Who shall speak for the Lord?

Matthew 28:18-19 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying,  All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.

       Go ye therefore,…”

(I want to stop here for a moment and stress, as we belong to the Lord Jesus…..that it is only because all power is given to Jesus Christ…..that we can “go” forth to a lost world….in His Name.

       He is in us….and we in Him….and we go in His power…..that is what He is telling His disciples and us,  here.)

Matthew 28:19-20 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

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

There are two Greek words for “teach, and teaching” here.

       The first “teach” means to disciple….to bring under the discipline of Christ.

       The second “teaching” means to instruct,  teach.

We are to go and make disciples to Christ Jesus.   To bring them to the place in their understanding that they submit themselves under the discipline of Christ,….that they hear the Lord for themselves.

      This takes effort….effort in prayer and the use of God’s Word.

For we are to teach them what Christ has said….”whatsoever I have commanded”….

(I have found over the years,  that Christ’s Words hit a spot, like nothing else.                 

     He spoke to sinners,  lepers,  Pharisees,  rich young rulers,  fishermen,  the dead, and the sick.  

     He preached,  rebuked little faith,  prayed much,  and taught His disciples how to pray, and honored any belief in Him….corrected the unbelieving….and blessed children. 

     His words are amazing…..and it is as we know them,  that we are instructed and learn how we should be.)

“….and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.  Amen.”

Alway means day and night, everyday….for the whole of time.

This commission was, of course, first to His disciples….but it is also for us.

If we are born again,  then we are to have His Words in us by obedience…

….spiritual reality is always…first in me.   

       We are to know the Authority of Christ for me….being in subjection to it.

       Then we can pass on to others what we have in our own experience…in that which we have obeyed.

Then He can require it at the hands of those we speak to…for we are speaking with authority.

They may reject the Word….and the Christ of the Word,….but that has nothing to do with us….we are just “sent”…..being obedient.

1 Corinthians 3:7-8 “So then neither is he that planteth any thing,  neither he that watereth;  but God that giveth the increase.

        Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one:  and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.”

As the Lord Jesus spoke that which His Father commanded Him,  so we must speak that which He commands us.

I have often gone to pray with people, and end up speaking to them about what is really troubling them.  

(I told a woman once, to just get honest with God about her trouble…..and she told me she would never talk to God that way!)

(My husband was talking to a young man once concerning God and His claims…the young man taking the view that God had no right to demand from him anything…..and he talked….and he talked.

       My husband could see this was going nowhere…..but felt the need to deal with this man….so he said,  “I am going to kneel and pray.   Why don’t you join me and tell God everything you told me?”

      He was not sure he would do it…..or the outcome….but,…

….when this young man knelt,  it was if a battle had been won, and  he said,  “Well, God,  it is about time!”

That young man was converted that night.)

        

We should pray as if the work all depended on God….then work as if it depended on us.

John 20:21 “Then said Jesus to them again,  Peace be unto you:  as My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you.”

The Father “sent” His Son into the world….not to condemn the world (they will do that themselves, if they refuse Christ)…

….but to save the world.

So we are sent to give the gospel out…..our testimony of Christ Jesus our Lord….in word,  and in deed, and in prayer,  and in Scripture…

…and may God bless His means.

Who shall speak for the Lord?

      

        

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

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

You will notice that before we can resist the devil…..we should “submit ourselves to God”.

There is a means James is setting forth, here, of having our prayers answered.

     James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”

      Our prayers are a view into our spiritual state.   If our prayers are healthy,  they will bring forth fruit within ourselves and within others.

    That does not mean,  we always get what we ask for….but it means that our prayers will take hold on God’s Word and promises…and change circumstances….or us.

Submit here is to subordinate…to be under obedience.     If we expect our prayers to be answered….we are to submit our selves to God.

    It is so easy for us to lust after things we do not have (James 4:3)….and to envy others,  what they do have (James 4:5)…

….but,

James 4:6 “But He giveth more grace,  wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace  unto the humble.”

No matter the lust (I want this and I want this now)….

….or the envy which is within us…..

….God gives more grace….more of the power we need to subdue our lusts….

….and submit to God in the circumstances we are in.   

          (Although there are times He brings us out of them.)

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

When we are submitted to God….we are to resist the devil….his whisperings, his doubts, his accusations….and he will flee from us.

          

Resist is to stand against….not listen to….not consider the pros and cons.  The devil often tells enough truth to get us to look at what he is saying…..but resist his words and stand with the Lord’s Word.

         (You can not stop birds from flying over your head….but you can keep them from building nests in your hair.”)

James 1:12 “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.”

Resist….stand with God against the wiles of the devil.   (Ephesians 6:10-18). 

     

James 4:8 “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.  Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

It seems as though James is repeating himself….

