Missing the Mark

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

We are all sinners, by chance and by choice.

     But this sets forth much more than that….we all have come short….or missed the mark for the goal of our lives,  which is to live to the glory of God.

     We have all missed that which we were brought into being for.

Revelation 4:11 “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.”

     (This is the first song in heaven that John hears….Praise to God as Creator of all, and especially of “me”.   That in that creation, there is a Purpose and determination, for me.)

What is sin?   Why is each person a sinner?   

      There are two definitions of sin in Scripture….Romans 14:23     and  James 4:17

Both speak of us, as God’s creatures….rebelling against God’s purpose for us….and making our own way, in opposition to Him.

Luke 6:46 (Williams Version)  “So why do you call Me, Lord, Lord, but do not practice what I tell you?”

      For to bow to the Lordship of Jesus Christ….in our life….we must be obedient.

To call Jesus, Lord….means nothing without the obedience it entails.

Matthew 7:21-23 “Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.

     Many will say to Me in that day,  Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?

    And then will I profess unto them,  I never knew you:  depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.”

It is interesting to note that “profess”…I will profess unto them….means to calculate…computation….to lay out before them how they fall short…or miss the mark.

And how do they fall short….for it seems as if these knew something of the Lord? 

     It has to do with power…or the grace of God in their lives;   and truth in knowledge.

2 Timothy 3:5, 7 “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:  from such turn away.

     Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Most think of the grace of God as saving them….which is true.   But grace….or the unmerited favor of power….is in every aspect of our lives after being born again.   

    Grace is the ability, through the Holy Spirit within, to understand and do what God commands.

Truth is another thing we often let slip.   When we  have come to “the knowledge of the truth” (and it is spoken of in 1 Timothy 2:4 as well)….we have what that truth sets forth in our personal experience.

Do we know what repentance and confession is?   Then we know it by our own personal experience….we have repented…we have confessed our sins to the Lord, and turned from them.

Do we know the power of the Holy Spirit within?   Then we have known His guidance and have been obedient to His Word.

James 3:17 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”

This is the Way God speaks…

    First, Pure.   There is no admixture…it is simply the Truth.   The Faithful and True Witness has spoken the Truth down through the ages….

….if we want wisdom from above,  we must hear and obey the truth. (John 1:17)

Then, peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated.   Christ Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost….His message was “Come unto Me, and I will give you rest.”

    If we want wisdom, we must come to Christ,….Who becomes wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption to us (1 Cor. 1:30)

Full of mercy, and good fruits.  Jesus said,  Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.         If we want the wisdom from above,  we must show the same mercy that Christ has shown us….and we will see a blessing for it….in our own lives, and in others.

    Proverbs 16:6 “By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.”

Without partiality and without hypocrisy.  

    Jesus said, “He that is not with Me is against Me; and He that gathereth not with Me scattereth abroad.” (Matthew 12:30)

    Where the Lord is concerned,  HIs faith will command a person,  or have nothing to do with that person.    We are either for Him, or we are not…..there is no neutral ground.

Hypocrisy here means that “one conceals the truth”.    We must speak the whole truth of the gospel…

…if we want the wisdom that is from above….then we must yield to the truth for ourselves…and speak the truth to others. 

   (this is not the truth that tells people about their faults….no,  but the Truth about Jesus Christ,  about HIs sacrifice,  about where sin will take them….for they have missed the mark for the purpose of their lives….if they miss Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.)

James 3:18 “And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”

    This is another way of saying that if we are walking with our “feet shod with the preparation of peace” (Ephesians 6:15)….then we are not stepping on toes….but showing the Light on the Way, before men,  and giving them the directions into the Way of Peace.

The title was “Missing the Mark”….and we all have….till we come to Christ Jesus and yield to the Truth of our sin, and rebellion against Him….and obey Him and His Word….in being born again…and in everyday life.

Then we are shown our “goal”….our purpose….the Way into Truth and the knowledge of God!   

    Then we are “walking in the light” (1 John 1:7)

    Then we are:

Titus 2:11-13 “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

     Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

     Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.”

Their Rest and Our Rest

Hebrews 4:9,11 “There remained therefore a rest to the people of God.

Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”

What is this rest?

It is rest concerning the things which are promised us, as Christians.

(This is not peace….peace is promised us, yes….but our rest is the spiritual possessions Christ has promised us. When we obtain them, we enter into our rest; for we have and are, what Christ redeemed for us.)

Paul had been speaking concerning the Israelites which had not entered into the Promised Land, because of unbelief.

Hebrews 3:17-18 “But with whom was he grieved forty years? Was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?

And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?”

