Isaiah 44:6 “Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and His redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside Me there is no God.”

He is God from everlasting, and will be to everlasting.

If He had not created…..nothing would every have been;

And if He did not uphold….all would soon be nothing again.

He is all-sufficient and therefore….

…..His people need not to hope in any other.

Hebrews 6:18-19 “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast,…”

Our anchor is in the Word of our Lord to us…..whether through the Bible, a message, a teaching……for that is what hope is:

It is the confident expectation that God will do what He says.

Psalm 71:5 “For Thou art my hope, O Lord God: Thou art my trust from my youth.”

Psalm 130 “Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord.

Lord, hear my voice:….

If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared.

I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in His Word do I hope.

My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning:….

Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy and with Him is plenteous redemption…..”

Hope is produced by the Holy Spirit within us, as we hear God’s Word to us.

Hope then anchor’s us….though we have to wait for the fulfillment of that Word….or there are storms surrounding us….or there is opposition (when God says something….then the devil tries to prove that Word wrong.)

Hope is from the Holy Spirit….but it comes and is strengthened through experience with God.

Romans 5:4-5 “And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

Hope says, like the children’s song…..

“If He said it, I believe it….for His Word it can not lie.

If it’s written in the Bible,….I’ll believe it till I die.

Though the mountains be removed…and cast into the sea…

God’s Word shall live forever…throughout eternity.”

We began this, with…..”Thus saith the Lord…”

And to each of us there is His Word for instruction…..His promises to reach out for….His commands for obedience to exercise and strengthen us in faith…….His word of exhortation to awaken us….His words of comfort to enfold us in His love and care…

….but to each of us there is His Word to us…..personally…that we need to hold on to…in hope….and obtain.

We should all say:

Psalm 146:5 “Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God.”

God’s hope anchors us in the ocean of God’s Will and love….amid the storms of our lives.

The sin of sitting under an oak

1 Kings 13:1-3 “And, Behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the Lord unto Beth-el: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.

And he cried against the altar in the word of the Lord, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the Lord; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee….

And he gave a sign….saying, This is the sign….Behold the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.”

The kingdom has been torn in two after Solomon’s death. His son reigns in Judah….and Jeroboam reigns in Israel.

This split would cause many problems….deaths….and finally the downfall of both Judah and Israel…

…..though through God’s mercy (sending prophets to awaken them to return to Him)…..it would be several hundred years before it happened.

Israel was the worst of the two….for Jeroboam began setting up a rival religion immediately….afraid if Israel went to worship at Jerusalem, he would lose his power.

(Sadly,….for you would think that Israel would know better….he set up two golden calf’s, saying…..and doesn’t it sound familiar? Exodus 32:4….that these are the gods that brought them out of Egypt. 1 Kings 12:27-28, 30)

A man of God was sent to prophesy against the wicked altar that Jeroboam in Israel, had set up.

This man was not named…..nor his tribe….nor anything…..except that he was sent by the Word of the Lord.

The man of God did that,…..and as he spoke the king pointed to him and cried, “Lay hold on him” (1 Kings 13:4)

….suddenly the kings hand and arm, was dried up, so he could not move it!

The king, so eager to imprison him a moment ago…..begged for healing….

….and the man of God prayed…and the kings hand and arm were healed!

At the same time, the altar was rent in two, and the ashes of their sacrifices poured out!

Just as the Word of God had said,……which was spoken by the man of God.

Very amazing!…proving that what this man of God said, would truly come to pass,….later. And it did. (2 Kings 23:15-16)

Now, if this was all the story…..it would be grand and glorious….but it was not the end.

When we are given God’s Word to share….

….we are not only to speak God’s Word…..but we are to obey everything we have been told about it…..

….it is God’s Word, and there should be reverence about it.

(How many times the Lord has said to me, to preach His Word….

…..and I want to add an explanation….”it will make it more understandable, Lord”…..as though the Holy Spirit needed my help in explaining things! Crazy, I know. Praise God for His correction and help to me, always.)

….but the problem was….this man was to give his message….and leave.

Get back into Judah….about eleven miles away.

Don’t eat or even drink water in this place!

(God was manifesting the evil of that place….whether people believed His Word, or not.)

1 Kings 13:9 “For so was it charged me by the Word of the Lord, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor return again by the same way that thou camest.”

This man left…..and got about half way there, when….

….. this man sat down under an oak…..not yet to Judah….not yet fully obedient.

1 Kings 13:14 “And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak:…”

What was he doing?

Thinking about what he had just seen….

……about the grand things the Lord had just done!

Thinking about the wonderful things God had done through him…..

(which is always amazing….that God can use us to speak to someone to show them God’s Word)

And in doing so, this man got tricked by someone who lied to him.

An old prophet in Israel heard of what happened….and went after this man of God….whether for news of Judah, or companionship, or curiosity….it does not say.

Now the prophet would never have caught him if the man of God had kept going….back to Judah….which the Lord had told him….specifically.

But this prophet found him sitting under an oak….

….and lied to him.

