Settle You

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

Life is full of ups and downs, people who are friends and people who are enemies.

Yet the way of the Lord for you is life.  Life is not a dream,  or an illusion of some feeling. 

Though all of us have, one time or the other,  followed illusions, mostly to our hurt.  

The Lord gives us truth and reality.  

We think of that as hard;  but to yield to the truth is freedom.  Freedom from darkness or shadows into light.  Freedom to know and move on.

Life in Christ is a action-packed adventure in reaching forth in faith;  and then obtaining what you reach for. (Hebrew 11)

To “settle you” is to put in order and establish on a permanent foundation.

Our foundation is Christ Jesus.  He is the Rock on which we can build our life.

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

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

To “settle” things, we need to bring them out into the light of God.  We need to tell Him exactly what we think,  and let Him tell us what He knows.

Then we can become grounded upon His Truth, upon Him for us.

David said that he poured out his complaint before the Lord:

Psalm 142:2-3a “I poured out my complaint before Him,  I showed before Him my trouble.

                              When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,  then Thou knewest my path…”

Why did he need to do this?  He felt completely deserted by true friends.  Only God could help.

Psalm 142:4-5 “I looked on my right hand and beheld,  there was no man who would know me:   refuge failed me;  no man cared for my soul.

                            I cried unto Thee,  O Lord;  I said,  Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.”

Peter wrote “settle you”;  but he started the verse with:  “The God of all grace”.

Grace is the unmerited favor of power, which God gives us.

Power to help us get honest with God.

Power to hear the truth.

Power to build on His Word to us.    

And Freedom to enjoy the adventure ahead,  with Him.

The Great Commission

Matthew 28:18-20 “Then Jesus came and spake unto them,  saying,  All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.

                                   Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,  and of the Son,  and of the Holy Ghost:

                                   Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:  and lo,  I am with you alway,  even unto the end of the world.  Amen.”

Jesus had come to earth as a babe, lived a sinless life, and completed His Father’s will.

He had presented Himself as the Messiah,  been rejected by the chief priests and elders,  been crucified, and raised from the dead, an ever-living Savior.

And now the disciples are waiting for Christ Jesus, for He told them He would go into Galilee, and there they would see Him. (Matthew 28:10)

In Galilee may be the time Jesus restored Peter, when after denying the Lord three times;  he was asked three times:  “Do you love Me?”.

And three times Peter said,  “Yes, Lord, You know I love you.”

This was not the last message to the disciples; for that was a Mt. Olivet, where He ascended into heaven before them. (Acts 1:1-12)

But here in Matthew is a commission of great proportions!   For it covers the whole world!

And here, we see Jesus as our all powerful Mediator.  Here He places Himself in between the Father and us.

Assuring us of His Presence, and of His power for us, as we do our work.

Our work is to:  “Go”….

Isaiah 52:10 “The Lord hath made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations;  and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.”

In all languages, the sign King of the Jews was printed.  In all languages the news of His resurrection was given out.

We are to show the world (all nations) the salvation of the Lord.  It was called the gospel because it is good news to all. 

Mark 16:15 “And He said unto them,  Go ye into all the world,  and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Our work is to:  “teach all nations”.   In the Greek “teach” is really “to disciple”.

We are to disciple all nations.

(“To disciple” means that we are to bring them to the place where they hear Christ Jesus for themselves, and are obeying that Him.  It is personal.)

In every nation and tongue there will be those who believe and receive Christ Jesus;  and we are to lead them on in His Word.

Revelation 5:9-10 “And they sang a new song,  saying,  Thou art worthy to take the book,  and to open the seals thereof:  for Thou wast slain,  and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred and tongue,  and people, and nation;

                                And has made us unto our God   kings and priests:  and we shall reign on the earth.”

We are to baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

Baptism is a sign that we are born again.   That we are choosing Christ; and turning our backs on the world and sin (dead unto sin and the world);   

and we are alive unto God…and walking in the newness of His life in us.