The land of Canaan, was their rest. But they refused it. (Numbers 13:25-14:11)

Numbers 14:22-24 “Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened unto my voice;

Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:

But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereunto he went; and his seed shall possess it.”

And what is our rest?

Hebrews 4:1-2 “Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.”

Our rest is the promises of God to us: Of His Spirit, and the fruit of His Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Of Peace as a Stronghold (Philippians 4:7, it says “keep”, or garrison in the original)

Of forgiveness and Cleansing (1 John 1:9)

That He would hear us, if we ask in His Name (John 14:13)

Light, or guidance (John 8:12)

Grace, or the unmerited favor of power. (2 Corinthians 9:8)

Our rest has to do with us, actually possessing these promises in our lives. Each promise the Lord gives us: actually obtaining them.

How many are we “entering into rest” about?

And how do we enter into this rest? By “laboring” to believe and obey Him through everything.

I’ll give an example: Caleb.

Caleb was of the tribe of Judah. And he, along with one man from every tribe was sent into the land to “spy it out”.

It was to show the people how great the land was!

And it was beautiful, and productive. Everything the Lord had said!

But, the people of the land were fighters, some giants were there.

So when the spy’s came back to camp, they showed the good things of the land……but emphasized the giants.

The people became disheartened…..because they refused to believe God.

(Unbelief brings many sins with it: discouragement, anger, frustration , discontent, and weariness)

How many things had God brought them through already?!

Yet, now, they would not believe Him, in order to gain all that He had promised?

How strong unbelief is.

We are sometimes unaware of our own unbelief, until we are told to do something, we feel we can’t.

Then, do we trust God? And how far do we trust Him?

But Caleb and Joshua believed the Lord, and tried to persuade the people to trust in Him; and go into the land. Again, they refused, crying in dismay.

When the people looked for someone to take them back to Egypt…..God spoke: and those people were shut out of their “rest” in the land of promise.

Their children went in, and took the land, divided it into tribes. And Caleb, still alive, and still following the Lord; came for his inheritance, his “rest”:

Joshua 14:6, 9, 12 “Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Juphunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the Lord said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadesh-Barnes.

And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s forever, because thou hast wholly followed the Lord thy God.

Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakaim (giants) were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said.”

Caleb had a very beautiful, and hard inheritance: for the Anakaim were giants.

But he took that mountain. And had all that the Lord promised.

To enter into the Lord’s rest for us, is to get the promises that the Lord has given us…..into our lives.

To prove that He was right.

That He is all we need, and will give us all His help.

We do this by believing obedience.

By “wholly following the Lord”.

Our Adversary, the devil, would remind us of all the obstacles to obtaining these promises.

Are their obstacles? Of course, that is why we are told to “labor” to enter into rest.

We “labor” to keep hold of faith in the day of trial, fear, or even boredom.

If faith will hold on to Jesus Christ, He will lead us into all the promises He has given us.

Hebrews 10:35-36 “Cast not away therefore your confidence (in Christ), which hath great recompense of reward.

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.”

Obedience

John 14:15 “If ye love Me, keep My commandments.”

Obedience is more than simply receiving guidance and instruction; and doing it.

(In the Greek, it means willingly doing what we have been told. Obedience is always a matter of the heart’s actions.)

It is a recognition that we are the creature….and He is the Creator, Who has the right to do what He will with His own. (Matthew 20:15)

It is the act of acknowledgement: We acknowledge we have heard His Voice to us….and yield to that Voice.

It is the act of a learner to His Master-Teacher: learning discipline, and seeing what God is showing me, in this obedience.

Obedience is the act of submission. We may not see the logic of the command, but we believe and trust in the God of the command.

And obedience is worship…..counting the Lord Jesus Christ worthy of our all.

(It is interesting to note, that Jesus, Himself, only used the word “obey”, once, and then He was speaking about our faith, and the removal of hinderances:

Luke 17:6 “And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto the sycamine tree, be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea, and it should obey you.”)

He used the word believe, in it’s forms ( believed, believest, believeth, believing) eighty-four times.

Jesus came to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21), and He presented Himself, and His call was….come unto Me:

John 6:40 “And this is the Will of Him that sent Me, that every man that seeth the Son and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him at the last day.”

Only after His resurrection, in power, did He command His disciples “Go ye…and teach all nations,…..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”. (Matthew 28:19-20)

They were to teach all men to “observe” His commandments and Word.

“Observe” means to guard with the eye upon, so as not to lose it.

They were to teach this reverence of Christ’s Word, so that the believers would guard them; in their hearts and lives.

It was only after the Holy Spirit was given…..the power of God within us to do; that Peter, at the beginning of his ministry, boldly said:

Acts 5:30-32 “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, Whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

And we are His witnesses of these things: and so is also the Holy Ghost, Whom God hath given to them that obey Him.”