…but if we are submitted to God….and that is in our will…

…then we can resist the devil.

Then James says….draw near to God with your hearts.

And He will draw near to you….you will know His presence in this trial.

“Draw nigh”.   Or make near.   If we will make a way in our hearts for God to come near….He will make a way to come near.

How many of God’s children keep the attitude of nearness to God?   

        Nearness brings many things.   First and foremost….it increases our faith, peace, and strength.

For when we are at a distance from the Lord (some Christians like to only be within shouting distance)….we are not only in danger,…

….but we are weak in guidance, peace, and joy….which are the essentials for our Christian life.

        When we see God, we see ourselves more clearly…so James says:

Be sure you confess your sins….those done (your hands).

       Then confess your attitude, your desire for something other than the Lord’s Will……your hearts running after the world. (Being double minded James 1:8)

Now that you are coming closer to God, do not let anything interfere with that….for when we seek for Christ….He will be found of us….and more….He will draw near us, where we are.

To know the everlasting Arms around,  and under us….we need to be close…closer still  to Christ Jesus our Lord.  

Deuteronomy 33:27 “The Eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms:  and He shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.”

First the right relationship to God….then the battle is His….and He shall thrust them out….while we destroy all that comes between us.

For to will is present with me

Romans 7:18 “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.”

Our wills are our active member…..and it is either employed by the devil or by God.

            We often think that we are independent of everything….making our own decisions.  

But in reality,  we are under the influence of our minds and affections….which “push” our wills to action.

When we are still lost….we are darkened….and our wills follow here and there with the crowd,  or with our lusts, at the time.  (Ephesians 2:2-3)   

            This is death…..not the body dead, yet….but dead in sins…sinking in the muck.

(Peter calls it “fifth of the flesh” 1 Peter 3:21….and “corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2 Peter 1:4)

            This is the state of a lost person.      And our wills are subjects of those sins and lusts…which are subjects of the devil.

When we become born again….we are enlightened ( amazing word! Ephesians 1:18).

           Light, by the Holy Spirit, which is given to us at new birth…. to see our sin…..and more,…

….forgiveness from our sin is given:

           Romans 5:8-9 “But God commendeth HIs love toward us,  in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

           Much more than,  being now justified by HIs blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.”

And more….His life and grace is given to us to be “saved” practically from our sin…

          Romans 5:10, 15 “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of HIs Son,  much more,  being reconciled,   we shall be saved by HIs life.

          ….For if through the offence of one  many be dead,  much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man,  Jesus Christ,  hath abounded unto many.”

          Romans 6:14 “For sin shall not have dominion over you:   for ye are not under the law,  but under grace.”

(Twenty-four times in Romans alone,  Paul speaks of “grace”…..the unmerited favor of power….for our lives.)

And then Paul speaks of his own sanctification process:   he tried to do “good” after his conversion….but failed,  again and again.

          For there is within all of us….from our old nature….a principal of rebellion against God,  which must be overcome if we are to find…”how to perform that which is good.”

Romans 7:15 “For that which I do I allow not:  for what I would,  that do I not;  but what I hate,  that do I.”

Why did he fail?   Because of his lust.   What lust?   His coveting.     He wanted something that was not to be his….whether is was vanity….or attainment…or prestige.   

          He lusted,….coveted…after what which was not for him.       And to him, it was sin.

          And it kept beating him up….kept winning, when he went to do the Lord’s Will….these inordinate affections kept him from fulfilling God’s Will,  as he should.

         We hardly think of the great apostle as such,….but he wrote this that we might see his failure….(even though he “delighted in the law of God after the inward man:”  Romans 7:22… he kept failing….like we have, often.)

….yet he wanted us to see his victory in Christ Jesus, by the Holy Spirit, as well:

         Romans 8:1,4 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,  who walk  (and here is the willed action) not after the flesh,  but after the Spirit.”

         That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us,   who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

After we are born again….we are sanctified by “walking after the Spirit of God”.      This is not getting in line after the Spirit…..but this “walking after” means that we will with the Holy Spirit within us and let Him work through us.   

 It is conformity,  not emulation.

We, through many exercises of our will with the Holy Spirit,  become the Will of God wherever we are.   

Paul speaks of us as children (what an endearing term!)…..and heirs of God! (what an inheritance!)….joint-heirs with Christ…

          Romans 8:17 “ And if children,  then heirs;  heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.”

          And then names one of these things that we inherit from Christ….His love:

Romans 8:35 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall tribulation, or distress,  or persecution,  or famine, or nakedness, or peril,  or sword?”   

          (And Paul had experienced all of these things!  So he knew!)

And then Paul tells us that part of our inheritance….through Christ….we become “more than conquerors”! Or to gain a decisive victory!…..no matter what comes into our lives!

