Repentance 

2 Corinthians 7:10 “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation  not to be repented of:  but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

Repentance is a wonderful gift from the Holy Spirit to us.   He takes our feet from the miry clay…..from drowning in our own choices……and He sets our feet on the Rock that can not move.

He convicts us of sin (which is a great mercy, otherwise we would continue in it to our hurt)….

….and by that conviction,  He works the desire within us,  to leave our sin.

Repentance is a turning from our sin….we bring it out into the light before God, and confess it…..then will to turn from it,  and the habit of doing it…

….turning instead,  to God.

(To turn from the sin,  and the turning to God,…is once for all…..

….but the battle with the Adversary, often includes the day by day refusing to yield to the temptation….and getting the grace and help from the Holy Spirit at that time….

…..till the victory is complete…for God never leaves us in sin….but His deliverance is powerful and complete.)

True repentance is sorrow over the sin……

….not sorrow for ourselves…..or for the consequences of our sin.

True repentance leads us out of sin,  and into a new life of victory.

But there is the sorrow of this world….

…..a sadness for our “mistakes”.

Seeing them as “wrongs”,  “faults”,……which really blames our parents,  our circumstances,  and God….for making us what we are.   

We are here, in this mess, because of them.

And there is another sorrow of this world…..a sorrow for what might happen because of our sin….

….this is not repentance….but self-pity.

These are “sorrows of this world, which worketh death”….for they do not lead to Christ….but to despair or resentment.

Let us again state:  Repentance is a choice gift from the Holy Spirit.

It is a gift….it can be received and the fruit of that,   is salvation in Christ.

Or it can be rejected, and the fruit of that,  is self-importance….my opinion of myself or what I want,  is more important than the truth of God in my life.

An example……Simon the sorcerer:

When persecution started against the believers in Jerusalem,….many left the city,…..and went other places, preaching the gospel.

This was the beginning of…”to all the world”.

Acts 8:5-6, 12 “Then Phillip went down to the city of Samaria,  and preached Christ unto them.

        And the people of one accord gave heed unto those things which Phillip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

        But when they believed Phillip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God,  and the name of Jesus Christ,  they were baptized,  both men and women.”

But….

Acts 8:9, 10 “But there was a certain man,  called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery,  and bewitched the people of Samaria,  giving out that himself was some great one:

         And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.”

Simon was the big man of the city.   He had influence, and by that influence….he had power.  

The people there had thought that he had God’s power….but when the true power of God came, along with the preaching of Christ….

….then his power was shown for what it was….and many believed in the truth, and on Christ Jesus.

You might think that here was going to be the battle…

…but the battle was not outwardly….but inwardly…..in Simon.

Acts 8:13 “Then Simon himself believed also:  and when he was baptized, he continued with Phillip, and wondered,  beholding the miracles and signs which were done.”

This sounds wonderful….and it appeared that Simon was a true believer….but was he a believer in Christ….or in the miracles?

….For you can not  reach out to Christ….

….without leaving your world behind…

…that is repentance.

When we say we believe in the Lord Jesus as our Lord, and Savior……then, soon, something will come up to show that….to evidence our faith (Hebrews 11:1)

And we will choose:

Christ and His Way…..or self, (self-glory,  self-esteem,  self-pity,….but self, in some form).

The Apostles, Peter and John,  came down to Samaria,  hearing the good news that they had received Christ.

They prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit,….for it had not come upon them yet.

And when Simon saw that…

Acts 8:18-19 “And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the Apostles hands the Holy Ghost was given,  he offered them money,

          Saying,  Give me also this power,  that on whomsoever I lay my hands,  he may receive the Holy Ghost.”

Now I would like to give Simon the benefit of the doubt…..

But this was exceedingly wicked…..

…….you can not purchase God, the Holy Spirit.

You can not put Him in your pocket and draw Him out….when you want to….like a servant to you…..no!  

Simon only wanted to “use” the Holy Spirit, to make  himself look powerful again!

Peter, looking at Simon….got right to the heart of his problem:  his heart had never been given to Christ….just to the power he had seen….

…secretly wanting it…..so he could be that important man in the city again.

Acts 8:20-21 “…..Thy money perish with thee because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchase with money.

         Thou hast neither part or lot in this matter:  for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.”

Nothing Simon had seen….the joy of people converted,  the healing of the sick, the giving of the Holy Spirit….

….had drawn him away from lust of power….for himself over others….to make him the center of their lives.

What could be done?

Simon had never repented of his true life and lust….

….so Peter tells him to do so…there was hope,  if he wanted it.