And then they went out from Jerusalem, to preach the gospel throughout the world.

And at the end:

1 Peter 1:13-15 “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

But as He which hath called you is Holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;”

Paul at the beginning of Romans (the most comprehensive declaration of what God has done, and purposed since the beginning, for those that would believe on Him.)

Romans 1:1, 5 “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God.

By Whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience of the faith unto all nations, for His name:”

The grace and the apostleship authority, was given to Paul, to preach “obedience to the faith” of Christ,…..wherever he went.

And at the end of Romans, Paul prays:

Romans 16:25-27 “Now to Him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

But now is made manifest, by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the Everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.”

Paul preached Jesus Christ, and Him crucified, risen, and sitting at the right hand of God……and that those who have faith in Him, should obey Him, as Lord and Savior.

We believe on the Lord Jesus Christ…..and then, by the Holy Spirit and the gift of faith,….we obey His Word to us…..and live to please Him, Who gave so much for us.

“If ye love Me, keep My commandments.”

Borrow Vessels, not a Few

Elisha was a prophet in Israel.

There were many who, though contrary to the “popular religion”, followed God.

They would gather together to hear Elisha, as he traveled the country.

He ministered to the people with the Word of God, and instruction.

Many followed the teachings of God, and they were called the “sons of the prophets”.

Some set themselves aside for ministering, and prayer.

Others had families, and lived for God in their jobs.

A widow of one of these men came to Elisha in dire straights. After her husband had died, things had gotten very tough financially, and they had come into debt.

2 Kings 4:1 “Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.”

This was very serious. Both sons being taken, must have meant a large debt.

But she came to Elisha;…..he would be able to pray for her, or tell her what she could do by the Word of the Lord.

2 Kings 4:2 “And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee?

Tell me, what hast thou in the house?

And she said, Thy handmaid hath not anything in the house, save a pot of oil.”

At first, it is as if Elisha is not asking the woman at all….but rather praying for direction…”What shall I do for thee?”

Then, he asks her, according as the Holy Spirit showed him, “What do you have in the house?”

She had nothing to sell, nothing to trade. She only had a pot of oil.

How often we think we need something more, before we can serve God.

More knowledge, more courage, more understanding.

But really, we just need to use what we have: God’s grace which He has already given us, by the Holy Spirit.

When we do, then God will enable us,…..and He will supply more of what we need.

2 Kings 4:3-4 “Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.

When thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee, and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.”

Here was the answer:

She would have to be obedient,……and God would supply her need.

She would have to borrow empty vessels; for the Lord was going to work a miracle for her.

But it was to be for her and her sons. No one else was to be present, or even see through the door.

Elisha was not present. He did not do this.

The Lord did this for her, and her sons;……..using empty vessels……and their obedience.

Did God supply the need? Yes!

2 Kings 4:5-6 “So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.

And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel.

And he said unto her, there is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.”

Abundantly the need was met! All the vessels they had borrowed were filled,…..till there was no more.

God would have us bring our “empty vessels” to Him to be filled with His Spirit, for our everyday needs.

Shutting the door, so we may be alone with God in prayer and devotions, is often the means He uses to supply our need for the day.

The oil of joy, and strength, and peace…..and increased faith is often given as we close the door on the world, and seek Him, only.

2 Kings 4:7 “Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.”

After the miracle, she did not get “swelled head” and say, I know what I will do.

No, she came and asked for guidance as what to do next.

Amazingly, the answer was an answer for the rest of her life.

God saw to the need, and more. He gave to her, so that she would be able to live beyond this debt.

That is what God always gives us: life. It is what He supplies, even as He is supplying a specific need, for now.

Our life as His children, here and now; and every time we need it.

It does not say whether the oil came drop by drop, or poured out fast from the vessel she had.

Only that the oil came, the need was met. He supplied it for her and her son’s life.

Let us look to God to supply the need of our life, bringing our “empty vessels” for His Spirit to fill….that we may have His life for us,…..and live by His direction.

To rebuke and chasten

God’s purpose and design in all things for us in our walk with HIm….is to lead us into Christ’s life for us.    It is a life of self-denial and blessing.   It is a life of persecution from the world and peace with God.   It is a life of love to God and others,  while we are thought little of by the world.

           This is the life Christ had here….for our sakes.    And now He asks us to follow HIm into a knowledge of Him….what overwhelming goodness He is….and to know Him personally through all our days, and circumstances.

God is always dealing with HIs people…..who have heard HIs Word.    He is always calling them into new knowledge of Him…and HIs Word and Ways.