Romans 6:4 “Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death:  that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father,  even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

Our work is to “teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded”. 

(This is a different Greek word here for “teaching”.   It means to make them learn by instruction, and instruction is always by example as well as doctrine.

The instruction has reference to the Words and commands that Jesus gave them….the scriptures they wrote, the things He told them.)

We are to teach believers “to observe” for themselves the scriptures.  Showing them the value of them, by a Christ-filled life,  and encouraging  them to “search the scriptures,…they are they which testify of Me.” (John 5:39)

1 Timothy 4:12, 16 “Let no man despise thy youth;  but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

                                  Take heed unto thyself,  and unto the doctrine;  continue in them:  for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God,  and is profitable for doctrine,  for reproof,  for correction,  for instruction in righteousness:

                                  That the man of God may be perfect (complete),  thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

And we are to go,  knowing that He is with us always.

He said,  “I am with you alway”,  not I will be.   His bodily presence was to be removed;  but His spiritual presence was with them alway. (John 13:16, 18)

He was with them in protection and power: 

Psalm 46:1 

MH.  I am with you to bear you up in difficulties, and sufferings.  And I am with you to make your ministry effectual.  Who would listen or be persuaded about a crucified Christ?  Yet the power of Christ would make the point.

Let us Pass over to the Other Side

Mark 4: 35 “And the same day,  when the even was come,  he said unto them,   Let us pass over to the other side.”

The Lord Jesus had just been teaching by the sea side.  He had been preaching all day, and so at eventide,  he spoke to his disciples that it was time to move on.

Mark 4:36 “And when they had sent away the multitude,  they took Him even as He was in the ship.   And there were also with Him other little ships.”

Now Jesus had said “Let us pass over to the other side”,  and there was not a fisherman there, that did not think they could do that, with no problem.   

They were experienced fishermen,  what could happen?

So they began.  Other boats followed along, as well.

But suddenly a storm arose, which they had not foreseen.

Mark 4:37 “And there was a great storm of wind,  and the waves beat into the ship,  so that it was now full.”

This was some sudden storm!   The boat was filling up, from the wind whipping up the waves!  This was not the usual lake travel;  not for fishermen or others.

May I ask each of us,  have we not been in this situation?

Quite certain that we could do something the Lord Jesus had given us to do?

(After all,  we have been saved, and know quite a bit about the Lord; and about His work for us)

But then, some sudden “storm” of words,  resentment,  or  shaming comes up from others, and we are suddenly at a loss as how to deal with it.

Worse,  it seems as if we are “sinking”,  and the Lord does not seem to be helping.

And may I also ask,  haven’t we felt as if the Lord should come to our rescue, immediately?

I know I have; and have felt the fear, and (yes, shamefully) the resentment toward the Lord that He did not help me as I thought He should.

But,  as the Lord reminded me:  “Didn’t I think I could handle this myself?”

You should have seen me backpedaling!

“Oh, no Lord,  I never think I can do something without You.”  (But, of course, I had)

Soon, I confessed, instead of excusing myself.  I set it right with Him first.

Then I asked Him to show me when I was going to do the same thing:  Whenever I began to think I knew what I was doing!

We need guidance, His word to us;

 and His Presence with us whenever we do anything for Him.   

And we need faith, to see it through, no matter what comes up.

Mark 4:38-40 “And he was in the hinder part of the ship,  asleep on a pillow:  and they awake him and say unto him,   Master carest thou not that we perish?

                           And he arose,  and rebuked the wind,  and said unto the sea,  Peace, be still.  And the wind ceased,  and there was a great calm.

                           And he said unto them,  Why are ye so fearful?  How is it that ye have no faith?”

Faith sees God;  and that puts everything else in it’s place under Him.

Now, Jesus had said,  “Let us pass over to the other side”;  not go out into the sea and drown.