          Romans 8:37-39 “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.

          For I am persuaded,  that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

          Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God,  which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

And this victory is because God loves us….and gives us His love and grace through Christ Jesus.

           “To will is present with me.”     We have always had our wills….yet now by the salvation of God through Christ Jesus, worked out in me by the Holy Spirit….

….our wills can become a powerhouse for God in our lives….bringing us into the glorious victory of His Purpose and Will.

The Mighty God, even the Lord 

      

In Psalms 50 we see “the mighty God, even the Lord” call all His people together,……to judge His people.

Psalm 50:4-5 “He shall call to the heavens from above,  and to the earth, that He may judge His people.

                   Gather my saints together unto Me;  those that have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”

The term “judge” here means the One who has a righteous balance in His hand.    He balances everything against the weights of His Holiness, and His Word.

“Judgement”  in scripture,  does not just mean hell,  or thunderbolts from God…….it is the rules of conduct formed by a Holy God for the well being of men…..leading Him to decisions of approval and blessing;…..as well as correction.     

So God “shall come, and shall not keep silence” (Psalm 50:3).  

Psalm 50:7 “Hear, O My people,  and I will speak;  O Israel, and I will testify against thee:  I am God,  even thy God.”

(There are many things seeking to rule in the world, so it is very important for us to know that “the mighty God, even the Lord” is our God.

Which means that His might, wisdom, and holiness;…all His attributes have been set as a fortress round about us….as we are in Christ.

Which also means that we are His people;….bound by the laws of love;  to hear and obey Him.

It is important to understand…..God is Sovereign over all: in Will and Power…..certainly, to those who believe and trust Him,….

….but He is Sovereign to those who do not; whether they see it or not.

He is in charge….He is from Everlasting to everlasting.  He is Almighty, the God of all Grace, the Merciful One,  the One who holds the world in the hollow of His hand…

Isaiah 40:25, 28-29 “To whom then will ye liken Me,  or shall I be equal?  Saith the Holy One.

                    Hast thou not known?  Hast thou not heard?  That the everlasting God,  the Lord,  the Creator of the ends of the earth,  fainteth not,  neither is weary?  There is no searching of His understanding.

                     He giveth power to the faint;  and to them that have no might  He increaseth strength.”)

God goes on to say to Israel:

Psalm 50:9 “I will take no bullock out of thy house,  nor he-goats out of thy fold:”

(The bullock had to do with whole burnt offerings…which symbolized the person giving themselves to God [Leviticus 1:3]. 

The he-goats were used in the sin offering [Leviticus 16:9-10])

Isaiah 1:11 “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto Me?  Saith the Lord:   I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts;  and I delight not in the blood of bullocks,  or of lambs,  or of the he goats.”

God did not want sacrifices which did not mean anything….but only served to make the person look good before others……

….but He wanted the sacrifices to be offered from the person’s heart…..the person looking forward to the coming Christ.

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

              

If you read Psalm 50:17-20 The Lord corrects those who follow the world’s ways of stealing, lying, and slander.     Every Israelite was to treat a fellow Israelite as a brother…..helping him if he could,…..but never hurting him.

Psalm 50:21 “These things hast thou done,  and I kept silence;  thou thoughtest that I was altogether such a one  as thyself:  but I will reprove thee,  and set them in order before thine eyes.”

I will not let you continue to follow the Way of the world, but will correct you as a parent corrects his child. 

Then I will show you the right way……hear it….and live.

Jeremiah 31:33-34. “But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel;  after those days,  saith the Lord,   I will put My law in their inward parts,  and write it in their hearts;  and will be their God, and they shall be My people.

                     And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor,  and every man his brother,  saying,  know the Lord:  for they shall know Me,  from the least of them unto the greatest of them,  saith the Lord,  wherefore I will forgive their iniquity,  and I will remember their sin no more.”

(And Jesus promised this in:

John 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost,  Whom the Father will send in My name,  He shall teach you all things,  and bring all things to your remembrance,  whatsoever I have said unto you.”

Paul speaks of this in Hebrews 8:10-12……in Christ Jesus, this new covenant has come to all who believe…Hallelujah!)

In Psalm 50,  God speaks to all His own…..all saints.

In this day and age….He calls to His church to judge themselves according to what He said.  (John 12:48)

1 Corinthians 11:31 “For if we would judge ourselves,  we should not be judged.”

The Lord calls everyone of His, to come to Him….and  “come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord….”(Isaiah 1:18).

One day the church, and the whole universe will stand in silence, to hear God’s judgements…..”that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” (Romans 3:19)

He will judge all,….in the righteous balances He holds. 