“Come home with me….have some food and drink…..an angel told me to come after you,”(1Kings 13:18)

Sadly, the man of God….who was glad to have someone to talk to…

…..decided to be obedient to the prophet, rather than God’s guidance to himself.

When he became disobedient (“so he went back…and did eat…and drank water.” 1 Kings 13:19)….

….”Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the Lord, and hast not kept the commandment which the Lord thy God commanded thee,….thy carcass shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers.” I Kings 13:21-22.

The man of God left….but on his way back to Judah….

…….”a lion met him…and slew him…” 1 Kings 13:24

…..he was never to return to Judah!

And all these things are written for our learning:

How easy it is for us, to get caught up in our own thoughts of things:

Of how they “should” be.

Of what happened…

Of what they could have been….

Of our part in it all.

We can go over and over and over it…..but that will not change it…..or enlarge it….or diminish it, in reality.

Only in our perspective will it change.

What we can do, is strive to set everything we do aside to the Lord….

…..before…

…..during…

…..and after….it it in His hands.

For if it is in His hands,….it and we, are safe.

As Paul said,……and I am sure it was through much experience,….

Philippians 4:11-13 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

I know both how to be abased, and how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

And this is what each Christian is to do:

All the things we have to do in our life……through Christ Jesus’ strength.

My Peace

On the way to Gethsemane,  when Jesus knew that out of fear, HIs disciples would desert Him….Jesus gave this Word of comfort:

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you:  not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

This should be the ruling factor of our lives….His peace…

…for He has given it to us, to use.   (I leave with you…..I give unto you.  Both of these are personal….”you”)

             Sometimes I believe that we think of Christ’s blessings,  as presents we only receive once in a while….but He has deposited HIs peace within us, by the Holy Spirit….we must yield to it.

             His Peace should flow like a river through us….bringing our ragged thoughts into order….stilling our wounded hearts….and making our wills become strong for His Will.

HIs peace will maintain ourselves…and help with others, as it flows through us.

            This is what He promised through His Spirit on the Temple steps during the Feast of Tabernacles: 

            John 7:38-39  “…..He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.       (But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive:…”

But what hinders the Spirit from flowing?   

           1 Thessalonians 5:19 “Quench not the Spirit”

We need to stop choking HIm off, in our reasons and emotions.

“Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”.    Let not….means that we have the grace to stop our hearts from being “troubled” (which means to stir up or agitate.)

             In other words,  don’t let people or circumstances stir us up and get our eyes off of the Lord.

How can we not?   For there are many things which touch us…that “bring us to our knees”!   

            But that is it….if they bring us to our knees….we pray….then we “let”  His peace place us on our feet again….and we trust Him and His Word.

Jesus said…”Let not your heart be troubled” before in this chapter….for He gave the answer to this “agitation” that comes to us….

….”ye believe in God,  believe also in Me.”

            Place your whole being on God and I…..for My Father and I are not “troubled”.   

            (And wasn’t this clearly seen, when Judas and the soldiers came to arrest HIm….He spoke up, not for Himself, but for His disciples.  John 18:4-8 “Let these go their way”)

“Let not your heart….be afraid”   

           Fear is torment.    Love casts out fear.   If our eyes of love to the Lord are on Him….and HIs glory….fear is abated….and finally cast out.

          1 John 4:17-18 “Herein is our love made perfect,  that we may have boldness in the day of judgment:  because as He is, so are we in this world.

          There is no fear in love;  but perfect love casteth out fear:  because fear hath torment.  He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

As we know His love for us….we love Him.   

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

 And as we love Him….we find our Stronghold,  our fortress…our refuge…in Him..

        David, in the psalm that spoke of his battles in life….”

….begins with…

        Psalm 18:1 “I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.”

And then he continues to describe what he has learned the Lord will be to him.   Weak as he was in many situations….yet David knew the Lord’s love….and loved God.

        Psalm 18:2 “The Lord is my Rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;  my God, my strength, in whom I will trust;  my buckler (armor), and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”  

And we, too, are called to be garrisoned about with HIs peace…as a fortress through this world.

       Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

It isn’t only our thoughts and emotions that are kept….we are not just calmed….but delivered from fear and trouble.

Psalm 46:1-2 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  

       Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;”

Our God, by the Holy Spirit is “very present”.   He is with us….and working in us.  Let us yield to Him….and have the Peace that the Lord left us….gave us.

“O Wretched man that I am”

Revelation 3:17 “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:”

The wretchedness of Laodicea spills over into it’s miserableness, poverty, blindness and nakedness.

The Lord says we are wretched….which means deplorable or deserving disapproval…….for we are not zealous (boiling hot) for God’s Will (Rev.3:19)….but lukewarm.

We are ‘warm’ enough that we think we are alright….and cool enough to save ourselves from the “shame” of the gospel-way.

Wanting God’s blessing,…..but, along with friendship with the world. (1 John 2:15)

Paul writes Timothy, a young preacher, who had been a companion of his, before Paul was imprisoned:

2 Timothy 1:8 “Be thou not therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner; but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God.”