Acts 8:22-23. “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness,  and pray God that perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

         For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness (a hardness of heart) and in the bond of iniquity (the lust of sin).”

Here is real mercy…..for to repent, is to clear away the old…..by confession to God……so that when we reach out to the new…..our hands are empty.

Acts 8:24 “Then answered Simon and said,    Pray ye to the Lord for me,  that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.”

I want to tell you how sad this makes me…..

…Instead of being joyful that there was still the opportunity for repentance….

….Simon merely asks Peter to pray for him.

Not for the repentance….but that he would not suffer “these things”…..

….Oh,  how much we lose when we do not repent.

Again,  repentance is a choice gift from God to us…..by it, He takes our feet from the miry clay….from drowning in our own choices……and leads them to the Rock of Jesus Christ.

Are we receiving the Lord’s gift of repentance?   

The Godly sorrow for a time,  reaps eternal rewards, if we will have it.

         

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 never 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, Mordecai 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 Haman 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 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.

Your Knowledge of God 

Job 42:5 “I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear,  but now mine eye seeth Thee:”

Is your knowledge of God, by hearing about Him and His great works,  only?

Or have you met Him in the circumstances of your daily life, and known His authority there?

Jonah met God in the belly of the great fish….(Jonah 2:1, 9)

Saul met the Lord on the road to Damascus….(Acts 9:3-6)

The Philippians Jailer met Him when he was about to commit suicide….(Acts 16:27-31)

Where, or under what circumstances you meet the Lord, is not important.   What is important is,….that you do.

(Job is a book on several levels….God lets us see into His Universal Rule:  for it is a book showing us how God rules and overrules for us.

In this book, God show us how our adversary, the devil, is always accusing us before God…..but God shows us how He deals with His whole universe….letting the devil hurt or harm only so far….in a measured way.  Job 1:12, 2:6  After these two terrible trials…God allowed no more harm to come Job from the devil.

In this book, God shows us how He feels about obedient servants….and how He hedges us about…..often. (Job 1:8-10)

In this book, God shows us how He uses our trials to bring us to a more wonderful knowledge of Him,….and draws us to a closer walk with Him.)

I want to explain here, that Job was a righteous man.   His attitude toward God was amazing (in my opinion)….at the loss of his wealth and children…

(there have been many times when things have gone wrong, that I wished my attitude was as his.)

Job 1:20-21 “Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped.

                 And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither;  the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away;  blessed be the name of the Lord.”

And at the loss of his health,….his attitude toward God did not waver:

Job 2:9-10 “Then said his wife unto him,   Dost thou still retain thine integrity?  Curse God, and die.

                 But he said unto her,   Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh.   What?  Shall we receive good at the hand of God,  and shall we not receive evil?   In all this did not Job sin with his lips.”

As I said,   Job was a good and righteous man.

The trials of the devil were ended,  but the trials from others were not:

After these terrible things happened, three  “friends” came to comfort him, in his grief.   

But instead of comfort,  they came and told him….”something must be wrong with you, for God to have let these things come upon you”.

They said:

Job 4:7 “Remember, I pray thee, whoever perished,  being innocent?  Or where were the righteous cut off?”

They thought maybe his children had sinned, or he had:

Job 8:4, 6 “If thy children have sinned against Him, and He have cast them away for their transgression;

                  If thou wert pure and upright; surely now He would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.”

They were trying to help Job, or so they thought……. but he had not sinned, as they thought.   

What they said was right,  if Job had sinned or turned aside from following the Lord.    But that was not what was happening here….

Job had walked quite a ways with God.  Job had knowledge of God and believed and worshipped the Lord……that was true…..as far as it went…..

But God wanted Job to know more of Him, in a different way, then just a provider and caretaker.

(Every trial that comes to us, is to open our eyes to His provision for us.   To bring us closer to God. 

They are measured trials….some relatively easy….others extremely difficult…and others, impossible.     

But they are all sent, to bring us closer to God, that we might know Him in a new way, for our lives….what He will do for us, in the trial;  and how He will bring us through it….for He will.)

Frankly, Job had stalled out.   He was a good man,  doing charitable works….happy in his experience with God….but he was not going further in the knowledge of God…he was just coasting along…..but he did not know it.

It wasn’t the trials which he passed through that showed Job how he was…..but his “friends”.

When his “friends” came,…then his reputation came to be on the line….and Job bristled under the charge that he had sinned.

Job felt his friends were treating him badly….they should have realized that God tries the faithful….and he wanted God to show that he was pure.

But was he?

