The Lord that healeth thee

Jehovah-Rapha 

Exodus 15:25-26 “And he(Moses) cried unto the Lord;  and the Lord shewed him a tree,  which when  he had cast into the waters,  the waters were made sweet:  there He made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there He proved them,

         And said,  If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all HIs statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.”

The first time this Name is given is wonderful!

      Israel had just come out of Egypt,….

…..had seen God part the Red Sea….and had crossed over dry shod,  while Egypt’s army had been destroyed (all the while they had done nothing….they had not lifted a hand in their deliverance!)

….they had sung God’s praise and danced for joy!

Then….three days into the wilderness they ran out of water…..pretty serious stuff.    

      But then they came to Marah,  here there was water!  Hurrah….but no….it was bitter (undrinkable)!

What! Would God bring them out to kill them with thirst?    

       Of course not!     He brought them here  to “prove them”.

It is one thing to be ecstatic by circumstances…..and another to plant your faith in God,  no matter the circumstances.    And this He wanted to teach them.

       Trust should be our answer to God when things don’t look good…

Though the people did not trust…..Moses did.   He “cried unto the Lord”….where else can I go but Thee, O Lord?

       The emblem of a tree cut down and cast into the waters for the people….is a symbol of Christ cut down and cast into the drowning waters of our sin…..

….and the waters were made sweet.

And has not Christ made our lives “sweet” by His salvation?  Yes, hallelujah, yes.

He is Jehovah-Rapha.  The Lord that healeth thee.

I want to stress….that if you consider the terms “heal, healeth, healed” in the scriptures…..that they are concerning,  or for,  God’s people. 

Healeth means “to mend, to cure, to thoroughly make whole.”

Ps 103:2-3 “Bless the Lord, O my soul,  and forget not all His benefits:  

       Who forgiveth all thine iniquities;  Who healeth all thy diseases;”

(Now I want to explain….that sin has caused the sickness and death of man,….not God.

     Man was made upright (righteous before God) but he sought out many inventions (devices) Ecclesiastes 7:29…..and we are still inventing or finding them!

     God will chasten us….and sometimes has used illness to get our attention:

Hosea 6:1 “Come, and let us return unto the Lord:  for He hath torn, and He will heal us;….”     but it is always to bring us back to Him.

      Psalm 41:3-4 “The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing:  Thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

      I said,  Lord, be merciful unto me:  heal my soul;  for I have sinned against thee.”)

      

There are spiritual, mental, and physical ailments which the Lord heals….(all healing comes through HIs hands)…..whether by normal means or extraordinary means….and He wants us to come to Him in prayer,  for healing.

Ps 147:3 “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.”

This has to do with heartaches…..discouragement,  depressions,  anxieties, stress, and grief. 

      These deal with our past experiences,  attitudes,  and our own plans….what we expected.   

(Remember, after the Red Sea,…the Israelites thought God would provide with no problems…..

……and when He proved their faith and obedience….

…..they had a “fit”….which caused discouragement, murmuring and failure to trust.   What about us? )

Isaiah 53:5 “But He was wounded for our transgressions,  He was bruised for our iniquities:  the chastisement of our peace was upon Him;  and with His stripes we are healed.”

“And with His stripes we “are”….(present tense)….healed.”   

       This is not stated in the past tense….as though the healing had already been done.

       This is not in the future tense….as though it was only for a time ahead.

       But it is in the present tense which suggests that it is for all time…..for all who will receive Him…

Healed…..a word so complete….it takes in our spirits,  our minds,  our hearts,  our bodies.     By His stripes we “are” healed.

Israel ran forward to the springs of Marah…..only to find them bitter….a time of testing from the Lord Who redeemed them.

And when we find our circumstances bitter…..what are we to do?

       Look to Jehovah-Rapha….the Lord that healeth thee.

For if the Marah experience that we are going through, is sent to prove our faith….that it may stand and grow….

….we can count on Him to give His blessing and victory in it,  if we trust in Him.

Anyone can murmur and complain…..that is the way of this world.

But as Christians,  we are called to follow Him wherever He leads…..through the wilderness,  by way of Marah’s bitter waters….into the promises and healing He has won for us.

The good and honest heart

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

My husband always says, when preaching on these verses….”this heart is good,  only because it is honest.”

It is interesting to note that in the Greek….honest means beautiful.    And certainly to God…when we get honest,  when we look for the Truth….we are beautiful.

This ground, described in various parts,  which the Lord was speaking about here in this parable of the sower….are the hearts,  which HIs Word came to….

….and what they did with HIs Word.

          One, we know was hard,  the wayside beside the field.   Yet seed fell there….and it was not received,  but “trodden down” (Luke 8:5)…and the birds came and devoured the seed.

The birds are the devil,  but it was after the seed was walked on…because thought so little of it….that they came and “devoured” them.

        The second fell on a part of the field that still had rocks in it.   The seed sprung up….as in the hearts of those that are emotionally charged with good feelings about Christ….yet when temptations come….the “moisture” of grace is not there….and they “fall away” (Hebrews 6:4-7).

       The third fell among thorns that had not been pulled up.    The seed grows,  but in the midst of thorns….and the thorn roots squeeze out the life from the Word.   Jesus said that these thorns are cares (which are usually carried as burdens 1 Peter 5:7),  riches,  and pleasures of this life (which take over the affections).

But the fourth hearts were those who had been properly prepared.

       Remember John the Baptist came to prepare hearts (Luke 3:3-6)….and those that heard him and repented,  heard Jesus.

                 For true preparation for the Word of God comes through honest listening, and honest repentance.

Our hearts are not naturally honest:

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

But the Lord (praise Him!),  helps us, even here….and prepares our hearts to yearn after a right relationship with Him.    

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

If you will…. to see the truth about yourself….God will give you,  according to that willingness.

                (And it is “give” every man.   God will supply our lack…He will give the Holy Spirit’s influence and quickening….and Truth will come to us, for He is the Truth.)

Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart:  try me, and know my thoughts:

        And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Psalm 119:33-37 “Teach me,  O Lord, the way of Thy statutes;  and I shall keep it unto the end.

        Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law;  yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

        Make me to go in the path of Thy commandments; for therein do I delight.

        Incline my heart unto Thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.

        Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken Thou me in Thy way.”

The Psalmist here is asking the Lord to:  Teach,  then given me understanding,  make me,  incline my heart,  and turn away mine eyes….quicken me.

the Psalmist honestly sees His desperate need….and comes to the Lord for help.

Let God do this, and we will know something of the reality of real honesty.

         And honesty is absolutely imperative for fruit bearing.

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

The term “keep it” here means to hold down,  to possess,  keep in memory,  retain,  hold fast.  And it stretches from receiving it into the heart….all the way to standing on that Word against doubts and enemies.

         That is the means of fruit bearing….keeping the Word close and meditating on it….getting all that we can from it for our lives,   for now.   

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

Do we “have” His Word?    

        Or do we “seem to have”?…we agree with it….but  we have not let His Word take root and grow in our hearts.

The way to know if we are letting HIs Word have rule in our hearts, is by fruit.

        Do we have the fruit of the Spirit?   (Galatians 5:22-23)  

We can never be completely what the Holy Spirit is molding us into,   until….we are bearing fruit.

Many never go beyond the hardness of their own hearts….letting the world, the flesh, and the devil take away the Word that is sown there.

Some never go beyond the emotional response to the Word,….yet when temptations (either of trials or lusts) come….they walk away.

Some agree with the Word….yet never repent of those things which are really thorns in their side.    They would like to have what the Word sets forth….but not enough to root out their real problems with the Lord.      And they do not bring forth fruit.

You see, that is the criteria for our hearts….we are to bring forth the fruit of repentance which leads to salvation in Christ Jesus,..then the fruit of the Spirit, and the fruit of a Christian (which is another Christian).

        God brings forth fruit in the “good and honest” hearts.    

Some will bring forth more,  some less….but a good and honest heart will bring forth fruit.

Again,  my husband used to say….”Are we letting His Word sink down from our ears into our hearts, and lives?”

        Are we “keeping” HIs Word?

What is Brotherly Love? 

1 John 4:11 “Beloved,  if God so loved us,  we ought also to love one another.”

Hebrews 13:1 “Let brotherly love continue.”

I am going to use Abraham as an example,  for he is the father of all who believe. (Romans 4:16)

Abraham came out from Mesopotamia with his wife, his father, and his nephew Lot and Lot’s wife.

He was suppose to come out alone:  He and Sarah (At first his name is Abram and her name was Sarai). (Genesis 12:1-3)

His father died before they reached Canaan, the land God had called Abraham to;  but Lot was still with him.

(Lot was a believer in God, but he is a picture of a worldly Christian; who hung onto the world’s illusion till it was too late.)

After a time they both had large herds, and servants,…..and as they were still together,……a struggle for pasture and water broke out between the servants of both men.

Abraham called Lot and talked to him. (Notice it was not Lot that sought a solution, but Abraham.)

Genesis 13:8-9 “And Abram said unto Lot,  Let there be no strife,  I pray thee,  between me and thee,  and between my herdsmen and thy herdsmen;  for we are brethren.

                             Is not the whole land before thee?   Separate thyself,  I pray thee, from me:  if thou wilt take the left hand,  then I will go to the right,  or if thou depart to the right hand,  then I will go to the left.”

To Abraham God had spoken and given a promise concerning the land, and his dwelling there.   

But instead of asserting his rights,  he gives Lot the choice of what portion of land he thought best.

Genesis 13:11-12 “Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordon;  and Lot journeyed east:  and they separated themselves the one from the other.

                                 Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan,  and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain,  and pitched his tent toward Sodom.”

Lot chooses the plain, and soon pitches his tent toward Sodom.   Then next we read, he lives in Sodom.  

Then there is war.  And four kings come against the cities of the plain.  They are a huge army and they attack and loot Sodom.    Lot is taken with the captives.

(Genesis 14:11-12)

As soon as Abraham hears, he gathers his servants to go and save Lot.

Genesis 14:14 “And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants,  born in his own house,  three hundred and eighteen,  and pursued them unto Dan.”

Now these men are not soldiers.  But “trained servants”.   Ones which probably kept watch at night for any trouble with the herds that Abraham had.

But they went with him, and under cover of night he fought against this large army,  by dividing his men on several sides.

Genesis 14:15-16 “And he divided himself against them,  he and his servants,  by night,  and smote them,  and pursued them unto Hoban, which is on the right hand of Damascus.

                                And he brought back all the goods,  and also brought again his brother Lot,  and his goods,  and the women also,  and the people.”

Abraham surely sought the Lord’s guidance and help,  for the Lord blessed him in this very lopsided fight.

Later Abraham said, when offered a reward for returning the goods and people to the king of Sodom:

Genesis 14:22-23 “And Abram said to the king of Sodom,  I have up lifted up mine hand to the Lord,  the Most High God,  the possessor of heaven and earth, 

                                 That I will not take a thread, even to a shoe-latchet, and that I will not take anything that is thine,  lest thou shouldest say,   I have made Abram rich:”

But you hear nothing from Lot.   No Thank you.  No word of regret that he had gotten entangled with Sodom.  Nothing.  

As a matter of fact, Lot goes right back into this evil city.

Time passes.  At least 13 years,……..and The Lord and two angels appears to Abraham.   They entertained them with food, and the Lord gives Abraham and Sarah a promise of the child they had been waiting for.

When they are done, they rise and walk east, toward Sodom, and the Lord tells Abraham that the evil of Sodom and Gomorrah is so great that it “cries” out for judgement. (The cries of injustice,  and of the victims of it’s evil and abuse,  are great cries.)

But before God judges these cities,  He is going to send His angels to see if the cries are true.

Abraham thinks of Lot and begins to intercede;  not for the cities,  but for the righteous that might be in the cities.

Genesis 18:23-25 “And Abraham drew near, and said,   Wilt  thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

                                  Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city:  wilt thou also destroy and spare not the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?

