Whom shall He teach knowledge?   

Isaiah 28:9-10 “ Whom shall He teach knowledge?  And whom shall He make to understand doctrine?  Them that are weaned from the milk,  and drawn from the breast.

                              For precept must be upon precept,  precept upon precept;  line upon line,  line upon line;  here a little, and there a little.”

If we would go on to maturity in the faith of Christ,  this is the way we will go.

1 Peter 2:2 “As newborn babes,  desire the sincere milk of the word,  that ye may grow thereby:”

The Lord Jesus would teach us knowledge:  about Himself,  and about ourselves (who can really see the way we are without His truth?), and about the world around us (the snares, and phonies there).

Teach means to point out;  like the Lord saying,   “Look,  this is the way things really are.”

Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go:  I will guide thee with mine eye.”

And the Lord “shall make us to understand doctrine”.  

In other words,  what we hear, we will understand with our minds:……we will not be confused about what He is saying to us.  

The Holy Spirit will give us understanding.

For precept must be upon precept;  line upon line.

[precepts in the Bible, are God’s prescriptions.  They are like medicine which He gives us for our spiritual health.]

Growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord,  is by steps.   

Putting one foot in front of the other.   

A little victory here,  a larger one next.     

There are falls,  but He is ever ready to pick us up.

And at every forward step, He celebrates with us, giving us joy and peace;……..giving us His grace for the next step.

We can go on till our affections have reached maturity.  For the walk of a Christian comes down to:   Lord,  what is next?

1 Corinthians 13:11 “When I was a child,  I spake as a child,  I understood as a child,  I thought as a child:  but when I became a man,  I put away childish things.”

Paul is talking about charity, or love here.  Putting away our natural anger, and jealousy, and fear;  we are to go on and yield to the love God puts in our hearts.   Love to Him and others.     The more we love Him, the more we trust and obey Him.

Obedience does not save us;  the Lord Jesus Christ does that.  But we will never know Him in power, till we obey Him.

1 John 3:18 “Little children,  let us not love in word,  neither in tongue;  but in deed and in truth.”

1 John 2:5 “But whoso keepeth His word,  in him verily is the love of God perfected:  hereby know we that we are in Him.”

We are to be children of light, and shine that light:

1 Thessalonians 5:5, 8 “Ye are all the children of light,  and the children of the day:  we are not of the night,  nor of darkness.

                                          But let us,  who are of the day,  be sober (serious about doing God’s Will),   putting on the breastplate of faith and of love;  and for a helmet,  the hope of salvation.”

The Lord teaches us little by little; pointing out to us:   

the way to go,  

how to use the means of grace He gives us,  

and giving us His light and love all along the way with Him.

A more excellent Way.

1 Corinthians 12:31 “But covet earnestly the best gifts:  and yet show I unto you a more excellent way.”

Love to God is that more excellent way.   We should love Him, for He first loved us. 

1 John  4:19 “We love Him,  because He first loved us.”

Where serving the Lord Jesus Christ is concerned,….He looks to our hearts….do we love Him?

1 Corinthians 13:1 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity (love), I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal”

Though I could speak in every language of this earth;  proclaiming the gospel far and wide.

And if I could testify of the gospel story in angels language:

If love for Jesus is not the motivation for all that talk…

          It would be just so much noise.    

Loud noise; “sounding brass” like trumpets.  “How great!” man will say; but to God it would be just noise.

Soft noise; “tinkling cymbal” like the end of a orchestra piece.  Empty and just noise….without love to Jesus.

1 Corinthians 13:2 “And though I have the gift of prophesy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”

This is the one that used to shake me up.   I am a preacher; and I study a lot.  I would say I know a lot…but all of that would be useless if I don’t use this knowledge,….even in preaching His Word,  out of love for Him.

And faith to remove mountains;  that’s something that everyone wants….but without love to Jesus as our motive; we will be nothing.  (Remember Paul was writing this; and he had great knowledge, and understood many mysteries.)

But Paul also understood,  that to do for God, without love to God;……is to really doing for a reward from God.   

Which is another way of saying, you are doing it for you.

1 Corinthians 13:3 “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”

If I give all my possessions to God’s work of feeding the poor;  and if I die a martyr’s death.

Though it cost me everything, as well as my life;  if love for Jesus is not the reason I do it;   then it profits me nothing.

I am none the better, for eternity, for it.