           Then our faith and obedience is proved….then we grow into strong Christians…

…..or quench the Holy Spirit….till the Lord must rebuke….and finally chasten.

When our ways please the Lord….then is HIs brightness manifested….and HIs Arm bared, that He might help us.

Psalm 89:13-15 “Thou hast a mighty arm:  strong is Thy hand, and high is Thy right hand.

           Justice and judgment are the habitation of Thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before Thy face. 

           Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound:  they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of Thy countenance.”

Proverbs 4:18 “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”

What could be better than this?

But when our ways do not please Him….Whom we have been called to follow and trust….then He, as our loving Father,….

…. will rebuke…or “backstrike with words”.    This is to correct us with HIs Word, often through others, for we have begun to shrug off HIs Holy Spirit’s influence within us…and so we must be awakened to this danger.

          Jesus rebuked His disciples….for they should have known better, after being with HIm for three years.

          (Peter, when he suggested that the cross was not the Way for Jesus; Matthew 16:21-23.

          He rebuked the disciples when a Samaritan city would not receive Him….they asked about sending fire down upon them!  Luke 9:52-56

          Jesus told the disciples to rebuke a brother when they had offended them….that the brother might realize his hurting a member of the church….and repent.  Luke 17:3-4)

And in writing the Hebrews, Paul said….

          Hebrews 12:5 “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children,  My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of HIm:”

(Let me say….. that God will work in judgment on those who mock and scorn HIs govenment….but it is HIs own that He rebukes and chastens.   And He does that as our Father. Hebrews 12:6-8….that we may repent and be restored to growth in grace.)

          If we will not heed His rebuke…the Word that the Lord sends to get our attention…

…then He will chasten.

Psalm 94:12 “Blessed is the man whom Thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of Thy law;”

Psalm 119:67, 75  “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept Thy Word.

         I know, O Lord, that Thy judgments are right, and that Thou in faithfulness has afflicted me.”

(And may I say, knowing is half the battle.   

       When we know that the Lord is correcting us from His tender mercies….when we see that we have gone astray, yet He follows us and corrects us…leading us back to the safety of His Word…..then we have true and real knowledge that puts us in good stead for the Walk ahead.   

        I often can take many insults….but the ones which really sneek through are the little individual flaws I have,  being pointed out.   I and the Lord have been working a lot to….(not get thicker skin)….but to deny myself…in everything!   

       The verse that comes to mind when I feel things rise up in me is:

Psalm 41:5 “Let the righteous smite me;  it shall be a kindness: and let Him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head:  for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.”

       Simply said….”Please correct me,….please pull me out of the mire of self-pity or self in any form….please help me stand in my place aright that my prayers be not hindered.”)

Chastening has to do with actions against us.   God has rebuked…and we have let HIs Word slide….

…then He will chasten.     The best example in the New Testament is:

       1 Corinthians 11:29-30 “For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

        For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.”

The church at Corinth had come from terrible sin,  to salvation.  They had been given gifts and knowledge above many others!  (1 Cor.1:5-7) 

        Now that they belonged to Christ, and their numbers had increased….they had become careless concerning the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper.   

        The Lord’s supper had become a night of feasting…not of prayerful consideration of what Christ did for us. Something they would have surely known was wrong!

“For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.  

For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.”  (1 Cor. 11:21, 29)

       They were not waiting till all could be gathered…till all, poor and rich alike could share in it…. but combined the Lord’s Supper and the Agape feast….which led to eating and drinking to excess…while others went without.

Paul rebukes them….and tells them that the Lord has already shown them their error.   That many were sick because they had acted this way….and some had already died (sleep) because they had probably led in this kind of behavior…or refused to repent and change…relying on old habits instead of the Word of God.   (This “damnation” is not being sent to Hell….but rather the act of being sent before the judge…or judgment.)

1 Corinthians 11:31-33 “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

         But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

        Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.”

The Lord will not let His people go on….without speaking,  rebuking,  and chastening to bring them back into His Will.

As I said in the beginning….God’s Purpose for us is to bring us into the life of Christ….and have Christ’s life living within us….and through us.   All He does….all He says….all He sends is for this Purpose:

Romans 8:28 “And we know…

 (and again knowing is half the battle)….that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His Purpose.”

Jeremiah 29:11 (And to me it is odd that this beautiful promise is in Jeremiah, who was the weeping prophet…weeping for the sins and chastisements of God’s people.        How wonderful to think of what God knows about us!)

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

Psalm 119:175-176 “Let my soul live, and it shall praise Thee;  and let Thy judgments help me.

        I have gone astray like a lost sheep;  seek Thy servant;  for I do not forget Thy commandments.”

The reason of life is to find Christ!   