We too, should not be ashamed of The Lord or His Word.

Yet,…..God does not require at our hand, what He does not supply grace for:

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Paul writes of his testimony a lot in Romans (remember he was a persecutor of this gospel….till God spoke to him)…..and he begins with:

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

And he proved this,….after he was converted…by…

Acts 9:20, 22 “And straightway he (Saul/Paul) preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.”

But what does Paul, the mighty Apostle, have to do with “wretchedness”?

Surely he could never be accused of this!

Well, Paul said he was wretched….giving his testimony to the Romans:

Romans 7:24 “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”

What does this mean?

(Under Roman law, if you killed a relative, the judge could chain that dead body on to you…..and send you away from the city. You could not remove it, till it fell off itself, after decaying.

Well, Paul felt that way….he was carrying the body of his old self, which he had “killed” when he was born again.

But he felt it’s weight, it’s noxious influence when he tried to do God’s Will….he wanted freedom from it.)

Paul describes his experience, in vibrant colors:

Romans 7:7 “…Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.”

He had discovered that this brilliant Pharisee, full of desires to fulfill the will of God…..good in all points….except coveting. He coveted….and that “slew” him.

He realized that even in religious things, his attitude of coveting was there.

(We think of certain sins as “bad”…..and others….well, to be overlooked. And worse, we think…..God thinks that way.

No….sin is sin. No matter how large or small…sin is rebellion against a Holy God and His Way.)

“Thou shalt not covet”, knocked him down with all the other “sinners”. He realized, if he was going to live a life to God….he needed help.

He really wanted to do God’s will…”for to will is present with me: but how to perform that which is good I find not.” (Verse 18)

(Galatians 5:17 “For the flesh lusteth (fights) against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary one to the other; so that ye can not do the things that ye would.”

Even after we are saved, our natural life [“old man”, “flesh”, “self”] fights against us being in subjection to God.

That is why we are given a new nature….the Holy Spirit. For our new nature helps us to yield to God, and the Holy Spirit gives us the power as we yield.

Sometimes, our battles against sin and self are relatively short….others long and hard.)

So Paul confessed and cried out: “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”

Paul knew to continue in sin is death to fellowship with Christ….so he looked again to his Lord and Savior.

And there was a battle…..yet Paul wanted deliverance and continuing fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ who had saved him….enough to stay after an answer….

….do we?

And the answer came,……Paul, you are already “dead” in Christ’s crucifixion. (Romans 6:6-7, 11)

You have to “reckon” it…….believe Me, and rely on the Holy Spirit within as the power to prove it, by living above the world, and out of sin….day by day.

Yield and obey the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:16 “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.”

Romans 8:1-2 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.

For the law of the Spirit in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”

And freedom was given….and you can have it too.

Romans 8:14-15 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”

And again, in Rome, “sons” have authority, for they represent the family they are from.

Paul is saying that God gives us freedom, and authority in our new life with Him…..and it is all given in love; for “Abba, Father” means “Daddy”.

An affectionate, personal Name for our Father God.

That was Paul’s testimony…..he knew he was wretched…he knew he coveted, he saw the lust within himself;…..and wanted deliverance.

And got it.

What about us? Are we lukewarm…just getting by?

Do we want to get zealous? Well, it requires:

Revelation 3:19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore and repent.”

But the rewards are great:

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

The Lord promises those that overcome every obstacle in their lives, in the power of the Spirit,….throne authority.

To represent our King, here…..not by command or demand….but by power—real power of His Life,….in us, by us and through us.

Delivering us from wretched self and from sin……and making us sons of our Almighty God.

To be a Good Steward

1 Corinthians 4:2 “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

A steward is one, who under the owner, manages part of the house, or property.

As Christians we are to be good stewards, and administer or manage our part of the household of God….our gifts, those we are responsible to teach, encourage, or pray for.

We are going to consider a “good steward” of Abraham.

Genesis 24:2-4 “And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:

And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.”

Abraham was old, and weakened, so that he could not go out and do the things he had before.

Sarah, his wife, was dead. Now Abraham begins to consider a wife, for Isaac.

Abraham was not to return to his land,…..so he calls for his trusted steward, and makes him swear (put your hand under my thigh),….that he will go and see about a wife for Isaac,…..from his family in Mesopotamia.

There is some question about whether the steward was to take Issac to Mesopotamia again…….

…..No, this is the land the Lord gave me after He brought me out of my homeland;……so do not take Isaac back.

And if the woman is unwilling to come……then the steward would be free from this oath.

Abraham gives a promise to the steward: “He (the Lord) shall send His angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.”

So this steward sets out with ten camels laden with goods from Abraham, to give as presents to the family of the woman who would come.

(First to notice, that this steward did all this effort for someone else: his Master’s son…..not for himself.

And aren’t we to be faithful servants for our Master’s Son, Jesus Christ?)

How long this journey was, it does not say….but the steward arrives at Nahor in Mesopotamia….in the evening……” the time that women go out to draw water.”