Job 10:2-3, 7 “I will say unto God,  Do not condemn me;  show me wherefore Thou contendest with me.

                       Is it good unto Thee that Thou shouldest oppress,  that Thou shouldest despise the work of Thine hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?

                       Thou knowest that I am not wicked;  and there is none that can deliver out of Thine hand.”

Job knew that God was allowing this;  but he began to be angry,  when God was not defending him as he thought He should.

But wasn’t that part of the trial?  

(I want to put in here, that we can not see all, of what God is doing…most times.   We may see part….and for some,  it is a great part,  but not all.   

We must trust that when we come through the trial we will be “as silver is tried” Psalm 66:10-12, and be “brought out into a wealthy [satisfying] place”)

Job continues,….only this time he begins to spout off about what he would say before God, Himself!

Job 23:3-6 “Oh that I knew where I might find Him!  That I might come even to His seat!  

                       I would order my cause before Him, and fill my mouth with arguments.    

                       I would know the words which He would answer me, and understand what He would say unto me.

                       Will He plead against me with His great power?  No;  but He would put strength in me.”

(How bold we get in defending ourselves!)

                       

             I must admit, Job’s friends were being harsh in their words….they would not hear what he was saying…..God does try the faith of the righteous to bring out more faith….

Actually,  what they said was true…..if, Job had sinned, like they thought.

But their knowledge of God, did not cover a righteous man being tried, to bring him closer to God.

They thought that blessings, and only blessings were the way that you should know God.

(And how many of us think the same?)

If you were righteous…..God blessed you.

If you were wicked….God cursed you.

That was the extent of their experience, and knowledge of God.

But God was trying to teach them all,  more of Him.

Job then proceeds to explain to them his righteousness……he had been righteous, in reverence to God,…..all his days.    

And he begs God to show how he really is….

“Oh that One would hear me!     Behold, my desire is that the Almighty would answer me,…” (Job 31:35)

Interesting request….for God does:

Job 38:1-2 “And the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,  

                    Who is this that darkened counsel by words without knowledge?”

God answers Job from a whirlwind….Job had wanted God to do something mighty, and powerful, and He does….but not to the friends,….but to him.

The Lord then shows Job how little he knows of Him:

Job had spoken as though his righteousness had added something to God.   

As though, Job’s knowledge of God and his obedience,  had earned him God’s respect.

No, Job,  it does not.   God loves us, and the greatest thing He does for us….is bring us closer to Him, in experience….for that is true knowledge.

God speaks:

Job 40:2, 8 “Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct Him?  He that reproveth God, let him answer it.

                    Wilt thou also disannul my judgement?  Wilt thou condemn Me, that thou mayest be righteous?”

“So you are going to walk right up to Me, Job and tell Me off because I am doing My Will, so you will be brought closer to Me?

Is that righteousness, Job?”

“You say you are righteous….declaring it to all…

If your righteousness is so great, Job,….

Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency;….look on everyone that is proud, and bring him low;  and tread down the wicked in their place… (verses 10, 12)

      I have everything in control, Job….the wind, snow, elements….the animals;  the largest to the smallest, I have given direction to….are you able to do this?”

Job, awed,…..and humbled,…answered, laying his hand upon his mouth, which is a sign of contrition where his words are concerned.  (Job 40:4)

Then Job answered God,….rightly

Job 42:2-3, 5-6 “I know that Thou canst do everything,  and that no thought can be witholden from Thee.

                    Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge?  Therefore have I uttered that I understood not;  things too wonderful for me,  which I knew not.

                     I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear,  but now mine eye seeth Thee:

                     Wherefore I abhor myself,  and repent in dust and ashes.”

You see, God is interested in us….and the trials which come to us are all under His hand.     

Are we gaining knowledge of Him, everyday?

Or are we at a stand-still,   rather proud of how far we have come?

Well, Job was….but he did not know it.

Until the Lord, through trials of loss, and through trials of friends made him speak all that was in his heart….

Then God showed him all that was in his heart,   and he repented of his pride. 

Jeremiah 17:9-10 “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked:  who can know it?

                     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.”

The Lord also corrected his friends, and had Job pray for them. (Job 42:7-9)

Job 42:10, 12 “And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends:  also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.

                    So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning:…”

Blessed in scripture means twice happy.

God blessed Job,…..and if we could ask Job, I think he would have said that the greatest blessing,  was his greater knowledge of the Most High.

What is your knowledge of God?  Is it continuing….or have you stalled in your growth in grace?

The Fountain of Life 

Psalms 36:9 “For with Thee is the fountain of life.  In Thy light shall we see light.”