1 Corinthians 12:31 “But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way.”

The “more excellent way” is to love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.   The first and greatest commandment.

1 Corinthians 13:13 ” And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”

To truly love God is the greatest work,   greatest gift,   greatest sound we can do.

This is what He looks for in all our obediences…..our love to Him.

He did His work of Salvation for us, out of love for us…..and He wants us to do our work for Him….out of love to Him.

Guard your Heart 

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

Above all that you guard…..guard your heart;  for out of it comes all the ups and  downs….all the joys and griefs,….all the issues of life.

(Our natural hearts are spoken of in Mark 7:20-23, and in:

Ephesians 2:3 “Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lust of the flesh,  fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind;  and were by nature the children of wrath,  even as others.”

But God has plans for our hearts…..they are to be filled with Him…..His joy and peace;  His love and kindness….so we are warned:

1 John 5:21 “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.  Amen.”

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

The “issues of life”  are those things that count for eternity….for real life has it’s foundation in fellowship with God.

Our action concerning the Will of God, comes from our will….but our hearts either move our wills to run after God…..or after the world.

So God looks to see:  Who or what do we love?

Proverbs 4:20-22 “My son, attend to My Words;  incline thine ear unto My sayings.

               Let them not depart from thine eyes;  keep them in the midst of thine heart,  

               For they are life unto those that find them,  and health to all their flesh.”

Proverbs 4:11-13 “I have taught thee in the way of wisdom;  I have led thee in right paths.

                When thou goest,  thy steps shall not be straitened;   and when thou runnest,  thou shalt not stumble.

                 Take fast hold of instruction;  let her not go:  keep her;  for she is thy life.”

Most believe that love is a whimsical emotion that comes unbidden.

But “agape”,  is that love of God that comes from our yielding to the Holy Spirit within….for it “rejoices in the truth, bears all things, never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:6-8)

1 John 2:5 “But whoso keepeth His Word,  in him verily is the love of God perfected:  hereby know we  that we are in Him.”

Guarding our hearts for God, is our duty to Him.   He claims our whole being…..for He redeemed all of us.

He then asks us to guard it for Him….and it is a “guard” or wall of separation from the world.

(In the Song of Solomon the believer is seen as a “enclosed” garden (Song of Solomon 4:12)…..one which is for the pleasure of the Lord.    

“Let my Beloved come into His garden, and eat His pleasant fruits.” (Song of Solomon 4:16).  

 

But if we guard it not….then the things of this world can enter into it….and stay there, influencing our willed actions:

lust (I want it and I want it now), 

and pride (the arrogance and lifting up of self interests, over God)

1 John 2:15-16 “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.

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

So, we are to guard our hearts……but how?

We are to have that wall of separation from the world…..a wall made of:

Prayer, praise, and peace….

Philippians 4:6-7 “Be careful for nothing;  but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God.

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

At the gate of our hearts,  we will ask the Holy Spirit to place faith and grace as guards…..

Faith sees God….and helps establish us…

Colossians 2:6-7 “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord,  so walk ye in Him:

                     Rooted and built up in Him,  and stablished in the faith,  as ye have been taught,  abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Grace is our support and help….

2 Timothy 2:1, 3 “Now therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

                     Now therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

Let us guard our hearts….for Him;  keeping ourselves in His love……and learning to: (1 Corinthians 13)

“Suffer long, and be kind”

“Envy not”

“be not puffed up”

“Thinks no evil”

“Rejoices in the truth”

“Bears all things”

“Believes all things”

“Hopes all things”

“Endures all things”

“Never fails”

These are all the things which can come from our hearts…..when it is separated to Jesus Christ., and guarded.

How much He has for us…..will we begin to learn?

Song of Solomon 6:10 “Who is she that looketh forth as the morning? Fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?”

What is set forth in this verse is our life in the Lord Jesus, and just how it should be seen. The Holy Spirit should be able to use us to create a hunger in the hearts of others for God, and His workings in a soul that has continued to go on with Him. This is not by what we do….but by what we are.

Mature believers are:
“She that looketh forth as the morning”
This believer has “come to the light”….and there are no more “shadows” between her and her Lord.
The believer has come to live the life of nothing between. A constant maintaining of a life of fellowship with Christ.
We are no longer shut up, trying to examine ourselves, but are open to and receptive to Him at all times.
(And He has this for each believer….constant fellowship….even for us in Laodicea Rev. 3:20)

Revelation 21:7 “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son.”
This overcoming deals with the everyday things of our everyday lives. It is in these things that we overcome….and “look forth as the morning”.
We walk in the light, seeing things clearly….as they really are.
The world often puts on a “show” for us….but this believer has come to see things for just what they are, and how they are, and also, just what they mean for our relationship with our Lord.
By this, we bring light to others.