(The born again ones at the Judgement seat of Christ [1 Corinthians 3:11-15].    And the lost, at the White throne judgement [Revelation 20:11-15])

Paul preached this almost nineteen hundred years ago:

Acts 17:30-31 “And the times of this ignorance God winked at;  but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent:

                     Because He hath appointed a day,  in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man Whom He hath ordained;  where of He hath given assurance unto all men,  in that He hath raised Him (Jesus) from the dead.”

“Judgement” in scripture,  is the rules of conduct formed by a Holy God for the well being of men…..leading Him to decisions of approval and blessing;…..as well as correction.     

Romans 2:6-7 “Who will render to every man according to his deeds:  

              To them  who by patient continuance in well-doing  seek for glory and honor and immortality,  eternal life:”

In that day,  may we all hear:

              “His Lord said unto him,   Well done, good and faithful servant;  thou hast been faithful over a few things,  I will make thee ruler over many things:  enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”  Matthew 25:23

It always comes down to the heart of the matter….what does your heart want?

To honor the Lord,   or yourself,…..in this time,….in this place….in this life?

“Who at the door is standing, patiently drawing near,  entrance within demanding….Whose is the voice I hear?”  

Song of Solomon 5:2 “I sleep, but my heart waketh:  it is the voice of my Beloved  that knocketh, saying,  Open to Me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled:  for My head is filled with dew, and My locks with the drops of the night.”

“Sweetly the call comes ringing,  open the door for Me,   if you will heed my calling,   I will abide with thee”

Song of Solomon 5:4 “My Beloved put in His hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for Him.

       I rose to open to my Beloved;  and my hands dropped with myrrh,….upon the handles of the lock.

       I opened to my Beloved;  but my Beloved had withdrawn Himself….my soul failed when He spake:…”

So what can we do,  when we fail to answer His call?

     Forget it!  It’s over?   

     No,  get up and search for Him….and get what He has for you now.

Jeremiah 29:13-14 “And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.

       And I will be found of you, saith the Lord:….”

       

For every true believer,  the call comes…..and we must answer—one way or the other.

      What does your heart want?   Where is your treasure?  Who is “my Beloved”?

       In every instance, it is His Voice that awakens us….to HIs knock and call.

HIs Voice spoke to Noah….to build an ark for the saving of souls.

     And His Voice has called us to come to Christ for our salvation.

His Voice spoke to Abraham….to come out of the world he lived in….and follow Him into a place He would show him.

      And HIs Voice has called us to “deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Him.”

His Voice spoke to Moses to deliver His people from slavery,  and showed them the protection under the blood.

     And we are we called to shelter under His blood and be delivered from the bondage of sin.

HIs Voice came through the Old Testament Prophets to awaken His people to the commands of His Word….when they turned to idols.

     And we are called to….”Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light”(Ephesians 5:14).

Some may say,  “What is thy  Beloved….more than another beloved,…” (Song of Solomon 5:9)…..that you are so diligent in seeking His fellowship?   So careful to stay close to Him?

Song of Solomon 5:10, 16 “My Beloved is….the chiefest among ten thousand.

       His mouth is most sweet:  yea, He is altogether lovely.   This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend,….”

How precious Christ’s love is!

Have we heard His Voice speak to us?  

Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My Voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.”

And if we have failed to answer….let us get up and seek Him…..and follow as we should.

 

The Call of Christ 

Luke 9:23 “And He said to them all,….”

“All”,  not just disciples….but all who would “come after” Christ.

Luke 9:23 “And He said to them all,  If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

We sometimes think that the call to deny ourselves and pick up our cross….is  a call to discipleship.

        Yes, Jesus Christ said it to HIs disciples (Matthew 16:24),  but they were disciples before that call.

“If any man will”….means it is a act of the will….not an emotional response….but a willed determination to deny self, and let Him lead….for that is what “follow Me” states.

Jesus also makes it plain,  that to follow Him…..you need to do this daily.

(Years ago, when I first heard this call….I thought I could bow my head, and make a commitment to do this……”done!”…..great!

       But the Lord,  very specifically,  showed me the “daily”……and I must be honest…..I winced.   “Daily”?   

Isn’t my commitment enough?   I want Your Will…..isn’t that enough?

       How silly and ignorant of myself I was!    You see, I did want His Will….as much as I was aware of it…..

….but there are long nights…..dark times…..storms and suffering, which I knew nothing about as a Christian, yet.

       And these times are really hard, unless we are closely following Him.

Of course, He is patient and gave understanding to His servant….how kind He is!

       And as I learned…..I became aware of a sense of freedom as I denied myself…..daily.)

We are often unaware of our inward state, until….in honesty….we realize what Paul is saying…

        Romans 9:20 “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God?  Shall the thing formed say to Him that formed it,  Why hast thou made me thus?”