Have you drunk from the fountain of life?

If you have, then that living force ought to be within you a river of living water, springing up within you…giving grace and peace.

John 7:38-39 “He that believeth on Me,  as the scripture hath said,  out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

                           (But this spake He of the Spirit, which they which believe on Him should receive:…”

And when you get water flowing, what does it do?   

It keeps flowing, following a path of least resistance.

It will flow downhill and if it meets a rock in it’s path?   It just flows around it.

This is the way of Living water.

But what if there is a dam of some sort?

Then it builds up behind it, until it flows over it!

Living water can not be stagnant.  It will find a way over, under, or around….and sometimes through any obstacle it meets with.

But you say,  “I have drunk of this Living water,  but it seems to be flowing more slowly than before….I fear it will stop altogether.

I am not sure what has hindered my spiritual life:  my prayers seem harder, the joy I felt is gone, and my peace is shaken.  I do not know what is wrong.”

If this is your experience:  consider when you drank of this Living water last.

We usually find what we lost,  where we lost it.   

So with relationships….when was the last time you had fellowship with the Lord?

Are you neglecting His Word?

Ephesians 5:25-27 “….as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it;

                               That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word,  that He might present it to Himself a glorious church,  not having spot,  or wrinkle,  or any such thing;  but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

What hinders the Holy Spirit within you?  

Have you been satisfied with something other than the Lord’s guidance?

Jeremiah 2:13 “For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns,  broken cisterns, that can hold no water.”

Do you seem further away from Him?

Has your assurance and confidence in the Lord wavered?

Hebrews 10:22-23 “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

                            Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering;  (for He is faithful that promised;)”

Have we been true to the Lord Jesus, or has doubt come in?

Unbelief slows the progress of this Living water, by demanding that God “prove” Himself to us.

Hebrews 3:19 “So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”

Matthew 13:54-58 “And when He was come unto his own country, He taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?  Is not this the carpenter’s son?…

                            And they were offended in Him…..

                           And He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.”

[If you read it, they acknowledge all His mighty works, but because of who He was to them:  “the carpenter’s son”;  they refused to open their hearts to faith,  and see Who He really was…..and missed the blessing He wanted them to have.]

I have asked all these questions, because sometimes it takes a question to jog our affection and thoughts toward the right direction. (How many times the Lord has spoken through devotions or a message to me this way!)

If we are missing the blessing of the “water” of the Holy Spirit, then we must seek His light to see where we stopped receiving it.  

Where we quenched the Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 5:19) 

Perhaps where we stopped giving thanks. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Let us look at the second part of the beginning verse:

“In Thy light shall we see light.”

As we come to the light of Christ through His Word, and let Him show us where we have erred or turned aside;  then we have light in ourselves.

Ephesians 5:13-14 “But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light:  for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

                                Wherefore he saith,  Awaketh thou that sleepest,  and arise from the dead,  and Christ shall give thee light.”

John 8:12 “Then spake Jesus again unto them,  saying,  I am the light of the world:  he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness,  but shall have the light of light of life.”

Go to the Light of the Lord, and let that light shine within you.   You want the Lord’s Will,  and He will show it to you…..for you.

John 3:21 “But he that doeth truth cometh to the light,  that his deeds may be made manifest,  that they are wrought in God.”

One of the last call’s in the Bible, is to all who will:

Revelation 22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say,  Come.   And let him that heareth say,  Come.   And let him that is athirst come.   And whosoever will,  let him take the water of life freely.”

For with the Lord is the fountain of life, springing up into eternal life…that condition of life, now and for eternity…in you.

And in the Lord’s Light…we will “see”,  discern the Lord’s Will, and get the power from the Holy Spirit to do it.

(I have spoken a lot about “light” lately…..because there is so much darkness around us…..reaching out to draw us in by our emotions and in our thoughts.

       Once we let it in,  it effects our light…….it dims.   

Let us hold on to Jesus…..He will give a blessing of life and light….as we open up our lives to Him, again.

       No doors shut….but a life open to and receptive to Him.)

To Fall on, or to be Broken by 

Matthew 21:44 “And whomsoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken:  but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.”

Jesus is this stone:

Matthew 21:42 “ Jesus saith unto them,  Did ye never read in the Scriptures,  The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner:  this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?”

Here Jesus sets forth the action of our will:

Come to Him and “fall on”.   Subject yourself to Me.

Or, in the day of judgement; that same stone will destroy.

How do we fall on that stone?  Here we begin to consider brokenness.