        Then to experience Him everyday in a one on one walk that will form our words, actions, and attitudes to be like Him…

…..to know that blessedness which is…”Christ in you the hope of glory” Colossians 1:27.    

To have the blessedness which is…”the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” Philippians 3:14   

To know Him which is all love and peace in believing…which in fact “passeth knowledge” Ephesians 3:19

Hallelujah! What a Savior we have….which saves from sin, self, the world, and death.  Let us hear HIs rebuke and bow if we are chastened….and get on with our walk with HIm.

Without a Vision, the People perish.

Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”

“Vision” here, means what they were to keep looking toward, their goal.

This “vision” was the purpose of Israel in Canaan: They were to show the nations round about them, what it was like to have God, as their God and King.

Deuteronomy 28:9-10 “The Lord shall establish thee a Holy people unto Himself, as He hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and walk in His ways.

And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord; and they shall be afraid of thee.”

They failed in this Purpose. (Although the Lord promises that Israel will have this one day: Ezekiel 36:25-28)

But why did they fail? Sin, of course, was involved…but the main reason was:

1 Samuel 8:19-20 “…and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;

That we also may be like all the nations;……”

Because they wanted to be like everybody else!

How often this hinders us in our Spiritual lives!

There should be a “vision” for us, as Christians. A goal or purpose of where we are going in life, and a way of getting there.

There should be something we are working toward:

1) A purpose which we are to obtain through our lifetime.

2)And there should be a goal for today…

Our purpose is given us when we are born again, and this purpose is the same for all. (How much we obtain it, is an individual thing)

It is to be conformed to the image of His Son:

Romans 8:29 “For whom He did foreknow (that means God saw you in Christ Jesus before the world began 2 Timothy 1:9)

He also did predestinate

(that means He made full provision for you in grace or power for the work He gives you)

to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first born among many brethren

(All of us, loving and obeying the Father).”

I have broken down the verse, so we can see what is really being said.

God has purposed, that we might be just like Jesus in our character….

But He has also provided the Holy Spirit, and the grace (the unmerited favor of power, and ability) to do this.

If we actually saw how much the Lord has given us, we would be amazed!

And we just need to obtain it…..first, to want it. Second, to receive it…now.

(Sometimes it depends on what He is asking, doesn’t it?

Sadly, and this has happened to me:

we let the opportunity to have abundant measure of His power….slide.

We hesitate….what will this cost me, to say this, or do this…..and it is gone….we have stifled the Spirit.

It is so silly, we have let go a treasure, for what?

But if we receive it, whether you say, Yes, Lord, please give me this. Or whether you just yield and follow….it is given!)

Then…we are given a place in the scheme of God’s Plan…a calling to fulfill.

(Everyone is called as a witness to Christ…we are all called to speak about our Lord)

When I was first introduced to “Deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow Me”, (Matthew 16:24)

I struggled a lot with time: my time, and the time I gave to prayer.

Don’t get me wrong, I prayed….but I had been called to pray, and I had a lot to learn.

At that time, my purpose was to obtain my calling….and my goal for today was to learn the lesson of self-denial. (For “my time” was robbing my efforts.)

Later, it was patience.

How many times has the Lord reminded me about patience.

It is His attribute (look how He puts up with me), and I need to get it into me, by denying myself when I get frustrated, or late.

Or when I want Him to answer my prayer….now, not in God’s time.

You get the idea….we all need to see God’s overall purpose for us….to be conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29).

And then to fulfill for today, our work as His disciples. If we do today, then it is easier to do tomorrow.

When we slip and fall; and we will….as we confess it, He forgives us and lifts us back up, to go on with Him.

The Lord often deals with our besetting sin, first (He did with me)….

Then, with our habits, and attitudes….and onward, till all of us, shows that we belong to Christ Jesus.

Acts 4:13 “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”

If we remember Peter’s denial of the Lord…not once but three times…we, too, might marvel.

But the answer is….”they had been with Jesus”.

The Holy Spirit reminded them of all they had heard, and learned in the years with Jesus….and when it was needed, they were empowered to use it.

We should all have our “vision” or revelation from God of what He has for us, where we are going with Him, here; and how we are to go…

He has given it in His Word, and will relate it to us personally, by the blessed Holy Spirit.

Know His Will for you….and grow in grace and knowledge.

Jesus stands at our door

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.”

(What great mercy and condensation that Christ Jesus the Lord should stand at my heart’s door and knock!   That He should wait and speak to me….not with the thunder of judgment,  but with the Voice of HIs Word….calling me on.

         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.”)

What a mercy that He should speak again to this church….and to the people inside to come and open to Him!

The Lord has shown Himself to John, to prepare him to go and preach again to the churches….