Man’s rebellion is universal.   We are in rebellion against Him….we have all “gone our own way” (Isaiah 53:6). 

       Even as Christians, we “go astray” and get lost in the world’s chaos and influence….

……..and then the call comes to us again….”set thy heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest:  turn again,…” (Jeremiah 31:21).

Matthew 16:25 “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”

To save your life for time….at this time;  is to lose it.   

I want to say here about “waste”.

        I have wasted time planning things…..or trying to fix things….or with worldly pursuits….each has been a blot on my life.   Each has been “waste”, for they have taken my time…..and I have only so much of it….and given it to nothings.

      Where are those plans…..the Lord showed me His,  and they are laid aside in the waste bin….where they should have been sooner.

      Where are those “fix-it” projects?   Sometimes they made the situation worse….but mostly,  they did not help….but prolonged the Lord’s deliverance,  for me and for others.

      Where are those worldly pursuits?  forgiven, yet the time can never be taken back.

What about those words we need to hear or say to the Lord?   When is that going to happen?

What about those habits we need to stop, and the ones we need to begin?

What about those times when we should have listened to someone,  and we were “too busy”….?

We think our life as Christians entails times of prayer, Bible study, and witness….and they are all good and important for knowledge.

      But our life as Christians entails:

“…and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.”

You find your Christ-life….the actual experience of those things of Christ….HIs mercy—for ourselves and others,  

His grace—for today.

HIs Words to say.

HIs affections for others.

HIs character being formed in us,  “for as He is, so are we in this world”. (1 John 4:17)

And mostly, I believe, peace and joy in Him…..in the circumstances of today.

I can not take back yesterday….nor step into tomorrow;

     But I can stand firmly in this day’s events….

….and act (not just react to things)…but act, for Christ Jesus my Lord.

I am here, now on earth for Him,….and He is there, in heaven before the Father, for me.

Let each of us take our place in the call of Christ…..to fulfill our part of His manifested life here and now….

….and live in the liberty of becoming what we were brought into being for.

Rest

Song of Solomon 1:7 “Tell me,  O Thou whom my soul loveth,  where Thou feedest,  where Thou makest Thy flock to rest at noon:  for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of Thy companions?”

Rest…to be refreshed.    

             (Flocks, resting at noon…which is the hottest time of the day;  when after walking and grazing in the morning….they would need a place to lie down and digest what they had eaten.     The Shepherd led them to a place of rest….where he would watch as they were there.    It would not be all afternoon…just for a time of refreshing.   

  This is the rest the believer in the song of Solomon wants……to be at rest,  knowing Christ Jesus is watching and tending to me.))

Hebrews 4:9-10 “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

              For he that is entered into his rest,  he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.”

When we think of rest,  we think of sitting down,   or the weekend,   or no work.

But when God uses the term “rest”…..He is speaking of a place in our experience where we have:

the quietude of spirit,     the satisfaction of the soul,     and the quickening of the body.     It is the refreshing of the spirit, soul and/or  body.  

             In God’s rest,…there is work,  but without labor!

(In the ultimate sense….the “rest” God has for us will be complete when we enter heaven and eternity. 

            But God also calls us to enter into His rest….the rest He has in Christ’s accomplishments on the cross….and subsequent resurrection, and ascension.

            What did Christ accomplish on the cross?

The paying of my debt of sin….therefore I am free from penalty.   

     The fulfilling of the everlasting covenant…giving us a place with Him…and in Him forever.    

The wiping away of defilement so that we may have access to God,  through Christ.    

      And in HIs resurrection and ascension,  we have the opening of the way to His life in us,….  

…..and HIs authority and reign in and through us.)

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, 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.”

Notice we are to take upon us,… His yoke….that is the double yoke where we are yoked, of course,  with Him.      And in this double-yoke….we have “burdens”.     But we have rest.

When God “rested” on the seventh day,  after recreating the earth and all the creatures, and then forming man….He saw that all was “ very good”.

            Genesis 2:1-2 “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

            And on the seventh day God ended HIs work which He had made;   and He rested on the seventh day from all HIs work which He had made.”

            “Rested” here means to desist from exertion.     He took a Sabbath.   And the first day of man,  was the day that God rested….and He saw to it that man entered into it with Him.

After sin entered,  rest with God was not spoken of till Moses was to bring out Israel from Egypt.          

              Then God had to teach Israel about entering into “rest” with HIm, once again,  through many illustrations and types.

               One was the Sabbath….and manna.   

The manna was given six days….every day they were to gather….not keeping it until the next day….eating the provision given. (a great example of the grace God gives us….to use the ability, and provision He gives,  as He gives it.)

              But on the sixth day they were to gather for two days….for:

              Exodus 16:29-30 “See, for that the Lord hath given you the sabbath,  therefore He giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days;  abide ye every man in his place,  let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.