The single most important thing is…”Lord, what would you have me to do?
For with God, nothing shall be impossible.
I can do nothing myself. Yet I can do all things through Christ Who strengthenth me.

We must keep in mind, in our everyday things…..The God before Whom I stand. He is Able…and I am His servant, and simply do, and stand where He has put me.
By this, we become as a morning light to those around us.

“Fair as the moon”
The moon reflects the light of the Sun, but it is a soft, gentle, light shining in the darkness. So we should realize that we are to reflect Christ…..He is our everything in these dark days….
….and when we do, He should be seen through us.

“Clear as the Sun”
This is absence of gloom.
(My husband had a message once on “Miserable Christians”. They were born again, yet had not left the trappings of the world, and therefore were torn between two masters.
Real joy is the Presence of God in my life. The more we know His presence by fellowship, the more joyful we are.
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.”
And we know that this cleansing is a present blessing, one which should be constantly sought.)
If we are to dispel gloom…..for the Joy of the Lord is our strength….it is in His Presence…constantly.
Psalm 16:11 “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy Presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
Joyful Christians manifest Jesus wherever they go.
(just a reminder: joy is not in circumstances. Joy is in the Lord. Circumstances may be “bad”…but our real joy is in the Lord.)

“Terrible as a army with banners”.
This deals with the enemy that opposes us.
Such an army….displaying all their banners….was a Victorious army. (otherwise they would be rolled up and hidden)

He is Victor in the field….and we should be identified with Him.
We must yield to the Holy Spirit and then exercise our wills for Him. There is a spiritual force in the will….and that force must be conquered and then led of the Holy Spirit. (Ro. 8:14)

From our position in Christ’s Victory, we should show forth a Victorious Christ. And as He has had the victory over us, we should radiate Him to a lost and dying world.
Not that we go forth to conqueror…but that we magnify and honor in love the One who has conquered us.

And it is in our personal lives that this will be done. It is not super-saints that God makes….but just willing, love-slaves of Christ.
It is in our personal set of circumstances….as He is Lord of them, first because He rules all things….but also because we have given them over to Him to do as He pleases….we will soon see the Victory through them.

Not that He necessarily changes our circumstances. But that…He changes us through our circumstances.
For He looks to an end result.
And that end result is that we might live victoriously as we become HIs Will….in our own little corner of the world.

We are a morning of light to others….we are reflecting the light of Christ in this world’s darkness….we are not miserable, but joyful, in the Lord…..and we are becoming victorious in the faith, showing forth our Christ Jesus as Victor.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

Let us go on with Christ, for that is what a mature believer does…..that is, in fact what makes a mature believer. Not staying the same….but going on with the Lord.

The Voice of God:    in Wisdom 

Proverbs 1:20-21 

“Wisdom crieth without;  she uttered her voice in the streets:  

      She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,”

God is saying here that He had sent His Wisdom in the city,  into the minds of His People.

And  what did  Wisdom say?

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.”

God’s Wisdom wants us to not only hear the words;  but to “turn”.

When God reproves His people,  He is trying to get their attention away from the world’s traps,  and to turn it on their great calling in Christ Jesus.

He promises great power for our lives, in the promise of the Spirit;  “I will pour out My Spirit unto you”.  

and in understanding His Word for our lives,  today.

Jeremiah 10:23 “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself:  It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.”

We were formed from the dust of the ground;  and the Lord breathed into man, the breath of life, and we became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7)

Then we were placed upright, on our feet, to walk after God.

But we turned every one to his own way. (Isaiah 53:6)

So God has spoken in a clear voice of Wisdom:

Isaiah 30:21 “And thine ear shall hear a word behind thee,  saying,  This is the way,  walk ye in it,  when ye turn to the right hand,  and when ye turn to the left.”

That is pretty detailed direction, for our everyday life.  He knows, and we can know for today what His will is.

God has it for us: if we will walk with Him.

And if we get out of the Way?

The He will send Wisdom to correct us:

Proverbs 1:22 “How long,  ye simple ones, will ye love your simplicity?  And the scorners  delight in their scorning,  and fools hate knowledge?”