He makes his camels kneel down by the city well,…..and waits

And he prays…

Genesis 24:12-14 “And he said, O Lord God of my master Abraham I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham.

Behold, I stand here by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:

And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink,

and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also:

let the same be she that Thou hast appointed for Thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that Thou hast shown kindness unto my master.”

(How this shows us the spiritual witness Abraham was on his household and servants: each knew God,…..and what God could do…..because of him.

Abraham wasn’t just a good man…..but a Godly man.)

Before the steward was finished praying, Rebekah, who was of Abraham’s family came to the well, with a pitcher, to draw water.

Genesis 24:17 “And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.”

She not only gave him a drink, but as he prayed,….she watered his camels, as well.

He was cautious, and waited till she was done, and then asked: “Whose daughter art thou?” Is there room in your father’s house for us to lodge in?

As soon as he heard who she was, and who her family was:

Genesis 24:26-27 “And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the Lord.

And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of His mercy and His truth:

I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brethren.”

(Abraham had been promised the land of Canaan for an inheritance….not to him but to “his seed”. Without a proper wife for Isaac, this promise would not be fulfilled.

So the steward praised God for His mercy…..not to him…..but to Abraham.

And praised God for the truth of His promise….that an angel would go before him and lead his way.)

Rebekah goes home, and her brother comes and leads the steward and the camels to their house…..for a steward from their relative Abraham, was come!

How exciting.

Then the steward tells the business of his journey, and how the promise was fulfilled concerning the Lord’s guidance; and how his prayer had been answered…..

…and he asks:

Would Rebekah come? Would she leave her family, and come and be Isaac’s wife?

The family gave permission…..but when they wanted her to stay for at least ten days….the steward said:

Genesis 24:56 “And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the Lord hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.”

(Part of our business as stewards of the gospel, is to deal with hinderances. To not be persuaded to “put off” till tomorrow, what should be done today.)

Rebekah is called, and she agrees to go….right away. “I will go”

(When speaking about our Master, and the gospel He gave us to tell…..we need to know that often,….delay is hinderance. “He commands all men everywhere to repent.” “Today, if you will hear His voice.”)

Genesis 24:61, 63, 66-67 “And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.

And Issac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.

And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.

And Isaac brought her into her mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.”

This is a story of a good steward…..working not for himself, or his family,…but for his master, and his master’s son.

(This man is never named…..I believe it is because he illustrates all “good stewards”.

Those, that fulfill their duty,…..out of love and honor for their Master,….down through the ages…….which should include us)

It is a story of fulfilled promises….and promises that were to be fulfilled later, because of the obedience of the steward.

[Abraham’s children did obtain the promise of the Land….and Abraham’s Seed….Christ. Galatians 3:8-9,14,16. Came from this line.]

Yet, we too, have stories like this. We too, have been sent to deliver and bring home to our Master, God,….and His Son, Jesus Christ….those that will belong to the Church (the bride of Christ. Revelation 19:7-8)

As with Rebekah;……if they will not come,…..we are free of our duty….we have done what we could.

Like this steward of Abraham,……we need to follow the Lord’s guidance,….pray for blessing,….and deal with any hinderances,…..that we might fulfill our duty to our Master God, and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Herod Agrippa

Acts 12:1-2 “Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.

And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.”

This is the first time that the Roman appointed king takes an interest in the believers.

(Before this…..it was the Pharisees and religious leaders….which were angry against the believers of Christ.)

It is Passover time again….and crowds of people are in Jerusalem.

Herod Agrippa was an Edomite….not a Jew….but he converted to Judaism.

He was the grandson of Herod the Great, who ruled during Christ’s birth.

(Herod the great was the one who sent and killed all the children under three years old in Bethlehem, trying to kill Christ Jesus as a baby)

Herod Agrippa was a friend of Caesar….he had ruled land nearby….but then was given Judea by Caesar, as well.

He was a proud man, who ruled Judea for about five years…..always looking for a way to increase the people’s love of him….so….

…..he took and beheaded James, John’s brother.

James was one of the three of the inner circle to Jesus. He was called, along with John his brother, “sons of thunder”. Perhaps his powerful preaching had brought him to Herod’s attention.

(James along with John was also one to whom Christ had said, “…ye shall drink indeed of My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with:…” Matthew 20:23)

The beheading was done by a sword, to inflict the most pain….and get the most praise from the religious rulers and the people.

Acts 12:3-5 “And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

And when he had apprehended him, he put him prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.”

I want to mention here, that pride has been the undoing of many people.

Pride is the peacock within us……unfolding it’s tail feathers, for show.

Pride is the mirror….where we often look….to see the person we want to be considered.

And Herod Agrippa is a proud man.

So he takes Peter…..but waits till all the ceremonies of the Passover are done….then he will bring Peter out before all….and kill him.

That should make him very popular….loved, even….by the people.

(This is a picture, in miniature, of the Antichrist in the last days. He will rise up, and begin a steady persecution of the believing remnant.

That will make him exceedingly popular with the world….