….and in each letter, the Lord speaks to the church….His supply for their need.

In Laodicea, they need to be boiling hot….to be zealous for Christ.

         And frankly, I have found in my experience….that zealousness only comes when we give up everything for Christ…in our everyday lives.

We might think that we have “surrendered” to the Lord….but has it given you a hunger for His Word….or a thirst for His fellowship?

       If you have “surrendered”…..and not gotten repentant…..not sought with new diligence to grow in grace….

…then you have only “surrendered” to or for something….not to Christ Jesus, personally.   It may be….”God wants me to do this….or give up this.”   And you “surrender” to that.    

       Good in itself….but that is not the personal zeal….which goes beyond seeking Christ for something….to seeking Christ, only.     For in Christ, we “find” everything,…all else falling into place.

(We often talk about the disciples leaving all and following Him….Matthew 4:19-20.   But many women ministered to Him “of their substance”,…following Him, wherever He went….some right to the foot of the cross!   Luke 8:1-3,  John 19:25  And to the upper room to be filled with the Holy Ghost.  Acts 1:14   Theirs was a zeal for Christ, too.)

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.”

I can not tell you exactly what is barring the door of your heart or life to Him….

….but it is His Voice which awakens!   His sweet Voice which drew us at the first….which called us and which speaks again and again to us.

He stands!   That means He is ready to do for us.   How gracious that He knocks….by the convicting power of the Holy Spirit….to show us that we have a closed door to HIm.

        But it is His Voice,  that calls us.

John 10:3-4, 27 “To Him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear His Voice: and He calleth His own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

        And when He putteth forth His own sheep,  He goeth before them, and the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice.

        My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”

We are all called to follow Him….and we are all called to “sup” or “fellowship, as at a table”  with Him.    

(Now I want to stress here, that “fellowship” is partnership….is a sharer with all things in common.   

      Our fellowship is with the Father,….for we are joint-heirs with Christ.  And as He is His Father, so He becomes our Father. (John 20:17)

      Our  fellowship is with the Creator;  acknowledging His Purpose and His Determination (or Pleasure Revelation 4:11)…joining in with Him to fulfill His Purpose in us.

      Amos 3:3 “Can two walk together except they be agreed?”

      Our fellowship is with our Lord and Savior, grateful for His salvation and His guiding hand upon us in praise and Thanksgiving.

      1 Cor 1:8-9 “Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

      God is faithful, by Whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”

      There is the fellowship of His sufferings….that we may learn…”in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”(Phil.4:11)

      Philippians 3:10 “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death;”

      We have fellowship of the Spirit…as we speak and gather together….that we may share with others the goodness of God, the exhortations of God….and they with us.

      Philippians 2:1-2 “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love,  if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

      Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”

The Lord stands at our door….and knocks….and we can hear HIs Voice:  

      “I created you….for My determination and Purpose.    I have many things to share with you…and you with Me.   Will you open your door to Me?”

(Now I wish to speak of “doors”.    

      The first “door” that was spoken of,  was to Cain.   He had let pride rule his heart and actions and had brought  a offering to God of his own works.   But God spoke of his “door”….

….”Listen to Me, and bring the right offering so we may fellowship together….or sin lieth at your door, and it will come in and rule in you.”  (Genesis 4:7)

              It is so important to know what we let in our “door”….thankfully the Lord will tell us, as He did Cain….though His Voice was refused, there.

      The next “door” was the door set in the ark, which saved Noah and his family.   There was only one door (Genesis 6:16)….and the Lord shut him in. (Genesis 7:15-16)   

             And we know that Christ Jesus is the one door….John 10:9 “I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”       

      The next “door” was at Abraham’s tent (Genesis 18:1)….when the Lord appeared to him….giving him a promise of a son to Sarah….and speaking to him of Sodom and Gomorrah.   There was the great intercessory prayer for any righteous in these cities…and Lot! (Gen. 18:20-33)

     There was the “door” where the blood of the Passover lamb was placed.  (Exodus 12:7, 11-12)…and Israel was saved from the destroying angel.

     There was the “door” where the servant, unwilling to leave his wife and children….even though he could go free on the seventh year….where his ear-lobe would be bored (Ex. 21:2-6)…which is a picture of Christ’s devotion to us….to serve for us…though He could have gone free. (Psalm 40:6-8  this is a prophesy of Christ!)

     There is the “door” of our lips.  

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

     And there is the “door” at which Christ stands today…..the Laodicean church door….and our “door”,….for it is to the individual He speaks.

    Shortly….the opportunity to answer and open that door will pass….

…..for He will open a “door” in heaven!