I like to think of horses:  to break a horse, you do not brake it’s spirit, but it’s will.   You want the horse to be the beautiful spirited animal it always was;  but not the wild, willful animal which will not be our companion in work.

It is the same with us.   God wants us to be us.  Not the rebellious, willful us.  But the beautiful spirit which He created….our personality.  

We may think we are nothing,  or little;  but Jesus never sees us as this.   He sees a beautiful spirit.   Our personalities may be cluttered with anger or hurt;  but He sees us…the real us…and loves us.   And wants us to be free to work with Him.

Romans 7:18, 22 “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing:  for to will is present with me;  but how to perform that which is good I find not.

                                For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:”

It is odd to me that Paul ever had this experience.   But it shows that each Christian has an inward man, which wants the Lord’s Will, after being born again.

       And an outward man which still has the desire to do it’s own will….and way.

2 Corinthians 4:16 “For which cause we faint not;  but though our outward man perish,  yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”

The “outward man” or “my flesh” must be broken:  and for the Christian,  it is a willed action.   We must will with God,  which is to fall on the stone.

John 12:32 “And I,  if I be lifted up from the earth,  will draw all men unto me.”

This is the work, we and the Lord are to do, together.   Lift Him up.

But how?

Well, we must manifest Him in us,  so that others see the Lord when they see us.

And this only happens as our wills are “broken” and the inward man of Christ and us,  is seen.

Again, how are they broken?   It is broken in willed experience as the Holy Spirit touches every strong point in our personality,  until we become “poor in spirit”, as Paul testified of himself.

We all want to hang on to some asset;  some ability;  some good point in our life;  but what Jesus wants, is that you will, wholly and completely with Him.

Paul wrote of his further experience, for he had found the secret of Spiritual life:

(If you read Romans 7:7-24 there are thirty “I’s”.   But in Romans 8:1–16,  “the Spirit” replaces the “I’s.”  It is written fifteen times!)

Romans 8:11-14 “But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you,  He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.

                              Therefore,  brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh,  to live after the flesh.   

                               For if ye live after the flesh,  ye shall die;  but ye if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body,  ye shall live.

                               For as many as are led by the Spirit of God,  they are the sons of God.”

It is yielding to the touches of the Holy Spirit in us that we gain all that Jesus has for us.

1 Peter 2:7-8 “Unto you therefore which believe He is precious:  but unto them which be disobedient,  the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

                         And a stone of stumbling,  and rock of offense,  even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient:  where unto also they were appointed.”

What do we think of Christ and the Spirit?  Can we trust ourselves to His Way?

He always has the end goal in view:  He always sees us working together….will we will to surrender and let His life be seen?

The Door of our Ears

Mark 4:23-24 “If any man have ears to hear,  let him hear.

                       And He said unto them,   Take heed what ye hear.   With what measure ye mete (give out),  it shall be meted unto you;   And unto you that hear  shall more be given.”

Has the door of our ears been opened?  Do we take heed to what we hear?

Let’s be honest.  We hear a lot that,  as my Mother used to say,  goes in one ear and out the other. 

We hear it.  We could probably repeat it,  if we had to.  But it makes no difference in our attitude.   Because they are just words…just noice,  that may or may not sound good to us.

Hearing ears come from the Lord.  He will give them to us,  if we want to hear Him.

Proverbs 20:12 “The hearing ear,  and the seeing eye,  the Lord hath made even both of them.”

These are ears which take in what is spoken, and apply them to “me”,  because we know the words come from God. 

Jesus goes on to describe the words which are “heard”, as seed:

Mark 4:26-29 “And He said,   So is the kingdom of God,  as if a man should cast seed into the ground;  

                          And should sleep,  and rise night and day,  and the seed should spring and grow up,  he knoweth not how.

                         For the earth bringeth forth of herself;  first the blade,  then the ear,  after that the full corn in the ear.

                         But when the fruit is brought forth,  immediately he putteth in the sickle,  because the harvest is come.”

Now these words have been planted,  through the open door of the ears,  into the heart.

This is a wonderful thing.  Because I have known people who remembered what they were taught as children in Sunday School,  about Jesus Christ,  and been born again,…..

……or used those scriptures in the situations of life,  they were in now.

You see, it is the door of our ears being opened that let’s in the Word of God.  Once planted in the heart (it may take time),  it brings forth fruit unto eternal life.

How do we “open the door of our ears”?  We will to believe, that His word is God speaking to me.

It makes a huge difference when we know the Lord wants to speak to me,  now, today….for today.