Pride is his great sin….Daniel 8:23-25.

He shall exalt himself:

Daniel 11:36-37 “And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished:…

Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers,….for he shall magnify himself above all.”)

But as the purpose of the Antichrist will seem to be fulfilled…..so Herod Agrippa thought his killing of Peter would be a big moment…

But God had another Purpose….deliverance.

This deliverance is in answer to prayer.

The church was meeting in Mary’s house. Mary’s brother was Barnabas who was Saul/Paul’s first missionary partner. Mary’s son was John Mark….the author of the book of Mark.

Many were gathered, some coming and going as they could….so that prayer for Peter was around the clock. This continued for all the days of the Passover feast….that Herod’s designs might be thwarted….and Peter released.

And God sent an angel…

Acts 12:6-8 “And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers,….

….the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side,….saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals.”

Peter was perfectly at peace to die. He did not expect deliverance….especially after James death.

Gates and guards kept Peter in,….but could not keep God’s angel out.

With the angel….there was light….

….and a kick on the side to wake him up!

God made his handcuffs fall off….

Then the angel tells Peter to “gird thyself”…..the angel reminding Peter that the Lord Jesus told him…”when thou was young, you girded yourself,…..but when you shall be old, you will stretch forth thy hands and another shall gird thee…” (John 21:18). Peter would grow old….it was not time to die.

The angel tells Peter to “bind on thy sandals”…..prepare for a journey you are not expecting.

Acts 12:9. “And he went out, and followed him;….but thought he saw a vision.”

Peter thinks it is a vision, yet obeys and follows the angel….past the first guard post…..and the second guard post…..and then to the gate which separated the fort of the Roman soldiers, from the city….

….and it opened for him.

Acts 12:11-12 “And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent His angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod,….

And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary….where many were gathered together praying.”

Once Peter realizes that the Lord has delivered him….he seeks out a home where he knew a church met….

…Mary’s house.

He knocks,….but the girl who came to the gate….only asked who was there. (A church could not be too careful for night visitors….)

And when she recognized Peter’s voice….she ran and told the people who were praying inside!

She was excited and happy…..

…..but they did not believe it!

(Isn’t this just like us….we pray for something….and yet, do not really believe that God is going to give it.

We prepare for the worse…..instead of His best.)

Finally she keeps insisting that it is Peter….so they go and see….

….and when Peter comes in…..they rejoice that he is delivered.

He quiets them…..and tells all that has happened….and instructs that they are to pass it on to the rest of the church there.

Then, as the angel said, it was time to move on….and “he went to another place”

(Jesus had told them: Matthew 10:23 “But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another:..”)

But what of Herod’s purpose? God overruled and fulfilled His own purpose.

(God rules and overrules.

He often allows our enemies to seem to surround, and have the victory…..but then….He overrules their plans….and sees to us….not always in deliverance….but always bearing us up, in all the things we go through.)

The next day there was a lot of excitement to find Peter gone!

Acts 12:19 “And when Herod had sought for him (Peter), and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and there abode.”

Herod searched the city….but did not find him….then when his pride was wounded….

….he just had a fit about the deliverance of Peter.

If he had wanted to considered the matter, he might have seen God’s hand in it.

But he was so wrapped up in himself,……that he missed his opportunity to repent.

Peter, his prey, was gone….so he killed the guards….

….and ashamed of being robbed something that would make him look good in the peoples eyes….he leaves Jerusalem.

His puffed up pride is put down,….God has shamed him….

…..perhaps this is the reason his death….as it was….is written of.

In Caesarea, Herod has an argument with the countries of Tyre and Sidon…..so to get on his good side (for they needed the grain from Judea)….they came desiring peace.

On the day when he was going to speak before all the people at a celebration he had in honor of Caesar…..a multitude is gathered to hear his words.

Acts 12:21-23 “And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne and made an oration unto them.

And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.

And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.”

History says,….he came out wearing a cape all of silver.

The timing was so….that when he came out on to the stage before the gathered multitude….his cape shown resplendent from the morning light.

They cried out that he was a god, and would henceforth consider him deity…

….when he did not deny it….he was struck with a pain in his stomach….”the angel of the Lord smote him,”……with worms, which caused his death….a few days later.

So ended the life of a man wholly taken up with himself. The world gave him honor…..but God shamed him…..gave him time to repent….and destroyed him because of his irreverence and pride.

Acts 12:24 “But the word of God grew and multiplied.”

Both the martyrship of James…..and the deliverance of Peter, increased the courage of those that were preaching…..and God blessed them, multiplying the Word spoken and the church.

(Now, for the exceptionally hard question…..Why did God allow Herod Agrippa to kill James…..but delivered Peter?

Some say it was timing…..Herod Agrippa arrested and killed James too quickly for God to work!

No! God can do anything.

James was a “son of thunder”….he was a fiery preacher. When he preached, people were effected by the Spirit….

…yet his ministry was short….

Peter lived for many years….helping to disciple John Mark (some say that Mark is actually Peter’s account of the gospel, which Mark wrote for him)….and going far to help his people, hear, and obey the gospel.