They should have trusted His Word,  and by faith,  claimed it when they were in the storm.

But as the wind and waves grew greater,  their fear grew as well.  His Words became just words;     which they aren’t.

Guidance we need.  (They had that)

His Presence we need;  always.  (They had that)

What then did they lack?   

First, a knowledge of their own inability to see what might come up against them. 

As fishermen they would have known the night sky:  whether there was a storm coming.   So the one that came,  surprised them.

Second,  they lacked a firm faith in the Word of Christ to them.  

Their faith should have steadied them;  then they would have been able to trust.  (Hold on to what Jesus has said.)

They would have been able to say to the wind and waves:   that Jesus had given them His Word, and that He was with them….

And passed over to the other side. (Not without a struggle, this is true;  but faith acted on,  empowers and enables to see the duty done.)

Later on Jesus sent them over the sea, while He continued to pray.  This time they used more faith and struggled to do what Jesus had told them.   And He came to them when He was needed.

Mark 6:48, 51 “And He saw them toiling and rowing;  for the wind was contrary unto them:  and about the fourth watch of the night He cometh unto them,  walking upon the sea,…

And went up unto them into the ship,  and the wind ceased:  and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure,  and wondered.”

Let us have faith in Christ Jesus our Lord, and trust His Word, and Presence with us.

Every storm has a lesson,  let us look to Him, and learn from Him.

2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.   To Him be glory both now and forever.  Amen.”

The Widow’s Mites

Mark 12:41-42  “And Jesus set over against the treasury, and beheld how people cast money into the treasury:  and many that were rich cast in much.

                             And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites which make a farthing.”

Jesus had been preaching in the temple to the people,  and had warned them about the those who love to be religious (look religious), but whose main goal was to have men think well of them, while often sinning against their fellow man.

Then He watches as the people bring offerings to God.

Mark 12:43-44 “And he called to him his disciples,  and saith unto them,   Verily,  I say unto you,  that this poor widow hath cast more in,  then all they that have cast into the treasury; 

                            For they did cast in of their abundance;  but she of her want, did cast in all that she had, even all her living.”

For an Israelite, there were certain things which must be given:  tithes, and certain offerings at certain times.

But the offerings to the treasury,  were to be,  because you loved the Lord.

This she did, and it was recognized by Jesus, for it.  

Many put in more:  they put in “out of” their abundance.  But she gave “out of her want”,  or the money she would have bought things, she needed.

For this widow, it did not matter if she had anything.  It did matter if the Lord’s house was lacking. (This is what they took the money for.  For the upkeep of the house of God.)

We often think,  “If we could do some great thing for God.”

But the Lord wants us.   Two mites are not great.   Hardly anything in the world’s estimation.

But the Lord Jesus said she had put in more than they all did.

Because she put in her living.  All that she had.

What are we giving to God?    Are we giving our all?

No,  I don’t ask about your money.

 

I am asking about your love.   How much love are you showing to God?

Do you love Him?   And how much time do you spend with Him?

Morning prayers (and they don’t have to be long)

Evening prayers, to set everything from the day in order before Him. (So you don’t wake up the next day, carrying the same burdens you went to bed with)

The widow’s mites were cast to the Lord’s treasury.   In among the rich and affluent;  she came.

Giving to God, all she had, because she loved Him and His work there.

Again I ask,   How much of ourselves are we giving God? 

Are you doing,  for admiration from others?

Or are you giving God your life?

May we all get the same praise from Jesus, as she had.  

To be Filled with the Spirit of God  

John 14:16-17 “And I will pray the Father,  and He shall give you another Comforter,  that He may abide with you forever;

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

Ephesians 3:17-19 “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;  that ye being rooted and grounded in love,

                                    May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

                                    And to know the love of Christ,  which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.”