The simple ones here, are those who are not taught in the Word of God.   They can not prove all things.

We think simplicity is good,  but it is not,…..if we are simply refusing further instruction from Him, wanting to stay where we are because of fear, or lack of trust.

But the scriptures are given for our instruction:

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

And the scriptures are given for examples for us:

1 Corinthians 10:11 “Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for admonition,  upon whom the ends of the world are come.”

Maybe we think that God would never make that happen for me;  what is the use of trying, or of praying?

 He has promised a lot to those who want His wisdom.  Shall we not believe Him?

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.”

Proverbs 2:10-11 “When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul:  

      Discretion shall preserve thee,  understanding shall keep thee:”

Proverbs 3:21b-23 “…keep sound wisdom and discretion: so shall they be life unto thy soul,  and grace to thy neck.

      Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely,  and thy foot shall not stumble.”

God is still sending His Wisdom to the streets, the place people gather, to the entering of cities,  and in the city, itself.

He is sending it by His Word, His preachers, and by the testimony of His people.

He will not stop…His Voice will go forth.

Will we turn and walk after Him,  today?

Will we become a voice of wisdom to others?

1 Peter 1:2 “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”

This is a message for the Elect. And how do you know that you are of the Elect?

According to Peter, you make your election sure by your calling.

2 Peter 1:10 “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:”

Notice calling is first…..we prove our election by our calling. And it is all done by the sanctification of the Spirit…unto obedience.
As our spirit yields to the Holy Spirit within, He is then able to do through us.
Bringing us into the obedience of subjection, first.
This Victory within makes a change in our souls, transforming our inner character and attitudes….as well as our outward words and actions.

This is God working in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Phil.2:13). But He will not so work without you yielding to the Holy Spirit.

He has made us even as we are for a Purpose. For all the called according to HIs Purpose….have a purpose for their lives.

Purpose is an interesting term. When we think of “purpose”…we think of the goal to which we are moving….or the Way in which we are walking.
And God’s Purpose includes both….but God’s purpose is primarily that we become His….in everything, through everything, in spite of everything.

If we see to our calling…..our Purpose in Christ to be His, in heart, word and deed….we will assuredly prove our election.

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.”

Here again Paul is stating plainly….that we claim our salvation in Christ Jesus as we show that we are walking in the good works that God has put before us.

Grace, faith and obedience are never separate….but a flowing stream of living water that flows through us by the Holy Spirit within, as we yield to Him.

Every good work that God requires at our hand has been completely seen to…..in Christ Jesus. We have grace….let us use it, and fulfill our purpose to be completely His.
Let not unbelief or fear hinder our calling….

We may seem totally insufficient…..and, yes, we are….but God is able to make all grace abound unto us.
2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”

And Peter says (2 Peter 1:4-8)… that by the precious promises….we will become partners of the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is prevalent in the world…
….and if we give all diligence using what we have….the ”faith” given….we will add to it many of Christ’s characteristics.
2 Peter 1:8 “For it these things be in you, and abound (remember God is going to make grace abound toward us!), they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ”
….to be less of us, and more of Him.

Then Peter, stating these blessed promises….calls all who will, to give diligence to prove their election in God, by doing their calling.

The greatest proof we give….is our devoted love to the Lord Jesus Christ. Which is followed by our diligent obedience to His Word,….doing what He has called us to do.
And whatever He has called you to,…if we are diligent….He will give fruit, the fruit of the Spirit within, and the fruit of a Christian without,…which is another Christian.

Thou art Worthy 

Real worship……is worthyship….counting God worthy of our all.

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.”

For Thou hast created all things:  Jesus as the Son of God created all things by the Word of His mouth.  

He is the Word. (John 1:1-3)

And Jesus as the Son of Man brought back all that was lost at the fall to Himself; and for us.

1 Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God,  and one mediator between God and men,  the man Christ Jesus;”

So what is there for me to consider about this?  

What is His personal Pleasure for me?  (And “Pleasure” here, means “determination” in the Greek.)

Not just where I am to go,  but how am I to get there?   What am I to become along the Way?

In all my days and all the circumstances of those days,  there must be a plan,  and a purpose to look to.

One thing I believe our ministry is to stress:  Above all else Jesus Christ requires obedience from His own.

1 Samuel 15:22 “And Samuel said,  Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,  as in obeying the voice of the Lord?    Behold,  to obey is better than sacrifice,  and to hearken  than the fat of rams.”