The answer to that question is that God rules and overrules in the lives of His own….and the death of a saint, is just as much God’s Will as the deliverance of another saint.

Hebrews 11:35 “Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:”

Psalm 116:15 “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.”

We picture death as an ending…..not so God.

For all that belong to Him….it is simply the means that lifts the soul and spirit into His Presence.

Death, whether it is painful, slow, or sudden….if that person is born again…he is escorted by an angel into a deliverance of all pain, and sadness….into the Presence of Christ.

We all have our journey, our walk, our race to finish….let us heed what the angel of the Lord said to Peter:

“Gird thyself” In other words, “Be prepared, be watchful….be instant in season and out of season.”

“Bind on thy sandals” We have places to go….school, work, family ties, and encounters with those we have not yet met……and the Lord calls us to keep going till the end of our ministries.

Hopefully the Lord will not have to send someone to kick us in the side,…..to wake us up to what He is calling us to do,…next.)

May the God of all grace deliver each of us to do the ministry and work that He has for us.

Give them warning from Me

Ezekiel 3:17 “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel:  therefore hear the word at My mouth, and give them warning from Me.”

Ezekiel was a priest in Jerusalem, when the second taking away from the land came.   He was carried away to Babylon and after five years….was called to the work of telling the captives….

…if they wanted to return to the land,  they must first return to God.

Ezekiel means “whom God will strengthen”.  

      At his calling, he was given a revelation of cherubim going…”whithersoever the Spirit was to go”.    Then he saw a wheel full of eyes round about…horizontal….and another wheel, perpendicular, full of eyes.   A wheel within a wheel.  Only the perpendicular wheel touched the ground…and these were the Providence of God.   

      We can only see part of the Providence of God….God’s eyes are all around, yet we can only see the part that touches us (the ground).

Then he saw God, high and lifted up, with the face of a man…..he saw the Lord Jesus Christ on HIs throne…over all.   

      All the cherubim stopped, and bowed their heads and put down their wings, at His appearing.   

And Ezekiel fell on his face before Him.

God then called Ezekiel as His prophet….His watchman.   (No other prophet was called as a watchman.) 

A watchman is one whose sole job is to watch and warn of coming danger.

A watchman is in the city with the others,  but he is lifted up and given a place to see the danger….to warn.

And so we come to Ezekiel’s message…his warning (I want to mention here, that this message is repeated and repeated.   “Give them warning from Me”.)

       Ezekiel 3:18-21 “When I say unto the wicked,  Thou shalt surely die;  and thou givest him not warning,  nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life;  the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity;  but his blood will I require at thine hand.

      Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity;  but thou hast delivered thy soul.

      Again, When a righteous man doeth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

      Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned;  also thou hast delivered thy soul.”

To “warn” is to “enlighten by caution”.    

      Ezekiel was not to grab them and shake them to awaken them….no, the Word of God would do that….when he enlightened them…by caution.  But he was to continue to warn….till the danger is past or they are awakened.   

      (seven times in Ezekiel,…the number of completeness, perfection….this term is used. More times than any other book.)

Ezekiel was sent to a city…and was under the hand of the Lord to go.

     (the “hand of the Lord” is a phrase often used.   It symbolizes the personal guidance and empowerment of the Lord.  Every prophet must have within himself,  his message.   It is not the mouth only that speaks, but the hand of the Lord upon the person, in their life.)

So he comes to the city,  and what does he find?    “Then I came to them of the captivity…and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.” Ezk. 3:15

      They were sitting….not doing anything about their situation.   Not crying to the Lord for help, or seeking the good of the other captives.

(Jeremiah, back in Jerusalem, had sent a letter to those of the captivity to make them houses, and gardens and dwell there….for it would be years before they would return home.   Seek the good of the city…and have peace.)

      But they had refused this Word….and were sitting, waiting….for the Lord to do something without asking or seeking Him.

     And He did….He sent Ezekiel to “warn” them…..whether they would “hear” (and obey)…or “forbear” (Ezekiel 2:7).

     Forbear means to be lazy or indolent.       And Ezekiel was “astonished”.    

(And aren’t we the same way when we tell others about the salvation of the Lord?   They “sit still”…”maybe later, at a more convenient time”…..and do not see their own situation before the Lord?   We have been saved from our sin,….and we are astonished that others “forbear”!)

There were two kinds of people Ezekiel would be speaking to:  the wicked…and their wicked ways.  They are rebellious. 

      (Rebellious is used 17 times in Ezekiel…it means “unpleasant, to provoke”)   God had given His people so much,  but they despised it (Ps. 106:24).   God had delivered them, time and time again…but they provoked Him. (Ps. 104:43)

…and the righteous.  Those who are just and morally right.  But when they commit iniquity….which suggests they are giving up on God’s Ways and turning to the world’s ways around them.