To be filled with the Holy Spirit is like a sponge thrown in the ocean.  Dried and shriveled, out of the water.  Yet it becomes larger and larger;  fuller and fuller in the ocean.   It can not take in all the ocean,  but it takes in more and more; till it is filled to it’s capacity.

When we are born again, we are given the Holy Spirit.

Our dead spirits are enlightened, and made alive by the Holy Spirit of God when He enters our spirits at new birth.

He makes us entirely new.   Yet we are babes in Christ.

As babes we are to learn to walk.  We stumble often, but we learn, and are soon walking with God.

To be filled with the Spirit of God, is seen in Acts:

Peter and the apostles were filled with the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost.

(Acts 2:4) “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost…”

The Spirit changed these terrified disciples (John 20:19) into men and women which could speak of Christ before a great assembly of people.

Peter, who denied the Lord,  now spoke with boldness about him.  Boldly telling the crowd that they crucified the Lord of Glory.  That in Jesus was salvation;  and by none other.

Acts 2:32-33,36 “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we are all witnesses.     Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted,  and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost,  He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

                                Therefore let all the hosts of Israel know assuredly,  that God hath made that same Jesus,  whom ye have crucified,  both Lord and Christ.”

Yet, a while later, when they were taken before the council, beaten and threatened;  it says they prayed and then were filled with the Holy Spirit again.

Acts 4:23,29-31 “And being let go,  they went to their own company,  and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said unto them.

                              And now,  Lord, behold their threatenings:  and grant unto Thy servants,  that with all boldness we may speak Thy word, 

                             By stretching forth Thy hand to heal;…

And when they had prayed,  the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost,  and they spake the word with boldness.”

Why?   because Peter and the disciples did not need the strength and power to stand against persecution,  until then.

Before, he needed the power to stand and speak boldly before a crowd.

Then it was power to stand before the council.

And now, when things were getting harder,   God gives them more of His Holy Spirit, to help them.

We are filled with the Spirit, as we are emptied of self;  our self-reliance.

Peter, so full of himself, swore he would never deny the Lord;  but he did. (Luke 22:33-34)

Peter, emptied of his bluster, and just obedient;  waiting on the Holy Spirit, was filled to speak boldly.  Three thousand were saved.

Peter, emptied of any thought of being able to stand against persecution, was filled by God’s Spirit to stand against it.  

Who knows what our lives will bring?  Where will they lead us?

What we can know is:   Jesus Christ has made provision for us in His Holy Spirit.

To guide us, to strengthen us, to empower us:  just as we need it, and when we need it.

Like the sponge is filled with the ocean;  we can be filled with the Holy Spirit of God, as we see our need and yield to Him.

The Whole Duty of Man.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

God is Sovereign.
Man is Responsible.
Man the creature, before God the Creator.
We are responsible to use the prescribed means to bring about the Creator’s foreordained ends.

Sadly, all around us, people have lost the true view of God.
And the reason, I believe, is that we don’t see ourselves as creatures before the Creator.
As Christians, whose relationship is one of light and love to our God, we are still required to obey Him, as His creatures.
At the first, man’s only requirement to maintain Paradise, was to obey. This was Creator to creature.
Christ, our Redeemer, has redeemed us from the penalty of the Law….but not the essential duty of obedience to God’s commands.
God’s promises do not set aside His precepts; on the contrary, Jesus said plainly that we should “continue in His word”(John 8:31); and He came to do the Will of God.

John 6:38″For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.”

We just need to get obedient to the light we have. That light is shown by the Scriptures.
By One man’s Obedience, we are restored to God.
Romans 5:19″For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”
That One, Who shall make many righteous, is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul also says: Grace reigns through righteousness, not without it.
Romans 5:21 “That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Grace is the unmerited favor of power. Power from the Holy Spirit within any Christian, to be obedient.
We often think that doing good for man, is what God wants us to do.
Sometimes that is true…
John 13:35 “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

Sometimes those ideas simply get in the way of what God really wants you to do.
Acts 16:6-7 “Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.”
Paul wanted to go into Asia, but could not. Then thought to go into what is now the upper part of Turkey, but was told not to by the Holy Spirit.