                                   That be far from thee to do after this manner,  to slay the righteous with the wicked;  and that the righteous should be as the wicked,  that be far from thee:  Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?”

Now Abraham knows the Lord, and His goodness, so he feels he can speak to the Lord this way.

First he begins with fifty righteous people.    

The Lord said that if the angels found fifty righteous,  He would not destroy it.

Genesis 18:26 “And the Lord said,  If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city,  then will I spare all the city for their sakes.”

But then Abraham thought that in a city so wicked, there might not be fifty. (He was right)

So he prayed; what if there were forty-five righteous persons?  The Lord said, He would not destroy it.

Abraham considered, and asked:  What if there are forty righteous persons?  And the Lord said again,  that He would not destroy it.

The  Lord was still walking with Abraham, so   Abraham says,   Oh let not the Lord be angry, (actually, Abraham’s intercession pleased the Lord).    He asks,  what if there were thirty?

The Lord said He would not destroy it for thirty’s sake.

Abraham goes further and asks,  What if there were twenty found there?

I will not destroy these huge cities, for twenty’s sake;  the Lord said.

One last time, Abraham lowers the number to ten.   What if there were only ten righteous persons in those cities?

The Lord said,  I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.

But after this the Lord “went His way”.   

Genesis 18:33 “And the Lord went his way,  as soon as he had left communing with Abraham:  and Abraham returned unto his place.”

Abraham had done what he could for Lot, and his family.

God loves to have His people pray for their fellow believers.

But the evil of these cities and their victims also needed to be dealt with.

God did save righteous Lot,   that he perished not with the wicked.

2 Peter 2:7-8 “And delivered just Lot,  vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked,

                         For that righteous man dwelling among them,  in seeing and hearing,  vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds:”

(The story of this deliverance of Lot is quite horrible.  The poor man had prestige, for he was sitting at the gate, as judge of the city.   But when it came to influence for good,  he had none:  he went to tell his daughters and sons-in-law of the coming destruction, but they thought his warning was a joke. “As one that mocked”.)

It is also horrible to think that if there had been just a few more righteous people than Lot’s own family,  the cities could have been saved.  (Lot, his wife, two daughters at home, two married with husbands.   That is eight people!  Two more righteous was all they needed;  but there was none.)

Abraham had shared the Word of the Lord with Lot, and Lot had believed and followed Abraham into the land,  but he became entangled in the beauty,  and riches of the world,  and his testimony for God was ruined….right when it could have done the most good….with his own family and in others in the city.   

                           

Abraham looked to the welfare of his nephew at every turn.  No matter Lot’s attitude toward Abraham;  Abraham showed brotherly love to Lot….in person, and in prayer.

So we are called to do:

John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give unto you,  that ye love one another, as I have loved you,  that ye also love one another.

                            By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples,  if ye have love one to another.”

Joy, a choice gift from God

Joy is the special Presence of God in my life.   Joy, comes though the Holy Spirit……and not only comes under “good” situations….but comes to us, even when the afflictions of life,  harass us.

Joy is that buoyancy of spirit, which translates to speaking and acting above the circumstances we are in….

(Faith: we can encourage, but not give faith, only God can.

Hope which also comes individually to us. 

Joy……We can not pass on our joy, although we can manifest it, and draw others to Christ by it.)

Romans 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink;  but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

Peace and joy are often put together, for peace with God leads to a joyous knowledge of His presence, and sufficiency…..God with me, in this.

John 15:10-11 “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.

               These things have I spoken unto you,  that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”

“That My joy might remain in you”

Anything that hinders the joy of the Lord with you,  should be dealt with immediately;……that your joy might be full.

I believe, like many things in the fullness of God…..joy is one of those things that can be easily deflated.

We are praying,  and struggling with a particular sin, habit, or self-thing….and we receive light….

….we yield to it, and suddenly joy from the Presence of God is sent, right there in the situation we are in.    

Receive it….it is a sweet gift from above….to encourage you.

Don’t think…..oh, I don’t deserve this….pop!…..the joy is gone….you may still have peace…..but His joy is gone.

No, we never deserve joy,…..but He gives it to us….like a bouquet of flowers…..to our souls.  

Example:

Nehemiah 8:1-3 “And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate;   And they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the Lord had commanded to Israel.

             And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation…….

             And he read therein…..from the morning to midday,….and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.”

Here are the children of Israel, who have come back after the captivity….(the  Lord sent them out of the land, because of their sin)….but they have by faith returned, when they could.

But now they are returned, and in great need of instruction as to the Law of God, and of encouragement….

…..for there are enemies about them, which seek to destroy their worship, separation, and blessing.    (Sounds like the world attitude to us….)

Nehemiah 8:6, 8-9 “And Ezra blessed the Lord, the Great God, and all the people answered,  Amen, amen,  with lifting up their hands:  and they bowed their heads,  and worshipped the Lord….

               So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly,  and gave the sense,  and caused them to understand the reading.

              And Nehemiah,….and Ezra,….and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people,      This day is holy unto the Lord your God;      mourn not, nor weep,  for all the people wept,  when they heard the words of the law.”

Hearing the Word, made them aware how much they had sinned against God, and so they wept. 

       They realized that if they and their fathers had just obeyed His Word, they could have had blessings, and not what had befallen them.

How much they had missed out on…..how many good things God had for them, they refused, for themselves and their children……so they wept.

               

But…..when Truth is faced…..peace, and grace is applied (John 1:17)

Nehemiah 8:10 “Then he said unto them,    Go your way,  eat the fat, and drink the sweet,  and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared:  

for this day is holy unto our God:        neither be ye sorry;        for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

There is a time to mourn for our sin…..and repent. (Mourning without repentance is merely feeling sorry that we got caught)

You might think, this is what God wants…mourning…..but what He wants is true repentance……which is always the first thing in coming to God,….or back to Him….

….but then…

….as Paul wrote the Corinthians, after correcting them so severely (1 Corinthians 5)……

……when they had repented…..

….2 Corinthians 7:7-11 “….when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.

                For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.

                Now I rejoice,….that ye were made sorry after a godly manner….