              So the people rested  on the seventh day.”

The Lord had to teach HIs people how to “rest”.    And that this rest was….with Him.   

             No labor was to be done….they were to stay in their place:  stay with their families and enjoy their time together….with the Lord. 

             Deuteronomy 6:6-7 “And these words,  which I command thee this day,  shall be in thine heart:

             And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house,….”

(I remember my grandmother….she was a godly woman…..and she loved Sundays.     Church,  then the family dinner….and all afternoon,  sitting around talking.    

              When she came down to my house to live….in the winter, for we would not let her live by herself at her age….then she and my aunt….would have such conversations about the sermon!       Out the Bibles would come and here a verse….and there a verse!  

Both of them missed this special fellowship when grandma went back home in the spring.)

Rest….the refreshing of our spirits, souls and bodies….from the Lord.    This we are to have….it is promised each of us.   

             “Come unto Me,….and I will give you rest.”  (Mat. 11:28)

              Again,  this is not that there is no work…..just that in the work,  there is no labor….for we are like the sheep that are simply following where our Shepherd leads us, doing His will…..letting Him defend us.

Isaiah 35:8 “And a highway shall be there,  and a way,  and it shall be called The way of holiness;  the unclean shall not pass over it;  but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.” 

Could this be any plainer?  “The wayfaring men”…those just passing by, not thinking of staying;  

“though fools”…if they are not instructed in God, or His Word…..yet, they shall not err therein…because this way is clearly seen.

The Lord makes His gospel the same way.  Plain enough, so that those who want to know His Way,  can.

And He sends His preachers and teachers to awaken, to His way.

Luke 3:4-6 “As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,  saying,   The voice of one crying in the wilderness,  Prepare ye the way of the Lord,  make His paths straight.

                       Every valley shall be filled,  and every mountain and hill shall be brought low,  and the crooked shall be made straight,  and the rough ways shall be made smooth;

                       And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

This was John the Baptist’s ministry….to make a way for the Lord Jesus.  To prepare the hearts of the people, so they could hear what Jesus was saying.

You see when the Holy Spirit comes within the heart of every believer, He begins to put our lives in order.   His due order.  That is “make His paths straight”.

He begins with light.  All things are manifested in the light, so the Holy Spirit begins by enlightening us, to what we are in ourselves….and what we have in Christ. (Ephesians 1:17-19 “…the eyes of your understanding being enlightened;  that ye may know…”)

Then He begins to mold and shape us:  here is where the highway begins…for when a regular highway is built…it is built up out of the fields and waterways,  so that it is easily seen.    So it can be taken to the destination.

The Holy Spirit fills in the low places in our lives: 

Are we lonely?  Are we depressed?

Are we overcome with the cares of our lives?  

Do we blame God?

These are “low” thoughts of God,  and the Holy Spirit comes, and deals with the reasons for them, within us….giving peace and guidance in their place.

Psalm 40:2-3 “He brought me up also out of an horrible pit,  out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a Rock, and established my goings.

                           And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God:  many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord”

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;”

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;  and lean unto thy own understanding.

                              In all thy ways acknowledge Him,  and He shall direct thy paths.”             

The Holy Spirit shows us “every mountain and hill” to  be “brought low.”

These are the high places of pride.   

These can be mountain-like for some;  or hill-like in others.  But we all have pride, for it is a sin we inherited from Adam. 

(Remember Eve was tempted to sin so they could “ be like God”.  [Genesis 3:5-7]

One of the sins which Adam got when he rebelled against God, was pride.

He immediately tried to “cloth” himself.  Shame for being naked, caused him to rebel even more, and look for that which would cover him before God.

This is pride, for pride is presumption….thinking we can do for ourselves, without God.  He couldn’t, so he tried to hide, instead.]

God refuses the proud:

Luke 1:51-52 “He hath showed strength with His arm;  He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

                          He hath put down the mighty from their seats,  and exalted them of low degree.”

James 4:6 “But He giveth more grace.  Wherefore He saith,  God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

But God is near those who know they need Him, and come to Him:

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

The “crooked ways” shall be straightened out:

Titus 3:1-2, 8 “But put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work.  

                          To speak evil of no man, be no brawlers but gentle,  showing all meekness unto all men.

                           This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.  These things are good and profitable to all men.”

And the “rough ways” shall be made smooth:  

2 Timothy 1:6-7 “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance,  that thou stir up the gift of God,  which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

                               For God hath not given us the spirit of fear,  but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

                

1 Timothy 6:12 “Fight the good fight of faith,  lay hold on eternal life,  whereunto thou art called,  and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”

I believe that every Christian,  like John the Baptist is called to “Prepare the way for the Lord”.    