No amount of religious activity will ever take the place of Obedience.

For this act of placing yourself with Him, and doing what He says now;  pleases Him most.

Human evil comes from Adam’s refusal to obey the one rule the Creator laid down.  (Sin is, in all its actions,  “I will not do what You say, I will not be what You want me to be.”)

This was the cause of man’s fall into sin.   And the force behind it was the devil.

But now that we are redeemed;…and we are redeemed for a purpose.  

And that purpose is to show forth His glory (the manifesting of His light and power) in our circumstances.

And obedience is the instrument by which this is accomplished.   

Will we be children of Adam,  and say no to God’s Will; refusing to obey?

Or will we be children of God, and say yes to His Purpose;  now.

For it always comes down to….now.    

We are to bear fruit, as branches in the Vine.

Fruit,  more fruit, and much fruit.

(There are two kinds of fruit:  the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), and the fruit of a Christian, which is another Christian by our witnessing, praying,  or soul winning)

John 15:1-2 “I am the true vine,  and My Father is the husbandman.      

Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away;  and every branch that beareth fruit;  He purgeth it,  that it may bring forth more fruit.”

John 15:5 “I am the vine,  ye are the branches,  he that abideth in Me,  and I in him,  the same bringeth forth much fruit;  for without Me ye can do nothing.”

We are all to bear fruit to God’s glory.   It is by abiding in Him, that we have His life flowing through us, to others.

But how do we “abide” in Him?

John 15:10 “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love;  even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.”

We abide by obeying His Word to us.

John 15:7 “If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”

This is a great promise to those who have the “sap” (life of Christ) flowing through us.    

By obeying His Word,  we may ask what we will (for we will His Will),  and it will be done unto us.

Not for us, or through us…..but unto us.  For our personal growth in Him.

We have a lack?  Ask,  and it will be done unto us.

Christ created us for His pleasure:  the way we are is what He intended. 

(I can not tell you how many arguments I used to have with the Lord about “the way I am.”     If He had only made me less anxious;  or if I had a more sunny disposition,  etc.)

But here is where the “unto you” , comes in.   

God made me:  with the parents I had,  the circumstances I had to go through,  all things were made for His pleasure where I was concerned.

So…and here is the great part:   I can abide in Him,  and ask Him for the things I need to be different, to be  more like He is;…..And He will do it unto me.

He is Worthy!  To be praised,  for we are offered the great privilege of abiding, obeying, and receiving from our great Lord Jesus Christ, personally.

                         

Today!   

Hebrew 3:15 “While it is said,  Today if you will hear His voice,  harden not your hearts as in the provocation.”

All our lives comes down to ‘Today’.     Tomorrow is not yet.   Yesterday, with its success and failures,  is done.

But today we have.   Today we have the opportunity to turn to God and do His Will.

We never know what a day will bring.    We should, therefore, determine which direction our lives will go,    while we have today.

So today,  if you will hear His Voice.   

We can hear God’s voice in nature;  many have seen the changing seasons and heard God speak to them:

Psalms 74:17 “…Thou hast made summer and winter.”   

If the seasons change, all over the world,  surely that means that the sadness of today is not permanent;  but will give way to rejoicing.

We can hear God through His Word.  It is His revelation of Himself and His Ways to us.    The Holy Spirit will help us understand it,  when we ask Him.

And we can hear His Voice to us, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit within.   He is Light, and will make known to us, HIs Will.

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

Jesus said,  If we really want to know His Will,  we can know.

God considers our “heart” the throne of our mind, emotions and will. 

So when we hear Him,  we are to “soften” our hearts by yielding to His Will.

To “harden” our hearts is when, we will not to do it;  for whatever reason.

Zechariah 7:9-11 “Thus speaketh the Lord of Hosts, saying,  Execute true judgement,  and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother:  

                           And oppress not the widow,  nor the fatherless,  the stranger,  nor the poor,  and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.

                          

                          But they refused to hearken,  and pulled away the shoulder,  and stopped their ears,  that they should not hear.”

A hardened heart is not caused by circumstances, or birth;…….but a choice of will.

When Israel hardened their heart:   they first refused to listen,  for they did not want to be responsible.   

They thought that if they had not heard,  God could not require His Word to be obeyed.

They pulled away from the work of “shouldering” the burdens of prayer, faithfulness,  and love.

Finally they stopped their ears,…..or filled their ears with other voices,…..so they would not have to know God’s Voice in the circumstances.