We “open” our ears, often for jokes, and songs, and other sounds (not that there is anything wrong with friends and family talking…I wish there was more of it.)

But we should be as willing to hear God speaking to us,  as to hear everyone else.

Mark 4:33 “And with many such parables spake He the word unto them,  as they were able to hear it.”

“As they were able to hear it.”      Multitudes came to hear Him (Mark. 4:1),  but did they really “hear” what He was saying?

Did they understand that He was presenting Himself and God’s word to them,  so that they would believe on Him, and have true life?

Not many;……

……but some came,…..did open their ears….want to hear what He was saying to them……and followed Him.   

He always had those who left all and followed Him.

To those, He gives light (knowledge of what to do, and how);  and He gives grace (the unmerited favor of power or ability to do).

And that is why today,  He is still speaking His Word to all who will hear.

“If any man have ears to hear,  let him hear.”

His Pleasure for me.

Revelation 4:10 “The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne,  and worship Him that liveth forever and ever,  and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,”

The glory of having a crown in that day,  will be, to cast it at the feet of Jesus.

He deserves all the honor:  for He created us,  saved us,  sustained us, and brought us to the place of all joy:  heaven and His Presence forever.

This crown is truly our own;  we have “earned” it as a reward for our devotion to the Lord Jesus.   We could walk around heaven with it on, if we wanted to.

[There are three crowns for us in heaven,  spoken of in scripture:  

the crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8) to them that love His appearing;   

the crown of life (James 1:12) to them that love Him;  

and the crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4) by feeding the flock of God, by being examples to the flock.]

But the real glory of having a crown;  is to cast it down at His feet.  

He has shown me this verse, I read it everyday:

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.”

He created all things: By His Almighty Power He made something out of nothing.

And for His pleasure they are , and were created.  

“Pleasure” here means determination.

If, indeed, we exist for His Pleasure/Determination,  what is His Pleasure where we are concerned?

What has He determined for us?

It is to be reconciled to Him…..in all things. 

(Is there something you are not reconciled to God, about?  I wish to tell you….He comes to meet us….as we come to Him.  [the prodigal])

2 Corinthians 5:19-20 “To wit,  that God was in Christ,  reconciling the world unto Himself,  not imputing their trespasses unto them,  and have committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

                                         Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,  as though God did beseech you by us:  we pray you in Christ’s stead,  be ye reconciled to God.”

This is to put first things,  first.   

And it is in today’s situation that this must be done.  

We can not wait for “better” opportunities,  or a “more convenient season”.

“Lord, I am here now, by Your pleasure……In this set of circumstances.   

May I adjust to them,…..seek Your will in them,…..and see Your will brought to pass in me, by them.  

And may I know Your joy and peace in them.”

(How many opportunities have I missed because I thought that this situation was just like before?    Too many. )

But we can be “crowned” here, by the Lord, as well:

Psalms 103:2-5 “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:

        Who forgiveth all thine iniquities;  Who healeth all they diseases;

        Who Redeemeth thy life from destruction;  Who crowned thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

         Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things;  so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

The “crownest” here,  means to encircle for protection.

Here,   we are crowned with God’s lovingkindness and mercy for our protection…..crowned also suggests noticeable,  for testimony to others for our God.

In heaven,  we are given crowns to reward our devotion to Christ…..the joy of which, will be to give them back to Jesus….Who won us to Himself….by His sacrifice and life.

We are created for a purpose.   Saved for a purpose.   Guided into that purpose,  which is His Pleasure/Determination, by the Holy Spirit.

Will we be reconciled to Him in all things,…..and our purpose….day by day?

Let us have the crown of love and mercy encircle us now….and look forward in devotion to Christ, to be able to throw our crowns down at His feet.

Are you yoked with Christ Jesus?

The Christian experience is an ever upward movement.

When we fall or fail in our walk, we lose ground.

But coming to Christ Jesus is always the first step in being restored,  or in what is next for our lives. (Even after we have failed)

He is our hiding place,  our fire within,  our rest of soul,  our peace.   Coming to Him should be one of the easiest movements for us, as Christians,  because we know His great love for us.

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy ladened,  and I will give you rest.

               Take My yoke upon you,  and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart:  and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

                For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”

When we come to Him, the first thing He gives us is rest.   

             It is rest of spirit…peace (this you feel, as the sea was calmed by the Voice of Jesus),….

…..and it is rest of soul (this comes with understanding His Word, and knowing we are forgiven and cleansed from our sin. 1 John 1:9-10)

                He takes the burden of laboring in this world under the dominion of sin (and the trouble of our besetting sin, as well)….and gives us deliverance.