Not in the wilderness of Judea;  but in there own lives,  in their own set of circumstances; that others may see clearly “the Way” to Christ Jesus. 

[Whether to be saved or to be restored to Christ]

Isaiah 35:8 “And a highway shall be there,  and a way,  and it shall be called The way of holiness;  the unclean shall not pass over it;  but it shall be for those:  the wayfaring man,  though fools,  shall not err therein.”

We are to manifest the highway we have taken,  and as much as we can,  lead others to Christ Jesus our Lord, too.

Our tongues

Psalm 141:3 “Set a watch,  O Lord, before my mouth;  keep the door of my lips.”

The prayer here,  is for the Lord to guard our words…..to keep us from speaking before we think,…or speaking to flatter,…or injure.

            To keep us mindful that our tongues can be as sharp as arrows….or  that a word in due season for the Lord,  is blessed.

Our words are our most readily available means for witness for the Lord.       So what and how we say things,   matter.

            I have gone to see people and been talking,  and a moments levity….can quench the Spirit of God….and an opportunity for real witness is gone.

           I have also gone to see people and known the blessedness of having my words used by God to really open their hearts to Him.

Our words….and how we say them,  matter.

James 3:2,5 “For in many things we offend all.  If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

            Even so the tongue is a little member,  and boasteth great things.    Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!”

Sadly, we might say some careless word that will cause another to stumble…or in the least hinder their progress in Christ.   How we wish we could take back some things we have said….and even if the person forgives us….praise the Lord….still it mars our witness, for a while.

           “Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth….and keep the door of my lips.”

James 3:8-10 “But the tongue can no man tame;  it is a n unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

            Therewith bless we God, even the Father;  and therewith curse we men,  which are made after the similitude of God.

            Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing.   My brethren,  these things ought not so to be.”

In ourselves we can not tame our tongues. 

           But in the  power of the Holy Spirit…by His grace,  we can “watch”….and become so humbled to the Lord,  that we learn to speak under the unction of the Spirit….all the time.

It is so easy to “slip” in tongue….and even when we are “right”….we need to rely on the Holy Spirit to manifest the right attitude in our speech:

          Paul, arrested after the riot in Jerusalem…(after his speech where he acknowledges that God has sent the gospel to the Gentiles as well as the Jews.)

          The Roman centurion needed to understand the accusation that the people made….so he let Paul be brought before the council.

          Acts 23:1-3 “And Paul,  earnestly beholding the council,  said,  Men and brethren,  I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

         And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.

         Then said Paul unto him,    God shall smite thee, thou whited wall:  for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?”

Paul was right…he should not have been slapped…..yet,  when shown that he too was wrong….he immediately apologizes.

          Acts 23:4-5 “And they that stood by said,   Revilest thou God’s high priest?

          Then said Paul,  I wist not,  brethren, that he was the high priest:  for it is written,  Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.”

Paul, then, relying on the Holy Spirit, “perceived” a division in the council….and “he cried out in the council,  Men and brethren,  I am a Pharisee,…of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.” (Acts 23:6)

          That ended that  trial…..

…..but  Paul, through many “trials”…relied on the Lord to speak through him……before Felix,  before Festus,  before king Agrippa and queen Bernice,  and before Caesar. (Philippians 4:22 saving some in Caesar’s household.)  

2 Timothy 4:16-17 “At my first answer no man stood with me….

           Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known….”

Paul’s ministry was his life and words……and so he  asked that “utterance  may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make know the mystery of the gospel….that I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak”.  (Eph.6:19-20)

Paul asked the Colossians to pray for them….(Col. 4:3-4,6)  ”that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

           That I may make it manifest,  as I ought to speak.

Let your speech be always with grace,  seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

Our words matter….what we say,  and how we say them.  

          Paul learned to speak “not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.  

          For I determined not to know any thing among you,  save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.

          And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom,  but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

          That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men,  but in the power of God.”

(1 Cor. 2:1-2, 4-5)

Paul learned “to set a watch before his mouth”….

          So can we,….for the Spirit of God will help us….that we can “perceive” what to say….whatever trial comes up.

Deborah

Judges 4:4 “And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth,  she judged Israel at that time.

The book of Judges is one of the saddest books in the Old Testament.    In it, we see great heroes of the faith….but only because Israel has the tendency to idolatry.

           Only the generation which came into Canaan and took it, ….was faithful to God.    (Though they gave a great occasion to sin for their children,    when they did not utterly destroy the Canaanites…but allowed some to remain in the land, under tribute.)

           After that generation passed away….their children looked at…and then, took after the heathen that were still in the land…..in idol worship.

God then would bring trouble,  usually by way of a conquering nation,  which would make them feel the pains of forsaking God.

           Then they would cry unto the Lord, and He would deliver them….through various individuals….in various tribes.     