Again, God considers our heart, the throne of our mind, emotions,  and will.

But He can give us “hearts of flesh”;  or tender hearts,  which will return the love He gives us,….back to Him.

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

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

The Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Godhead, is given to us in our hearts to make alive again, and guide.   He rules, and over rules, in circumstances  which affect His People.

Without Him we can do nothing.

But with His Almighty energy,  the most extraordinary results can be produced.

Everything depends upon His manifesting or concealing His Power.

Are we anxious to obtain His help?

Are we watching so we will not provoke Him to be silent?   

Oh how much we need Him to speak to our inner man and give us courage!

The Holy Spirit is not a temporary gift;   He abides with us.  

He does not weary of us (Amazing Love!).

But He waits to be gracious at times, till we really see our need, and seek Him.

It is love which makes a hard heart into a softened heart, yielding to God’s Spirit.

It is God’s love given to our hearts,……and then returned to Him, by us.

In love, He speaks of “Today”,  if…..you will hear His Voice.

Turn to  Christ Jesus, and yield to HIs Spirit within.  

Receive His love,….and return it to Him.

He wants to bless each heart given to Him,……”Today”.

The field of ditches

2 Kings 3:16 “And he said, Thus saith the Lord, Make this valley full of ditches.”

This is an interesting story. Jehoshaphat ruled Judah. He was a godly king.
And Jehoram ruled Israel. He was an idolator. The only good thing he did was to put away Baal, a god of his mother and father. Yet he followed the false worship of the golden calves.

The situation is that when Jehoram began to reign, Moab who had given tribute to his father….rebelled and refused to pay.

So, the king of Israel gathered his men, and asked that the king of Judah come with him, and he agrees. The king of Edom (Esau’s descendants) also came…and let these armies go through their land.
(this is one of the few instances, since the kingdom split into the ten tribes of Israel, and the tribe of Judah, that they fight together…not against each other)

In this agreement, Jehoshaphat was wrong…..alliance with the wicked is never right….but it is noteworthy to see God’s mercy extended here.

The armies “go around”….coming round, to another way into the Moabite country….which neighbors Edom, which was less fortified.

This took seven days….and they ran out of water….for the men and animals.

2 KIngs 3:9-11 “So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days’ journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them.
And the king of Israel said, Alas! That the Lord hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!
But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord, that we may inquire of the Lord by him? And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.”

Notice the attitude toward God…of these two kings: the wicked king of Israel blamed God.
The godly king of Judah sought to get help from God’s servant, the prophet….to know God’s Will.

The three kings go down to see Elisha….(now Elisha was a prophet to Israel, as Elijah had been. Though the wicked did not hear, yet there were righteous in the country which he ministered to.)
….and in faithfulness, Elisha rebukes them, for the wickedness of the king of Israel.
Yet in mercy, for the righteous acts of Jehoshaphat….he finds out what God wants done….and speaks it.

2 Kings 3:13-14 “And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? Get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother…..
And Elisha said, As the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.”

God’s ministers and pastors and teachers are to equally show the wicked…their wickedness…and to rebuke them in it. As well as to preach good tidings of peace to those who would seek God and righteousness.

2 Kings 3:15 “But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him.
(Some believe this to be to soothe Elisha, because of the knowledge of the sin of Israel’s king. And we should feel the awfulness of the vileness of the evil around us. It is against our loving Lord, and though we should not be angry….we should be faithful to His Word.
I believe, instead, that the minstrel and song was to make them wait. Certainly it would have been a psalm or song about God. Let them hear of mercy, before God gives it.)

2 Kings 3:16-17 “And he said, Thus saith the Lord, Make this valley full of ditches.
For thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts.”

(This of course was a miracle…..but God does not stop there. His mercy is wonderful. They had come to put the Moabites back under tribute….so God gives them the victory! Then Jehoshaphat can go home, away from these men.
Mercy is God’s goodness to the sinner….those who do not deserve it.
There are temporal mercies to al (Matt. 5:45)l…..but spiritual mercies are for the elect.

2 Kings 3:18, 20 “And this is but a light thing in the sight of the Lord: He will deliver the Moabites also into your hand.
And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat offering was offered, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.”

Notice that it was after the morning offering. Probably done in Jehosophat’s part of the camp, maybe even done by Elisha.
Water started to fill the ditches that had been dug the night before….from next to Edom’s land…throughout the whole valley.