Romans 6:17-18 “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

              Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”

This “became the servant of righteousness” is to “learn of Me”.    It happens as we walk with Him.

And then, with the rest of heart and mind,  He shows us His way of progress.

Whether two oxen are plowing, or harvesting, or pulling a wagon to town;  the way the work gets done, is the yoke.

The yoke was a wooden bar, which went across the neck and shoulders of the animals…..two smaller wooden pieces came down against the front of the shoulders….where the animals pushed against to move forward.

        The yoke was to keep the animals together…..each pulling their part…together.

This yoke, then, represents His way to bring His will to pass in our lives…..it is His Way of keeping us…He and I….together in the work.

       (There is the work of growing in grace,….in us.

        There is the work of showing forgiveness and mercy…through us to others.

        There is the work of witness,  prayer, and ministry.)

          

        As Jesus, Himself submitted to all the Father’s Will….humbling Himself….and letting the Father exalt Him in due time…

…so we are to submit to the Lord….

…and let Him work all things out,  for His good,  for me.

But here is the beautiful and….oh so sweet…part.

       “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

“Easy” here means gentle.   The yoke is gentle….it does not chafe or “rub us the wrong way”…..(unless we fight against it).   But it is gently keeping us close to Him, Who walks along side us….wherever we are sent.

The Lord does not say there will not be burdens…..but rather says they will be “light”.

         When the Holy Spirit gives a burden….He gives with it,  understanding, and the ability to discharge it.

“Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden,  and I will give you rest.”

Are we yoked with Christ Jesus?   Are we experiencing the real rest He offers those who submit to Him?

Our Purpose as Christians

2 Timothy 1:9 “Who hath saved us,  and called us with a holy calling not according to our works,  but according to His own purpose and grace,  which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began;”

The Purpose of God for us,  was set in motion before the world began.  

Before He created anything at the first; God saw us in Christ Jesus, according to His Purpose.

It is according to His Purpose and grace.   His Purpose is His Will; and  His grace is His unmerited favor of Power to bring His Will to pass.

Ephesians 2:8-10 ” For by grace are ye saved through faith;  and 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.”

This is written to Christians, telling them how they were saved.

It was by the power of grace, not anything they did to deserve it.

It was through faith, a gift given them by the Holy Spirit.

And they are “created in Christ Jesus”;  given new birth and a new nature.

     So created, not to stand by and watch;  but to take part in His Purpose:  those good works we are to walk in.

     We are so created as a “workmanship”;  which is a molded image.  

We are to be molded into the image of Christ.  (Remember the word Christian means:  Little Christ)

And how are we to do this?

By using the means and provision God has given.

That is what “ordained” means.  

It means that all the provision for our walk with Him, has been set aside for us.

Let us talk, for a moment, about the things which hinder His Purpose.   

(If you ask,  How can anything hinder God’s Purpose?    I answer,  that as He gives us choices,  He is allowing His Purpose to be fulfilled or hindered by us.   It is His way of teaching us, and training us.   He knows all things, and makes arrangements for it.  His Will, will be done;  but He wants it to be done through us, so He can bless us.)

The greatest hinderance to God’s Will,  is that we do not go on with Him as we should.

Our walk with Christ is progressive:

We are babes in Christ, being seen to, fed with the milk of His Word, so we can begin to crawl and then walk with Him.

We come to the place of walking;  and often like mules, stop and stand and bray.  Having a fit about some part of His Will.

He must, and will correct us:  sometimes with rebukes.  

Rebukes are words which awaken us to His claims on us.  Showing us where we should be, and how to get there. (Hebrews 12:5)

Sometimes He must chasten us.  This is serious;  He does not do this lightly. (1 John 5:16)

But He will not empower rebels with His Spirit.  That would be joining our rebellion against Himself.  But what He does, He does because He loves us.  As a parent corrects a child, for their good, so God corrects us.

The answer to this is to will to deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow Him. (Matthew 16:24)

We preach on this often;  because it is the backbone of progress.    We will deny ourselves, and follow Him. 

Or we will put up with ourselves, and lose another opportunity to please our Lord.

It is a choice the Lord gives us:  for it is “if” any man will.

Those that love Me, Jesus said, keep My commandments.

John 14:21 “He that hath my commandments,  and keepeth them,  he it is that loveth me:  and he that loveth Me shall be loved of my Father,  and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

When we truly want His Will and have denied ourselves, daily;  we come to the place where we no longer resist His Will in anything.    