                For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of:  but the sorrow of this world worketh death.

                For behold this selfsame thing,  that ye sorrowed after a godly sort,  what carefulness it wrought in you,     yea, what clearing of yourselves,     yea what indignation,     yea what fear,     yea, what vehement desire,     yea what zeal,     yea, what revenge!   In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.”

But when you have repented…..it is time to get up!…and get on with God….and this should bring us renewed Purpose….and joy.

This is not the joy of good circumstances, or happenings,….but the joy of the Lord…..again, His special Presence with you.

Romans 5:10-11 “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.

                And not only so,  but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ,  by Whom we have now received the atonement.”

The atonement is our covering from our sin,….where in Christ we are given an exchanged life…..we stand in Him.   God sees Him….Who is always pleasing in His sight.

Therefore rejoice…..our sins are forgiven…..repentance will turn to joy…..He covers our sin…..and makes us whole, in Himself.

This day is holy unto the Lord;   Neither be ye sorry (anymore);….

….for the joy of the Lord is our strength.

As the Lord God liveth, before Whom I stand…

Elijah charged onto the scene in Israel (the northern kingdom of ten tribes)….when the worship of God was at a new low.

        (Jezebel had married king Ahab, a wicked man….who became more wicked under her influence….for she brought with her the worship of Baal.   

        And all Israel was “persuaded” to follow along….for “…Jezebel slew the prophets of the Lord…” 1Kings 18:13)

Charge!   Is a good word for it….for Elijah  was told to go in and give the Word of the Lord to Ahab….right before his throne….and then walk out.    Palace guards, body guards, did not matter.

Wow!

1 Kings 17:1 “And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead,  said unto Ahab,  As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before Whom I stand,  there shall not be dew or rain these years but according to my word.”

That was it!   No dew or rain….but at the word of Elijah,  who would speak when God told him to.

Then Elijah was told to:

       1 Kings 17:3-4 “Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherish, that is before Jordan.

        And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.”

After the Word of the Lord to Ahab,  the king wanted to find and kill him….but God hid him…..using natural and supernatural means to keep him….

……a brook, out of which he was to drink….and ravens…..which on there own, would have ate the food they were “commanded” to drop to Elijah! 

But “after a while” the brook dried up!    

God uses a certain means…..but that does not mean that will continue…..He may change the means….for His glory.

(When I was first told to be a prayer warrior,  I was given certain promises to use…..but as I continued in the work….other promises were given….other means to use.)

With the brook dry….and how much the land of Israel was suffering,….the Lord told Elijah to go to Zaraphath…..in Zidon, a neighboring country….

…….”I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.” (1 Kings 17:9)

Elijah is doing all at the command of the Lord,….

…….and the Lord is commanded circumstances and ways of keeping His servant.

I want to point out here that God is showing His prophet, and Israel….that He commands everything.   

        There is rain only when He gives it….there is food when it comes by HIs command….there is a widow and her son “commanded”….influenced to feed Elijah and thereby are saved,  themselves.

1 Kings 17:13-14 “And Elijah said unto her,  Fear not; go and do as thou hast said;  but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.

         For thus saith the Lord God of Israel,  the barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth.”

         (But can we say that the Lord has been less “commanding” for us?   How many times has He delivered with spiritual lessons right when we needed it?

         Or opportunities when we needed them?   Or a provision met?

          I can say many times for me…..no,…no ravens….

…..but just as surprising a means for my good!)

After three years…..everything was in drought conditions….yet Ahab, nor the people,  had turned back to God or cried unto Him in repentance.

All this time,  Elijah has been before the Lord…..in His hand…..under His command….doing what he is told.

1Kings 18:1 “And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying. Go, shew thyself unto Ahab;  and I will send rain upon the earth.”

(God has measured waters that we go through.   There is a time of chastening….and a time of restoring.

         Ahab had not changed…..Jezebel would never change….Israel had not changed….

…why give back the rain?

     And here is a most encouraging message to all those of the remnant faithful to the Lord…

“….yet I have left Me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth that  hath not kissed him.” I Kings 19:18

God sent rain….though the majority of the nation had not repented….because of the His faithful remnant….seven thousand…..which had stayed true to Him.)

We all know that Elijah made quiet a spectacle of showing Israel that God was the Lord God… for fire came down and burnt up all his sacrifice, wood, stones from the altar he build.

       But that the Baal priests….for they could not put fire under their sacrifice as they did to fool the people….cried and shouted, and cut themselves and jumped…..but there was no answer…..no fire to burn up their sacrifice.

The Baal priest went first:

1 Kings 18:26 “…and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us.  But there was no voice, nor any that answered….”

Then Elijah…”repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down.” 

1 Kings 18:36,38 “….Elijah the prophet came near, and said,  Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that Thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at Thy Word. 

         Then the fire of the Lord fell….”

The people instantly cry out:  

       1 Kings 18:39 “…The Lord He is the God;  the Lord He is the God.”

(Although, great…..I believe it would have shown a true change in their hearts….not just their opinions…if they had shouted …..The Lord He is my God;  the Lord He is my God.”

         If the change is not personal…..it is a doubtful one.)

From this,   the worship of Baal…..though still in Israel, never had the hold it did on Israel as before.

        

But what did this great spectacle do for Elijah?    Remember,  all this time he has been “standing before the Lord God”….

….but when Jezebel hears of the destruction of the priests of Baal, and the showing of the true God,  she instantly strikes back at Elijah:

1 Kings 19:2 “Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah,  saying,  So let the gods to me…..if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.”

Now if she had just sent soldiers…..Elijah would have met them with God’s command….

….but ever like the Adversary….she sent “a message”…..a threat…..something to think about….

And it is said of Elijah….1Kings 19:3 “And when he saw that,  he arose , and went for his life….”

         What!  Elijah running away….after what he had experienced?

How can that be?

Because the mind plays tricks on us…..Elijah “saw that”…..

…..his eyes were taken off of the Lord…..for a moment….and onto what might happen!

So he runs….for his life….yet, though he runs and hides in a cave….