The Reality of the matter for each person, (and should be especially acknowledged by each Christian) is:
Revelation 4:11 “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”
His “pleasure” here, is His determination. And His determination for all creation, is that His Son be glorified, and honored; and especially by those Christ has redeemed.

Ephesians 1:11-12 “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
That we should be to the praise of his glory,…”
The whole duty of man is to love and obey God;
This should be a joyful duty, because it is to the One Who gave so much to save me.

The Joy of the Lord
Nehemiah 8:10 “And he said unto them, Go thy 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.”

In other words, as they experienced this joy, and yielded to this joy; they would be strengthened in His Might.
This is to “be strong in the Lord and the power of His Might.” (Ephesians 6:10)

The need was great for Israel. They were back in the land, but enemies had and would keep trying to destroy their unity, and commitment to God’s Worship.

But here they had just had a service where the Law and books of Prophesy were read, and interpreted to the people.
They were excited to learn, but also, but saddened by the memory of their sin, which had sent them out of the land.

Their is a time to repent; and a time to rejoice in the goodness of God.
Now was the time to rejoice in the goodness of God.

We are called, as Christians, to have Christ’s Kingdom come with in our hearts and lives, now.
Matthew 6:10 “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

The inward Kingdom of Heaven is set up in the hearts of all who repent and believe the Gospel.
And that Kingdom is none other than:
Romans14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

Now joy is a choice instrument that God uses to work in a believing soul.

Joy and Peace are the true criteria to judge ourselves, spiritually.
When we are right with God, we have peace with God, and ourselves.
Joy follows.
Joy is a considerable help, not only to inward holiness, but also to outward holiness.
It strengthens our hands, to go on working in faith, and to labor in love.
It helps us to fight the good fight of faith; to lay hold on eternal life.

Joy is particularly designed by God to be a balance against the sufferings; inward and out; of our walk of faith.
It is meant to lift up the hands which hang down, and confirm the feeble knees (Hebrews 12:12).
There is a strengthening power in the joy of the Lord.

Therefore, whatever dampens our joy in the Lord, hinders our holiness.
The Devil would “throw water” on our joy, so that he would spoil our enjoyment of the things God gives…and if he could, the use of them too. When we get discouraged, or depressed, we begin to let down our shield of faith. The firey darts of the wicked one get through, when the shield is down.

When we get like that, we need to be exhorted to do, as Israel was told:
Nehemiah 8:10 “And he said unto them, Go thy 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 and Happiness are not the same.
Each springs from a totally different source.

Happiness comes from the world around me. It is measured by what is happening to me. It is bound up in either the behavior of other people, to me; or the circumstances in which I will be, or am.

Joy comes directly from the Spirit of the Living God.
This joy springs from the Presence of God in my life. It is not dependent on people, places, or the situations in which I find myself; but rather from the Presence of God with me in any circumstances. (And don’t we find it so, that knowing that the Lord is with us, is a great blessing…always.)

Joy is one of the Attributes of God, which He shares with us. Joy runs like a sparkling river of great goodwill, through His make-up. He is the God of all Joy. He is alive. He is here.
That joy was the dynamic of the early Church.
And that can be the experience of all who truly allow God’s peace to rule in your hearts. When it does, joy follows.
Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”
Enthusiasm and deep delight in the Lord, are the characteristics of such a person.
There is direction in their duties, no matter how mundane or menial.
There is purpose in every area of their lives.
The Holy Spirit assures me that I am right with God, and because of that, an assurance that all is well even between me and myself, comes into my spirit.

This is to know the joy of the Lord, and it becomes a force in my life to dispel darkness and despair; to energize my life in my walk with God.

The joy of the Lord is our strength. We need it, and He has it for us.