(What God wanted,  was each man, woman and child to know the Lord.    He had given them the land….He had given them a place to worship… and feasts to come together and celebrate together….with Him.

Each was to know the Law of God, and pass it on to their children.)

But time after time,  soon after the deliverance was obtained….the children of Israel would turn to some form of idolatry again.

Under Deborah,  who judged Israel in the tribe of Ephraim….an unusual deliverance was given.

For twenty years the king Jabin of Canaan ruled over them, for their sin.  “And he mightily oppressed” them.

           Sisera was the captain of the army…and a vicious and brutal fighter he was.

But when “the children of Israel cried unto the Lord”….it was time for another deliverance.

           Barak was of the tribe of Naphtali….and had evidently been called of God to go and fight with the Canaanite’s army.      

But Barak had not heeded the call….until…

          Judges 4:6-7 “And she (Deborah) sent and called Barak….and said unto him,   Hath not the Lord God of Israel commanded,  saying,   Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun

          And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon  Sisera,  the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude;  and I will deliver him into thine hand.”

Look at this amazing promise!    Yet Barak had not gone…..he had not even called for an army.

          But when he is awakened to his responsibility by Deborah,  again….he says he will go…

…if she goes with him.

         (This is certainly praise for Deborah’s godliness.   

But it is bad way to begin a work,  when Barak can not personally trust the Lord and His Word.)

Therefore,  Deborah agrees….but warns that he is forfeiting the blessing,  by this distrust.

(God can use us, if we obey,….even when we do not trust.   

         But true blessing comes to us through our trusting the Lord,  in our obedience.    Trust is the hanging onto His Word….and seeing it performed in us…and through us, to HIs praise and honor. )

So Barak goes and calls to the men of Naphtali to come to the river Kishon.

         Sisera was told by the Kenites that Israel was arming and gathering to fight…and he comes with a vengeance….nine hundred chariots and a huge army….to the river.

Now you would think that such an army was undefeatable….but the Lord had gone out before Barak.     The Lord was working….but Barak remained at the top of mount Tabor….just watching the huge army of the enemy come up.

          Deborah again awakens Barak   (and how like us, he is!   We need awakening often….and especially when we are not trusting!)

          But Deborah is courageous….because her trust is in the Word of the Lord.   She knows HIm….and is willing to go into battle herself,  to prove He is faithful.

          “Up;  for this is the day in which the Lord hath (not will,  or maybe might…but hath already in HIs Word) delivered then into thine hand!    Is not the Lord gone out before thee?” (Judges 4:14)

So Barak and ten thousand men all run down the mount…swords in hand…

……with Sisera in his chariots trying to cross the river….and then…

…”the Lord discomforted Sisera, and all his chariots and all his host with the edge of the sword before Barak.”   (Judges 4:15)

           It was the river clogging the wheels of the chariots,  it was the sudden shout and seeing men and swords coming….because…”the Lord discomforted” them.     

           The Lord put terror in their hearts,  and their chariots got stuck…or struggled with the force of the river.   “The river of Kishon swept them away…” (Judges 5:21)

Sisera,  got out of his chariot and ran.       

           Barak stayed with his men and fought bravely….chasing the chariots who had turned around and fled….till they slew them all.     And he went on to fight and overthrow the king of Canaan, as well….ending his oppression on Israel!

           At least you can say this about Barak….he was diligent…after the Lord intervened.    

            (And are we asking the Lord to prove Himself,  before we diligently do what we have been called to do?)

Now for the honor of slaying Sisera, the vicious leader of the army (Judges 5:30 speaks of the terrible things he did)..

….it went to a simple  woman…

……not a soldier,….and not to Barak.

           For Sisera, having run away, comes to the tent of a Kenite…and sought to hide there.    Telling the woman of the house to watch…and tell any who came,  that there was no one there.

What Sisera doesn’t know is that this Kenite had separated himself from his people (remember they are the people who tell Sisera that Israel is arming at the river).     But this Kenite had moved to the river Kishon….in alliance with Israel.    

          Jael,  the Kenite’s wife,  gives Sisera something to drink, when he asks for it….and he goes to sleep.    She then  killed him.      

          A great captain of a great army….dead,  at the hands of a woman….

….not at the hands of Barak,  who should have killed him….by trusting the Lord.   

And in the song about this battle:

God is praised….and the people who came to fight are honored…”when the people willingly offered themselves.”        

          And then Jael is honored…

Judges 5:24 “Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be,  blessed shall she be above women in the tent.”

All through this,  it is seen again and again…that it is not by might, nor by power,  but by the Lord doing what He said He would do.

          It is certainly our obedience to the Lord that matters most….

….but it is in trusting in the Lord that brings great blessing….of courage, and peace to us.