believe God’s Word to go on in their callings.

So are we.

Mark 11:24-26 “Therefore I say unto you, What things so ever ye desire, when we pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any; that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

To believe when you pray, asking God for your requests, is to place yourself at His disposal to bring them to pass.

To do this, nothing must come between you and God.

Therefore, forgive, if you have anything against another person; and God will forgive you.

Everyone is on the same level: we all need forgiveness. And Jesus was plainly teaching that sins are to be forgiven, that our prayers will not be hindered.

We need to pray…we have mountains to be removed. So have faith in God, and believe when you pray, forgiving all; that you may be forgiven.

Then those mountains will be removed!

By His Word: He has said these things that we might put them into practice.

What will we do with them?

What is a Christian Life?

Our Christian life is one in which God leads us to trust Him in trouble.

Isaiah 26:3 ” Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

To wait on Him in anxiety, and fear.

Isaiah 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

Hebrews 13:5-6 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have; for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

So that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

To praise Him for Himself, alone.

Psalms 34:1 “I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

To look to Him in every situation.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

Psalms 34:6 “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.”

To love Him in correction.

Psalms 119:67 “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.”

Hebrews 12:5,11 “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord nor faint when thou art rebuked of him.

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”

And mostly, to believe that He knows, and does best.

Psalms 34:7 “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.”

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 forever and ever. Amen.”

Our Christian life is one where we learn to lean on Jesus Christ for everything and in every situation….because He loves us, we learn to love and trust Him.