Then God will lay a “stumblingblock” before them.    God does not tempt to sin (James 1:13-14) but He does give men over to their own corruptions….sometimes for a time,   to chasten them…so they see the end of their sin (as the Prodigal, Luke 15:11-20)

…and sometimes forever.(as Demas 2 Tim. 4:10)

He was to warn….

…you will notice “but his blood will I require at thine hand”.    Because we were made in the image of God.

       Blood is the lifeflow of our bodies.   And God has repeatedly stressed from the beginning that the blood is precious in HIs sight.

       (Genesis 9:4-6 “…Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made He man….”   This was before the Law, before Abraham,…God considers blood precious…and therefore the Blood of Christ, the perfect Son of God/Son of man was most precious and efficacious to pardon all our sins.)

Ezekiel was to see each man he spoke to…precious.   That that man’s blood or life was part of his responsibility.

God still sees them as the house of Israel….but provoking Him to chasten them.

God will never break HIs covenant in Christ Jesus,  but He will rebuke and chasten HIs own….that they may be “warned”…and hear and obey.   

       Revelation 3:19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”

What of us?   And what have we done with what He has given us?    

      No matter the people’s choice,  Ezekiel was to speak to them….and we too, are called as witnesses….for we have seen His power and grace in our lives, and in the lives of others.   We have experienced His Word and love….let us witness of Him:

Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Faith, the substance of things hoped for…

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

“Substance”…a setting under for support.    And surely our faith supports us in all our times of trials, prosperity, and long nights of illness or pain.   Faith gives us the confidence that God knows….we may not “feel” Him….the circumstances may almost seem to cover His Presence….but faith will make Him clear to us.

If we have this substance that is faith,….we will also evidence it.   Our lives will prove it.

Hebrews 11:1 (ASV) “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Assurance has to do with quieting our hearts….it soothes our minds….and it braces our wills,  to do His Will.

This assurance will give us real convictions from the Holy Spirit that are ours…personally.

      No possessor of the faith once delivered to the saints,  will be long in the Way of God, before we have these convictions. 

     (Convictions used to be a common term….though I have not heard it much lately.   It means that the Holy Spirit gives us knowledge of those things which will harm us.   It may seem a big thing or a small thing….but if the Holy Spirit, through His Word, tells you that it is wrong for you….it is.

      1 Peter 5:8-9 “Be sober, be vigilant (watchful);  because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

      Whom resist steadfast   in the faith….”)

Faith acts as our eyes….it gives us sight of God in this situation.   

      Faith acts as our senses, as we travel through this dangerous world.    

      It gives us understanding for what we hear…and what people are really saying.  

      It gives us a taste for the things of God,  a love to feast and fellowship with Christ Jesus.  

      It gives us discernment…a smell for what is good and what is “rotten”.

Faith will command us….or will leave us to “feelings” and “reasons”….till we realize our lack, and yield to His Word to us.

      For faith and hope are always linked together.    They make it plain that God will do what He has said.

      Faith has been given unto us to show us the promises and precepts of God for ourselves.

2 Peter 1:1,4 “…to them that have obtained like precious faith with us   through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ:

      Whereby are given to us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

      Every promise God gives us is intended to be fulfilled….but a promise is only a promise until we obtain it…have it.   Are we seeking to have them fulfilled by faith?

      (there are some promises I have prayed for for years….still am, because I know that God in His time will complete them.  I have “mercy-drops”…but not the showers of blessing yet.

      There are some promises I must seek the means to receive….like the lepers going to the priest as Jesus said…even when they were not healed yet.   They were healed, as they went!  One saw the healing and came, fell on his face, and praised Jesus….and Jesus said,  “Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole”(spiritual and physically healing)…our God is so great! Luke 17:12-19

      And there are some promises that I have had fulfilled,…Praise God. He brought them to pass!  He is faithful to His Word!)

2 Peter 1:5-7 “And beside this, giving all diligence,  add to your faith…(that means we have it, and are to use it, to get these next blessings)…

….Virtue…which is literally force….the force and strength of the Holy Spirit in our spirit to strengthen us to step forth into our place in this world.

….Knowledge…as we rely on the Holy Spirit’s courage and strength, we will acquire knowledge of His power and ability to do….and to do through us.   He has promised Victory through faith,  1 John 5:4…stay after it, till you have it.

….Temperance…the ability to use from this world only what we need,  without grasping it for ourselves.   

….Patience…the ability to wait on God….and wait for others. 

    (How easy it is for us to become “frustrated” with the “slowness” of others.   After all, we know…shouldn’t they?   But as Paul wrote to the Romans about those gentiles and jews which, though Christians, were not as builded up in the faith as others.

    Romans 14:3-4 “Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth:  for God hath received him.

    Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? To his own Master he standeth or falleth.  Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.”    

     God is our Master….He will lead us on into more truth, if we will follow Him.  So He will with with others,  though we may certainly pray for them…and give them the truth.)

….godliness, brotherly kindness, charity (love)….as we use our faith, and the grace by the Holy Spirit to gain these blessings within our character and lives, we will be like Him showing love to our brothers and sisters in Christ….and to others in the world.   