…….soon Elijah was restored…..some of the most beautiful verses about magnificence and wonder of God’s Voice:

God told Elijah to stop hiding in a cave….and come out….when he heard His Voice:

      There was an “great and strong wind” that brake the rocks in pieces.

      There was “an earthquake”.

      There was “a fire”.

But the Lord was not in any of these……

….but then there is a still small Voice.

1 Kings 19:13. “And it was so when Elijah heard it,  that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave….”

Here Elijah is restored to true hearing……

…..and that is the place each of us need to be in……to stand before the Lord, and hear His Voice to us….

…and just do His commandments.

Not looking to what others do…..but what we are to do…..before Him.

And if we fail….to come before Him again….and hear His still small Voice commanding us again…and go on and do it.

Are we possessing our personal possessions?

Joshua 18:2 “And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance.”

When the Israelites came across Jordan, they camped in Gilgal….as they did in the wilderness,  around the Tabernacle.

        For at least five years they warred with the main armies of the land to possess it for Israel.

They had fought fortress cities,  five kings and their armies,  four kings who had an army like the sand of the sea….they had fought and won….destroying their enemies which came against them,  taking their cities and land.

        Yet there was more land to possess….so the Lord told Joshua to divide the land between the tribes…and let them possess their own parcel…destroying the inhabitants…to cleanse the land.

        Then Joshua and the high priest divided the land among the tribes which came to get them…

….among them was the notable Caleb of Judah….”give me that mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day.” (Joshua 14:12)

      Amazing man….faithful and brave.   At least eighty-five years old….he declared “..as yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me….if so be the Lord will be with me, that I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said.”

      The whole congregation went up to Shiloh and set up the Tabernacle there.  Now was everything set up for the nation of Israel….except…

      

But seven tribes still lingered in Gilgal.   They had grown comfortable there….and they were lazy about getting their inheritance.

Perhaps they did not want to get them without the other tribes help….perhaps they just liked being there….they were safe, why rock the boat?

Yet Joshua rebukes them with the question:

    “How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the Lord God of your fathers hath given you?”

(And may I ask each of us….are we slack concerning some promise the Lord has given us?   Have we “fought” for it,  wrestling in prayer….asking, seeking, and knocking….to have what the Lord has set aside for us?)

Joshua sends them out of their comfort zone,  and three times Joshua tells them:

      “Go and walk through the land, and describe it, and come again to me that I may here cast lots for you before the Lord…”. (Joshua 18:4, 6, 8).  

       This was necessary….”Go”…no one tribe or family, was to be without their inheritance.

“Walk through the land”….see what the Lord has for you…and your heart will want to fight for it.

“I will cast lots for you”….the Lord would choose the inheritance of each….whether fields or hills….many enemies or few….the Lord will choose and the Lord will give it you.    

     Yes they would have to fight for it,  but the promise is sure.

(Until we get up out of where we are in our experience….and “walk” into what the Lord has for us….we are not going anywhere.   

       Like Israel, we may have great memories of the wonderful works the Lord has done for us….but what about now?  What about our personal promises?  What about the calling the Lord has for each of us?)

        

Israel was to stay at Gilgal….until the time appointed.  

        But then it was time to get up and live in the circumstances the Lord appointed for each.

        And Joshua was to see to it.

Joshua 18:10 “And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord: and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel…”

        Now they were to conquer and live in the inheritance the Lord had given them…personally.

       Although Gilgal was a wonderful place, where their foot became assured of God’s faithfulness….yet it was not their personal possession…for that,  they would have to leave behind the first steps….and go on with the Lord.

And what of us?

And we, too, have been assured of the faithfulness of God by the wonderful blessing of the Holy Spirit….our first real steps in the life of faith…

….we are born again, and we have the Holy Spirit within us….

       Ephesians 1:13-14 “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,  

       Which is the earnest (downpayment) of our inheritance…”

And we certainly know that in heaven we will have an eternal inheritance, laid up for us:

1 Peter 1:3-4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

      To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,”

       (Notice the personal “you”)

But we also have an inheritance to be possessed by us, by the power of the Holy Spirit within:

Colossians 1:10-12 “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 

       Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness;

       Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

       Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son:”

This inheritance of the saints in light….is the grace, and faith, and patience, and long-suffering, and joyfulness to walk worthy of our Lord day by day in our personal good works.

God has “delivered us from the power (authority)of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: (under His authority)”

       Will we sit still….content to stay as we are?

       Or will we fight for our personal inheritance,  and receive all His promises to us?

       

The Strait Gate and the Narrow Way 

Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter ye in at the strait gate:  for wide is the gate,  and broad is the way,  that leadeth to destruction,  and many there be that go in thereat:

                    Because strait is the gate,  and narrow is the way,  which leadeth unto life,  and few there be that find it.”

Luke 13:24 “Strive to enter in at the strait gate:  for many, I say unto you,  will seek to enter in,  and shall not be able.”

“Strait” here means “narrow, with obstacles standing close about”. 

“Narrow” is a thin path.

Is Jesus trying to discourage people?  

No,  He is just telling the truth….for all of us have “turned everyone to his own way”. 

Isaiah 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray,   we have turned everyone to his own way;  and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

Now we must turn from that way, and seek to enter into His Way, which is Life.

Isn’t He the door….by Him, if we enter in, we will be saved?

Yes! Absolutely!    But getting to the door, or the “gate” as it is referenced here, is often the problem…..for we try and bring all that we are, with us.

This is not our possessions….but our old life,  old habits,  old way of doing things, our old way of seeing things.

Luke 18:25 “For it is easier for a camel to go through a needles eye,  than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

I use this verse….for it exemplifies that we need to set everything aside, to “enter in”.

In the old walled cities of Israel…..there were gates….wide and broad; which the caravans of camels and carts came in and out all day.  There were guards, it is true….but they seldom restricted the merchandise from coming in and out.

But at night,  when robbers and enemies were about….the gate was shut; and any caravan,….having missed the time…..would be stuck outside,….a easy prey for these bandits.  For the guards would not come out to fight for them.