(Resist is a good term.  Do you instantly want to “back up” every time you hear about what you should be doing? )

Well, we can come to the place, in our experience, that we don’t resist.   It is not  instant obedience,  but it is final obedience.  We will obey.

But the crowning glory, in this life, is to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 5:17-18 “Wherefore be not unwise,  but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

                   And be not drunk with wine,  wherein is excess;  but be filled with the Spirit.”

When we are filled with the Spirit of God (and this only happens as we are emptied of the fullness of self);  then the blessed influence of His life, love, peace, joy, and patience, is flowing within us.   

And can be seen through us.

We are expressions of His life, and Purpose.  That Purpose He wanted for us  before the world began.

Imagine a life full of the Lord’s light, and joy.

Better yet,  don’t imagine it.   Get it.   

If you are in Christ Jesus, born again; then His Purpose for you is to be filled with all the fullness of God.  Filled to your capacity.

Ephesians 3:16-19 “That He would grant you,  according to the riches of His glory,  to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; 

                    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.”

We never truly know the love of Christ, the way He wants us to, until we walk along with Him, in the Spirit.

His hand for our strength,  

His Word for our help,  

His Spirit shining in us for comfort, and joy.

His Purpose for us, in Christ, is to walk with Him, into those good works He has ordained us for.

Will we go on with Him?

New Ground…..onward! 

Joshua 3:4 “Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.”

Our days are often the same…..today is as yesterday.   Yet Jesus calls us to keep our eyes on Him….and follow on.

  “Take the world, but give me Jesus, all its joys are but a name;  

   But His love abideth ever,  Thro’ eternal years the same.

   Take the world, but give me Jesus, Sweetest comfort of my soul;

   With my Savior watching o’er me, I can sing though billows roll.

   Take the world but give me Jesus, Let me view His constant smile;

   Then thro’-out my pilgrim journey. Light will cheer me all the while.

   Take the world, but give me Jesus, In His cross my trust shall be;

   Till, with clearer, brighter vision,  Face to face my Lord I see.”   (Fanny J. Crosby)

    

    

Plainly, I will ask you?  

Is your level of joy and peace increasing?  

Are you entering new ground….higher ground with Christ?

To have it in it’s fullness, we must become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit….and stop stifling Him.

1 Thessalonians 5:19 “Quench not the Spirit.”

      To “quench”…is to put out, or stifle the fire which is burning.

In our yielding to Him, we will begin to experience that reality He has for us.

Acts 1:6. “When they therefore were come together, they asked of Him, saying,  Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?”

The disciples, after the Lord’s resurrection, wondered if He was not going to bring in the kingdom.   

        It seemed a good time,  His resurrection would surely convince all the doubters…..and He would manifest His power.

        Being all gathered together….they thought that this was the next step…

(How like us, they were.   We think we know what the Lord is going to do next!   Surely this would be what He wants to do!)

But Jesus said,  “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power.

          But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:  and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

          And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” (Acts 1:7-9)

This was the last words of the Man, Christ Jesus.    Times and seasons are in the Father’s hands,  and they are not for us to know.

What?!  Leave the witness of who He is….and what He did….in the hands of His disciples…of us?

         We ran away….and hid, until You came to us and showed us Your resurrection…..how can we do what You are telling us to do?

 

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.”  

        The power of the Holy Ghost was the answer…..

         Power to go out to conquer the world?

         No, not at all!

Power to conquer yourself,  and bring yourself into subjection to God’s Will and Way for your life.

        Jesus does it all…..through the Holy Spirit….with your willing with Him.

         The Promise of the Holy Spirit….He had told them of.    Now He was saying this was the way His crucifixion and resurrection was to be witnessed to.    So that His Way of Salvation could be witnessed and told to others.

We are all called as witnesses.   Witnesses to the power of God in our lives.   We can speak….of what we know in our experience.  

For we witness, more by what we are…..than what we say.

        Jesus Christ is seen, as we lift Him up in our lives.

For the disciples it was…..”in Jerusalem and in all Judaea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the earth.”

For us, it is…..”first in me,….my church (the fellowship of believers to strengthen and be strengthened)….my home….my job….and throughout the world to the degree of my influence (wherever I am).

No matter what we do, we will be better at it,  through the power of the Holy Spirit,…

…..because the Spirit speaks of our enablement…..of grace, given and used….we are powerless on our own.

Philippians 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”

As we will with God,  His Will will be done.

Is it not time, we all willed to do and be of His good pleasure?

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.”

Here, we come into our highest order….the most we can achieve personally…..

…..to live for the pleasure or determination of the Lord…..to become what we were created for.