2 KIngs 3:21-24 “And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them, they gathered all that were able to put on armor…and stood in the border.
And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood:
And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely salin…..now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.
And when they came to the cap of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward smiting the Moabites, even in their country.”

The Victory was given….

But sadly, even though Jehosophat was a godly king….the last few years are silent.
We need to watch our alliances….our friendships.

God is merciful….yet many times, though He gives a victory, we will rebuke us for our choice of companions.

When I was a little girl, I heard a preacher say: Dig a ditch and God will fill it. That’s true if the ditches are dug by God’s Word.
The ditches that were dug here….were by God’s appointing. If we do indeed do what God appoints….even though it be digging ditches all night….then certainly God will fill them.

They did not see rain, nor hear the wind…..but the water was given, by the Word of the Lord….in mercy.

We may not see the way of deliverance…..but, be assured God’s mercy endureth forever.

We certainly do not deserve the least of HIs mercies (the first time mercy is used is in connection with Lot. Genesis 19:16, 2 Peter 2:7-9)…
….yet HIs Word assures us that “all the paths of the Lord are mercy” (Ps. 25:10)….and that “mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” (Ps. 23:6). His mercy shall “compass him about” (Ps. 32:10). God shall “send forth HIs mercy and His truth” (Ps 57:3)

And the greatest mercy to us is Christ Jesus….
Titus 3:4-6 “But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior.”

What does it mean to Overcome? 

To Overcome means to subdue,  have the Victory,  prevail , or conqueror.  

For us, as Christians, we are called to overcome everything which stands in the way of our doing the Lord’s Will.

This is a battle.  We are to do battle with our lusts, our self life, and the world, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

First, Christ speaks of His Overcoming:

Luke 11:21-22 ” When a strong man armed keepeth his palace his goods are in peace:

           But when a stronger than he shall come upon him,  and overcome him,  He taketh from him all his armor wherein he trusted,  and divideth his spoils.”

This is speaking about Christ Jesus’ overcoming the Devil and releasing his prisoners.

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you,  that in Me ye might have peace.   In the world you shall have tribulation:  but be of good cheer;  I have overcome the world.”

This is speaking about His overcoming the world.

Both of these He overcame for us.  On the Cross, when He said, “It is Finished”,……the Victory was won.

The Devil would have to open his prison house for those who received Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior.

The World and it’s influence, would not be able to persuade the Christian, who truly obeyed Christ; to follow it’s corruptions.

1 John 2:15-17  “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.

         For all that is in the world,  the lust of the flesh,  and the lust of the eyes,  and the pride of life,  is not of the Father,  but is of the world.

         The world passeth away,  and the lust thereof:  but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.”

The Victory is won;  but we still have to enter into it, for ourselves, personally.  This is the Battle.

We have to exercise the faith Christ gives us, in our lives, today.  

For faith lays hold on God and His promise of Victory, and brings down from God the needed grace,…..that we can have it.

1 John 5:4-5 “And whosoever is born of God overcometh the world:  and this is the victory that overcometh the world,  even our faith.

            Who is he that overcometh the world,  but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”

Faith looks to God.  It says that God will, with Christ, “freely give us all things.”

Romans 8:32 “He that spared not His own Son,  but delivered Him up for us all,  how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”

In the letters to the seven Churches;  Christ Jesus commands those who have ears to hear;  to “Hear what the Spirit says”. (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26-28,  3:5, 12, 21-22)

From the times of the Apostles, who warned of “wolves in sheep clothing” (Acts 20:29)…….to the present age,  Christ Jesus is saying:

“Follow My Holy Spirit,….by hearing what He is saying to you;…..and overcome that which stands in the Way of doing My will for your life;…..My Spirit will show you all that hinders you, and how to remove it from your life.”

Revelation 3:21 “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne,  even as I also overcame,  and am set down with My Father in His throne.”

Just as the Man Christ Jesus, overcame every obstacle that stood in the Way of His Father’s Will for Him, here on earth….

(He went to the Cross, was Resurrected, and received all power in heaven and earth for His Church. Matthew 28:18-20)

….So must we overcome everything which stands in the way of Christ’s Will for our lives

He gives the faith which overcomes,…..the light which makes the darkness in our lives flee away,…..and the grace, by the Holy Spirit within, to finish the work He has given us….

….within ourselves, and….

…and the work of the Spirit in us,  by us, and through us…for others.