If this happened, the only other recourse, was to empty every animal, and squeeze them through a door, which was set beside the gate for travelers at night.    One guard could easily hold the door if bandits or an enemy tried to come in.

This door was called the needle’s eye.   For no animal could come through it, carry all they had.   

(I know some people say that the Lord Jesus was telling a ridiculous joke….that He meant it for the impossible.   For He goes on to say….”The things that are impossible with men are possible with God.”  And it could be true….for Jesus was illustrating the impossibility of those that hold on to “my things”, to be saved.)

So let us see,  what we hold on to:

Our opinions,…..formed when we were under the influence of the world.

We often continue to see things the same way….and God wants us to see through His eyes…

Mark 6:34 “And Jesus,  when He came out,  saw much people,  and was moved with compassion toward them,  because they were as sheep not having a shepherd:  and He began to teach them many things.”

Mark 3:5 “And when He had looked round about on them in anger(on those who did not want Him to heal on the Sabbath)….being grieved because of the hardness of their hearts…”

We often hold on to alliances,….people we had the same interests with before,….but now?….which will we choose?

2 Corinthians 6:17-18”Wherefore come out from among them,  and be ye separate,  saith the Lord,  and touch not the unclean thing;  and I will receive you, 

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

We often hold on to habits…whether games, T.V., or being fans of a particular thing……

Habits of speech,  or a certain way we do things….all of these are formed when we were not born again….

And I must stress…….we should be willing to lay any of these things aside.   

Not that the Lord always asks us to…..but anything that will “weigh us down”, or burden our following Him…..you have to be willing to take off.  (Hebrews 12:1)

Matthew 10:37-38 “He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me:  and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

                    And he that taketh not his cross,  and followeth after Me,  is not worthy of Me.”

How much do you want Him in your life?    And how much of your life is yours…..and how much is His?

These are the things He was addressing in the broad way and the strait gate….our willingness to give Him all.

Proverbs 23:26 “My son,  give Me thine heart,  and let thine eyes observe My ways.”

Not that He gains by us….He is self-existent, eternal, Almighty.    But that the more we love Him,…..the more free we become from sin, self, and the world.

The more our heart grows with love for Him…the more it expands in light, peace, and joy.

It is for our benefit He asks us, as He asked Peter by Galilee….”Lovest thou Me more than these?”

It was not just his fellow fishermen, the Lord was asking about……but fishing,  the sea,  the old life…..”Do you love Me, Peter, more than all of them?”

Twice in the Psalms, David says, “my heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.” (Psalm 57:7,  Psalm 108:1).   Both times he is speaking of God’s mercy to him.

The “fixed” in these Psalms is “prepared”.     David had prepared his heart to receive mercy from God….and had run straight to His God, trusting Him, to receive it.

Psalm 57:1 “Be merciful unto me,  O God, be merciful unto me:  for my soul trusteth in Thee:  yea, in the shadow of Thy wings will I make my refuge,  until these calamities be overpassed.”

Let me ask….are we preparing our hearts to hear Him,….to follow Him,….to love Him?

To stand in the breach

Ezekiel 22:30-31 “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it:  but I found none.

           Therefore have I poured out Mine indignation upon them;  I have consumed them with 

the fire of My wrath:  their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord God.”

To stand in the breach or gap, is to see the coming judgment that the Lord will bring….and pray that the Lord will work in power….and give repentance to that one.

          Or speak to warn others of HIs Word.   

Moses stood in the breach when Israel sinned with the golden calf:

           Psalm 106:23 “Therefore He said that He would destroy them,  had not Moses  HIs chosen stood before Him in the breach,  to turn away His wrath,  lest He should destroy them.”

Elisha stood in the breach when Samaria was besieged and in famine, and told the king what to do, and when the famine would be over.  ( 2 Kings 6:24-25, 6:32-7:1)

Amos twice prayed for Israel, and God “repented” the judgment he was going to do.

         (When it says that God “repents”…it means that God will consider the prayer of His servant, and not do the judgment He spoke of….and see if the people will repent.)

         Amos 7:(2), 5-6 “Then said I,  O Lord God, cease,  I beseech Thee:  by whom shall Jacob arise?  For he is small.

         The Lord repented for this:  This also shall not be, saith the Lord.”

But here, when Nebuchadrezzar was outside Jerusalem,  in siege….there was no one to stand in the gap, or breach.    The judgment that God had warned them of for many years…will come.

        (Isaiah, many years before it came, warned them of it:

Isaiah 30:13 “Wherefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall,  whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.”)

Jeremiah was there in Jerusalem, when Nebuchadrezzar had come the two times before….and taken people and gold and silver.

        He had been preaching for years,  but they would not listen. 

        So the Lord told him three times to:      Pray not for this people….(Jer.7:16, 11:14, 14:11)

        Jeremiah 7:16 “Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry  nor prayer for them,  neither make intercession to Me:  for I will not hear thee.”

        He could continue to speak and warn,…but he could not pray.    What a solemn time had come for them!    

       ( For the prayers of God’s people are a medicine on the ills of the world.   

       We are like salt (Matthew 5:13) preserving….keeping in prayer and messages….from the putrid decay of rotting.

Let us not lose our effectiveness, by watering down Christ’s Words.)

These are examples of those the Lord called to pray…that the “breach” between God and His people might be filled by the prayers of HIs servants.

But what about now?  What would happen if we forget to pray….or can  not pray?  “…for the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”  (James 5:16)

And what a terrible breach sin makes….a gap between each and God. (Isaiah 59:2)…that nothing we can do, will mend.

      But Jesus Christ, the Son of God,  has come to stand in the breach for us.   

He has paid the price for our salvation…

…..paying all the penalty of our sin,…

…. paying all the  price of our sanctification…

….paying all the price of our home in heaven with Him.

He did this on the cross of Calvary….and was raised up the third day (1 Cor. 15:3-4)….and ascended back to heaven. (Acts 1:9, 2:31-33)

Have you received Christ Jesus the Lord as your personal Lord and Savior?  (John 1:12)  He will stand in the breach for you.

Christ Jesus has also asked us to “stand in the gap, or breach”….in prayer for others.