Revelation 4:1 “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a  trumpet talking with me;  which said,   Come up hither,…”

          Christ Jesus will come in the sky….and we will be raptured.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

          Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

The door we open to Christ Jesus our Lord, now is the door of our lives….every big and little bit of them….and He will come in and fellowship….sharing all things…everything we go through, He is ready to see to….

…Will we open our door to Him?)

Do not sorrow….even as others

A little background is necessary:

The Thessalonians were a strong and loving church. They had been established by Paul under persecution….

….yet they manifested love to each other and all around them in Macedonia.

This is marvelous……the trials and persecution did not come between them and their Lord, but pushed them closer to Him.

Yet they had a sorrow.

Paul had told them of the coming of Christ for His church…..that they were to watch for themselves……..so they would be ready for His return.

And they had…..they were faithful and watchful.

But some of those who had first believed had died….

…and those who were alive wondered about them.

Would they see Christ come for them?

Paul wrote back….giving the Word of the Lord for them…..a revelation from the Lord to Paul, for all of us.

“Do not sorrow….even as others who have no hope.”

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain shall not prevent them which are asleep.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

Though their bodies sleep in the earth….their souls are with Christ in heaven.

So that when He comes to rapture His church…..they will come with Him….and their bodies shall rise and come together with their souls…

…..and we, who are alive shall be caught up to meet Him in the skies!

Notice, the name Paul uses here….”the Lord”. It was a favorite name of Paul…for remember when Christ Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus….he said…

….”Who art thou Lord?”, And “Lord, what would you have me to do?”

(In the name “Lord”, is defined One who is Superior…..One who rules….One who can speak and it will be done.

And when we say “Lord”…..we should be acknowledging that Christ are these things to us….as Paul did)

Paul gave his life to the Lord that day…..and proclaimed His goodness and mercy from that day forth.

Notice also, “The Lord, Himself shall descend from heaven”…..

….Christ Jesus will not send an angel….no, not even the highest form of angels to meet His beloved church when they come from their workplace of earth….

….but the Lord Himself shall come to meet us!

There will be a trumpet sound.

When God assembled the congregation of the children of Israel….there was a trumpet sound

Numbers 10:2-3 “Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and or the journeying of the camps.

And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.”

We shall all come…..assembling with the Lord….caught up to ever be with the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:18 “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

We should not sorrow….as others that have no hope…..

Death can not separate us from the promises of God…..for Christ has overcome death,……as well as sin. (1 Corinthians 15:54-57)

But we are to “watch”…..be ready…..be waiting….be awake.

1 Thessalonians 5:5-6 “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.”

To be sober here is to refrain from selfish indulgences…..which hinder our readiness….and keep us looking other places than at Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:8 “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.”

The armor spoken of here is only defensive….(in Ephesians 6:10-18 it is offensive as well)….

….it is speaking of guarding our inward life….

…..that we will be growing in grace….and ready for Christ’s coming.

The breastplate covers our heart and it’s affections.

The helmet covers our mind and it’s reasons and imaginations.

These are to be guarded if we are to walk in the Light.

And what is our armor here? Faith is our foundation grace…..uniting us with Christ our Rock.

Love is our motive…..For we love Him, because He first loved us (1 John 4:19)

These….if we are using them…..guards our hearts.

Hope…..the confident expectation that God will do what He says…..guards out minds.

Hope of salvation is the Holy Spirit reminding us that God is working all things to bring us to the fullness of our salvation…..within….and one day, with Him….as He has said.

It guards our thoughts.

1 Thessalonians 5:6 “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.”

We are not to sorrow as others who have no hope…..for our God has a plan and a purpose for each of us….

…He will come for us,…and we will rise to meet Him in the air.

We are to watch, using the means the Lord has provided (faith, love, and hope)…..in these dark times……so that our inner life will be kept for the joy and enjoyment of our Lord.

Heed my Reproof

Proverbs 1:20-23 “Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:

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

How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out My Spirit unto you, I will make known My Words unto you.”

If you will notice here in these verses, Wisdom is seen as female….”she”.

This is important…..because it is to be us, as God’s servants (no, not just His ministers, pastors, or teachers)…..but all of us as HIs church, His believers, who are crying out HIs Wisdom to all passerby’s.

(Now I am not advocating for preaching on street corners…..unless you are so called. I am advocating for us to “send the light”…..to witness to others….to show the truth of God’s Word.)

But it is a picture of God’s Wisdom being shared with all the others….

….in the streets, in the work places, in the place of courts and gatherings, and in the city….

….all that we come into contact with….to be “crying” to them to repent and come to God.

This is true Wisdom.

(It is interesting to note that there are two definitions for “crieth”, in the Hebrew in these verses….