       What about our homes, neighbors, friends, church, nation?

How many do we know that are like a tottering wall, about ready to fall completely? (Ezk. 13:14)

How many do we know that have “holes” in their lives, by sin? (Isaiah 42:22-23)

How many do we know that have come to the place where God is saying to them: “My Spirit shall not always strive with man…” (Gen. 6:3)?

Christ Jesus has stood in the breach….and does stand in the breach of our sin before the Father (1 John 2:1)…as Mediator….pointing to HIs wounds and atoning sacrifice.

         We are to pray for others….intercede for them before His throne….for Christ’s sake.

          Jude 20-23 “But ye, beloved,  building up yourselves on your most holy faith,  praying in the Holy Ghost,

          Keep yourselves in the love of God,  looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

          And of some have compassion,  making a difference:

          And others  save with fear,  pulling them out of the fire;  hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”

May the Lord bless our prayers….and our words….  

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

Stephen, the Church’s First Martyr 

Acts 6:3-5 “Wherefore brethren,  look ye out among you seven men of honest report,  full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom,  whom we may appoint over this business.

                       But we will give ourselves continually to prayer,  and to the ministry of the word. 

                       And the saying pleased the whole multitude:  and they chose Stephen,  a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Phillip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch;”

Here we meet Stephen, born again and willing to minister as he is called…for he is chosen to “serve tables”,  or as a deacon.

There had been a argument between the Grecian Christians and the Hebrew Christians about how the widows of each were being treated.  Some felt that the Grecian widows were not given the same treatment and food, as the others.

(Remember that the Christians, here, had given all to the apostles for the common good. Acts 4:34-35)

If this was to be overseen as it should be,  the apostles would have to leave preaching and teaching the gospel, to see to it.

That could not be….so they told the church there to pray and see who they could choose to deal with the business and practical part of the matters of the church…they became the deacons.

Stephen was one of these.  He was a man of faith and who was filled with the Holy Spirit.

He was not offended because he was given the task of seeing to the food distribution, or dealing with the strifes which come up between brethren.  

Faith sees God and deals with all, in the same light:  what does the Lord want done?

He looked on everything he did for the Lord as equally important.

Acts 6:8 “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.”

       He also did miracles, whether these were of the practical nature of food,  or for illness, it does not say.

       But it does bring into the picture those who wanted to prove him wrong.  Notice they “disputed” with him,  not he with them.

       But they could not, for “they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.”

Acts 6:11-12 “Then they suborned men, which said,  We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses,  and against God.

                         And they stirred up the people,  and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him,  and caught him,  and brought him to the council.”

So here is Stephen before the council, accused falsely by jealous men.

(This council had spoken to Peter and John months earlier that they were not to speak in the name of Jesus,  and had beaten them and let them go,  but now….)

       He stands before them, in peace;  calm. 

      They  “saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.”   

       Simply, they could tell that he was filled with the Spirit of God, that he was not a blasphemer.

This should have told them that these accusations were false….but, let’s face it,  they wanted to believe the accusations.

Acts 7:1-2 “Then said the high priest,  Are these things so?      And he (Stephen)said,  Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken;  the God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham,  when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,”

In the next 52 verses, Stephen, by the wisdom of God,  showed again and again God’s choice of His people by grace,  not works.

 

God’s use of men who were not reckoned in men’s esteem, but chosen of God to go out,  to lead,  to save,  to build…

There was:

Abraham, to go out to a land that was given in promise, but which he never possessed….

Then Isaac who was circumcised…

Jacob, the younger son, chosen,  and his sons being brought into the covenant;  even though they sold their own brother, Joseph, into slavery…

Yet God saved them, and their whole family by the very man they were jealous of…

Moses’ birth and his rejection when he would have helped his people.  His flight into Midian and God’s call to the very one they refused:

Acts 7:35 “This Moses whom they refused saying,  Who made thee a ruler and a judge?  The same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the Angel which appeared to him in the bush.”

Stephen told of when Israel, made a golden calf.

And even when they were brought in by Joshua, to the promised land,  they turned to idols. 

He told of David as king, fighting their battles,  desiring to build a house for God,  but God chose Solomon to do it.

Yet,  Stephen shows exactly what Solomon said after he dedicated it:

1 Kings 8:23, 27 “And he said,  Lord God of Israel,  there is no God like Thee, in heaven above,  or on the earth beneath,  who keepest covenant in mercy with Thy servants that walk before Thee with all their heart:  

                              But will God indeed dwell on the earth?  Behold,  the heaven and heaven of heavens can not contain Thee;  how much less this house that I have builded?”

Simply:  the Most High dwells not in temples made with hands, but in the love and devotion of His people’s hearts.

Stephen wanted his brethren to remember their God, not their heritage.

He had not blasphemed Moses or the Law,  but was a servant of the Lord of both,  Jesus Christ.

So the conclusion of his message? 

God’s grace had chosen them as His people.   

God’s grace had chosen and sent men to save and lead them, into all God wanted for them.

But how did the people react?

Which of the prophets had not been persecuted by their fathers, which had told them of the Messiah to come?

All this is leading toward one goal….that Jesus was the Messiah, Who had come to show the way into the Kingdom of God, by Himself, as their King.

He was the One whom all the prophets spoke.

He was the One to whom all the other of God’s choices, pointed.

What would they do with Him now,  that He was risen and manifested by the Holy Ghost among them?

      Stephen wanted his brethren to see that God was even then dealing with them.

      He wanted them to acknowledge God’s Son…..Jesus, Whom  they betrayed and murdered…and that He is now at the right hand of God, the place of power.

The Spirit of God was leading many  in Jerusalem to salvation…..God was giving them another sign of His love to them. 

Would they hear it?

(How many today, hang on to tradition;  even Christian tradition, rather than being gathered to the Lord God, Himself.)

Yet even as Stephen spoke,  he sensed in the Spirit the hardening of their hearts….

So he openly rebukes it, and faithfully deals with them for their rebellion against the “Just One”.

The name: Just One, implies Christ Jesus’s holiness and righteousness.  He did not deserve to be crucified.    He deserved to be King, both of His people and the world.

        He was and is the Just One,  and the justifier of all who come to Him….for by His worthy sacrifice He saves us.

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

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

The outcome?

Their history they listened to;    but the rebuke, which might lead them to repentance and true salvation……they refused,…and in great anger.

Acts 7:54 “When they heard these things,  they were cut to the heart,  and they gnashed on him with their teeth.”

“Cut to the heart”

Stephen’s rebuke (rebuke means “back striking them into the right way”.  It is never pleasant to be rebuked….but to those who “hear it”….it gives life.)

Stephen’s rebuke opened to them the state of their own hearts,  like a knife.

       And instead of letting it heal them, like a surgeon;  they let it unleash the anger within…which quickly turned to hatred of God’s servant.

He was unaffected for himself;  but totally immersed in the Will of God, for them.

God then blessed him with more of the Spirit of God, and a vision:

Acts 7:55-56 “But he,  being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven,  and saw the glory of God,  and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.

                          And said,  Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God.”

The council would not hear….stopping their ears, they dragged him out, and stoned him…as though that could stop his witness….No! (Remember Saul/Paul was witnessing all of this)

Acts 7:59-60 “And they stoned Stephen,  calling upon God,  and saying,  Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

                          And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice,   Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.  And when he had said this,  he fell asleep.”

Stephen, with the same ruling peace (Philippians 4:7) with which he began;  he ends, looking unto Jesus for himself…

“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”   Acknowledging before all, that the Lord Jesus Christ was the Son of God,  and risen, in heaven.

And then,  in the character of Jesus, he forgives those that stoned him.

“Lay not this sin” (yes, he called it what it was; but still asks…) 

“Lay not this sin to their charge.”

“He fell asleep”.   You see, when Christians die,  they are said to fall asleep.  For they close their eyes here, and in the next second,  open them in heaven.

Stephen was the first of the churches martyrs,  but not the last. 

Many have died,  looking to Jesus the same way.

Because He is the Son of God…because He lives,  we do and will live eternally, too.

My joy….your joy

John 15:11 “These things have I spoken unto you,  that My joy might remain in you,   and that your joy might be full.”

Let us talk of Christ’s joy, here….and our joy.

First I want to mention that joy in scripture is of the Holy Spirit.   It is not happiness…nor is it dependent on people, places or things. 

           It is entirely a lifting of the spirit of man, by the Holy Spirit of God…into a place apart from circumstances, or troubles….and it is a feeling of buoyancy…we cannot be drowned by what is going on, for we are upheld by God.

I also want to mention that Christ Jesus was a very joyful man.  

       It is true He was grieved by the hardness of hearts.  He was often weary….

……but the message He came to give (“Wist ye not that I must be about My Father’s business?”  Luke 2:46-49)…He gave in joy.   

         He was joyful in prayer,  He was joyful in service,  and He was joyful in the fellowship with HIs disciples.

John 15:11 “These things have I spoken unto you,  that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”

“My joy”….. Jesus’ Word is joy. 

         They had heard HIs Words and declared (John 6:68) “…Thou hast the words of eternal life.”

John 17:13 “And now come I to Thee;  and these things I speak in the world, that they (the disciples, and us) might have My joy fulfilled in themselves.”

This is how we have His joy….we have HIs Word:   “Sanctify them through Thy truth:  Thy Word is truth.” (John 17:17)

Many used to read the gospel of John first,  after conversion.   

         (And here is our first experience with HIs joy and our joy….we know the joy of redemption!

“I am saved!”  

          “I was lost to God, sold under sin, a servant of the devil….but now I am redeemed!   Bought back by a price Jesus Christ paid for me!”)

          Here, in the book of John… they meet the Lord through the eyes of John the Baptist, and in the many people He came into contact with as Christ Jesus,  the Son of God.

          Here they hear HIs Words as the Truth, the Light, the Way, the Resurrection and the Life, the Bread of Life.

         Here they hear His very intimate discourse right before He is taken and killed,  as He and His disciples walk to Gethsemane.

John 20:31 “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through HIs name.”

These Words,  read personally,  bring His joy to us, by the Holy Spirit within….for it is a fruit of the Spirit, which is worked out in us…through HIs Word.

We need His joy….HIs buoyancy in all our lives.    But it is easy to lose,  when we begin to look at the waves of our circumstances….instead of keeping our eyes upon HIm. (Matthew 14:28-31)

Our joy to be full:  

       We have joy by the Holy Spirit,  but to keep it is a great help in our  lives….and to have our joy “full”…is great riches.

John 16:24 “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name:  ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”

       Our joy is to be “full”…as we spend time in prayer with our Heavenly Father.   

Our joy may be “full”…as we fellowship with fellow believers over the things of God. (1 John 1:3-4)

         2 John 12 “…but I trust to come to you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.”

That your joy might be “full”….

….Jesus Christ wants us to experience the fullness of the joy He had…. in our own lives.   He wants us to have HIs kingdom in us. (Luke 17:20-21)

Romans 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink;  but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

        This is the kingdom of Jesus Christ in our souls….are we having it?    Are we experiencing these things:   righteousness…..peace….joy.   

        They are all by the Holy Ghost….again, are we having these things?

Joy is a choice flower that grows in the garden of the soul of a believer.   His joy can only remain in us, when it is received and submitted to by us…personally…in the kingdom of Mansoul.

         “…for behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21)

Colossians 3:16-17 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

          And whatsoever ye do in word or deed,  do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.”

And this brings us back to asking in Jesus’ name.   

        Let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly….that we may know,  what we are to do in word or deed….and then ask for that joy….that our joy might be “full”.

       (When something is full….we may think there is no more room….but the next thing is “running over” [Luke 6:38]….and that running over is out to others.

       Our joy can affect others.)

But the real message of these verses is:   Jesus Christ came to save us.   To bring us into HIs Kingdom….within us, now….of righteousness,  peace,  and joy.     His joy….given to us in HIs Word, and Will…that our joy might be full.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly….again,  will we?