….the first “Wisdom crieth without” speaks for letting out a shout for joy! Letting everyone know the good news.

The second….”She crieth in the chief places…”. Speaks of stopping someone to make sure they hear the invitation.)

“How long ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity?” These “simple ones” are those who refuse to go on with the Lord.

They know “enough”. They are “comfortable” in their lives with God….except God says that He has been calling them to go on with Him, and they have refused.

“The scorners delight in their scorning”. The scorners are they, who mock God’s Word…..who love to “poke holes” (or so they think) in the gospel.

They work very hard at laughing at the call to repent. They will not hear of their “sins”…..no, they are eager to point out others “faults”, and call all believers hypocrites, as they slander them.

The best illustration of scorners are those…..who seeing Noah build an ark on a hill…..came to hear him preach to repent and believe God….and went away laughing at that “crazy Noah”.

At least, until it started to rain.

“Fools hate knowledge”. Fools say “no, God”. (Psalm 14:1)

They refuse to hear, proclaiming the absence of Truth….and rejecting God, who is Truth.

“A fool is he who through this life pursues the clouds he can not own…..and leaves a wealth of things undone…..his tomb a final stepping stone”

When preaching on these verses, my husband used to quote this.

What emptiness and doom! What a life! Wishing for things that can never be…..while the things they could have done,……were right before them….left undone.

But God’s call goes out to all of them…..”Heed My reproof”

“Turn you at My reproof”.

And it goes out through us, His believers.

But, no matter who goes by on the street, work place, or anywhere…..God’s reproof…..God’s call to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ….goes forth in Wisdom….

…..as we show His light and Word, in our lives and words.

For if they will “turn”…..God would pour out His Spirit in faith, grace, salvation and sanctification.

God would make known to them His Words of life.

If they will do it…..He would “pour out”……that is abundantly meet the need….

……His Spirit unto them.

Are we ready to manifest God’s Wisdom…..and shout out with joy…..and give the invitation to those we come into contact with…..His Word, His Gospel.

Acts 17:30-31 “….but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

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

Christ is coming again,….have we given the message, we have been given to share?

The Way that I must Take

Proverbs 4:18 “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”

Picture the gray before dawn…then the dawn and the light seems to pierce open the day. It brightens, and illuminates. It widens unto the “perfect day”, or high noon….when there are no shadows.

This is what our “path” of following Christ Jesus, should be like.

In the New Testament, Jesus says the same:

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

Notice this Light is for our walk with Him!

Follow Him and get the light you need, and more light. It is called “light of life” for it gives sight, courage, and joy; when yielded to.

But if this is not your case, then….

It is time to consider at what you stumble.

Proverbs 4:19 “The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.”

(And my husband often preached….”As the righteous, we should at least know at what we stumble.”)

“The way” of the wicked. This is the path they take, when they choose sin.

They can not even see at what they stumble.

How many times have we thought: Oh, this is just a little thing. A small error, or something that probably isn’t right….but not too wrong.

Oh! We know not at what we stumble! This “small thing” can blow up in our faces, and sometimes we do not even know how it happened!

It is this “way”, that is dark. Stay out of it!

2 Corinthians 4:4, 6 “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, Who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

For God Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

1 John 1:6-7 “If we say we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

Darkness comes when we refuse to believe or obey the light God gives us.

God gives us the right to question whether we understood His Word to us (Acts 9:10-17)….but never, to refuse to believe His Word, or Him.

His Light comes by impression of the Holy Spirit, by the Word of God, and through the preaching of His faithful ministers, and teachers. (A good Sunday School teacher who leads their charges into a knowledge of the Word of God, is worth their weight in gold, to the children in their care.)

Proverbs 4:25-27 “Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.”

In other words, “Stop looking around to see “something better” than what God has put before you.

Keep your eyes where God is leading, and you won’t stumble, or fall.

Ephesians 5:15 “See that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,”

Circumspectly means to walk exactly. To shine a light on your path, and make sure your not walking into any traps.

We deal with a God of Purpose, a sure Purpose; Who will see His Purpose accomplished.

Ephesians 1:11-12 “In Whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will:

That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ.”

And Light, His marvelous Light is one of the means He uses for us. Light, think of it! No more to walk in darkness.

Ephesians 5:8-9 “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light;

(For the fruit of the Spirit is all goodness, and righteousness, and truth;)”

Ephesians 5:14 “Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light,”

When our walk begins to darken, by neglect, or sin; we often get “sleepy” in our Christian life. The Lord would have us: Awake, arise, and receive the light He offers us.

We enter into the strait gate, when we are born again….but the way, though narrow and sometimes with battles….is an enlightened way, as we walk with the King of Kings.

This is the Way He would have us take….will we?