     Love wasn’t placed in our hearts to stay….love isn’t love till you give it away.   Love to God first and foremost….then to the household of faith….then love which tells of Jesus, out into the world.

Faith is the active principle within us that guides our hearts and minds and wills to God….like a magnet drawn to metal….we will be drawn toward God’s Word and Will….and evidence HIs faith and grace to others.

This was the Son of God.

Sometimes I think that we do not truly recognize the influence of Christ’s purity and holiness in the lives of those He came into contact with.    

     We know He was rejected by most of the chief priests and rulers…but it is an amazing discovery that many believed on Him as the Son of God…even though they felt His influence but a little time.

One of these is the centurion of the men under Pilate, to take Jesus to His crucifixion.

(In the Bible, centurions are only spoken of in a good light!  Pretty amazing, if you consider their jobs!  Yet how many times we think….”this person could never be saved!”….yet, God is able)

Matthew 27:54 “Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying,  Truly this was the Son of God.”

Now I want to say here….that this man, who exclaimed his belief in Jesus as the Son of God…was also the man, along with those under him,  who mocked and beat Him…a few hours ago.

Matthew 27:27-31 “Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto Him the whole band of soldiers.

     And they stripped Him, and put on Him a scarlet robe.

     And when they had platted a crown of thorns, (look what efforts they made to hurt and mock Him!),  they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right hand: and they bowed the knee before Him, and mocked Him, saying,  Hail, King of the Jews!

    And they spit upon Him, and took the reed, and smote Him on the head.

    And after that they had mocked Him they took the robe off from Him, and put his own raiment on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.”

Their job was to lead Jesus out of the city,  and take Him to Golgotha (Calvary)….and nail Him to the cross.  

     Then they were to raise the cross, and watch Him die.  

     It was a terrible death, even normally….for these men would  internally strangle.  The weight of their own bodies would put bones out of joints….the sinews would stretch and tear.   

     As the blood would drop to the lowest part of the body,  and ooze out….the sufferer would become dry…His tongue cleaved to the top of HIs mouth.

Below Him,  this centurion and his soldiers gambled for HIs clothes.

Mark 15:24 “And when they had crucified Him, they parted His garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.”   (Matthew 27:36 “And sitting down they watched Him there;”)

John 19:23-24 “Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, (they got Him up on the cross) took His garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also His coat:  now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.

     They said therefore among themselves,  Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be:  that the scripture might be fulfilled….”

They, like everyone else, were watching for HIm to die.   Then their job would be over.  

Hours pass,  they hear the mockings of the people….they hear them cry, “Come down and save yourself, if you are the Son of God.”   

     They, too, begin to mock Him…”And the soldiers also mocked Him, coming to Him, and offering Him vinegar (at a distance…to make Him, in HIs thirst, suffer more)…and saying,  If Thou be the king of the Jews, save Thyself.”

     Then they experience the darkness….for three hours…at a time in the day, it should have been bright light…

And when Christ Jesus has fulfilled everything….completely taking our sins on to Himself…

….and then, after three hours of darkness,  the cry,  “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”

After watching Him….hearing His words of forgiveness….and then this ear piercing cry…

….they are amazed when He cries one more thing:

    Luke 23:46 “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said,  Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit:  and having said thus, He gave up the ghost.”

Mark 15:39 “And when the centurion, which stood over against Him, saw that He so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.”

This centurion believed.   Earlier, he had mocked, beaten, and gambled for His coat…but now,  after hearing and seeing these things….he believes on Jesus as the Son of God…and openly confesses it!

      1 John 2:23 “Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father, [but] he that acknowledged the Son hath the Father also.”

At the same time of Jesus’ cry, “ the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;”.

God was manifesting by outward signs,  the enormity of what had just transpired!   

     The sacrifice was made….to cleanse all who would believe on His Son, from their sins….the past was done away….nothing would remain the same!   

Luke 23:47 “Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying,  Certainly this was a righteous man.”   (God certainly “shook” this man)

1 John 2:28-29 “And now, little children, abide in Him; that , when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

     If ye know that He is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him.”

The earth shook again,  three days later, when God raised His Son, Jesus Christ from the dead…

     Matthew 28:1-2, 5-6 “..as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week,….And, behold, there was a great earthquake:  for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it,…

     And the angel answered and said….Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

     He is not here:  for He is risen, as He said…”

This was the proof of God’s acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice…Christ arose!

Here was what Jesus had told them….He would rise again….the third day.

…and because He did,  we too, can have life eternal…in Him. 

And there will be another “shaking” when He comes again! (Hebrews 12:25-26,  Revelation 8:1,5; 16:18)

But for this centurion….life would never be the same.  He came from a mocker and cruel servant of Rome….to a believer and confessor of Jesus, the Son of God.

Lost

Luke 19:10 “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Lost….lost to God and to all HIs original intention for mankind.

“Up Calvary’s mountain one dreadful morn,

Walked Christ my Savior, weary and worn;

Facing for sinners death on the cross,

That He might save them from endless loss.” (Blessed Redeemer)

When Adam sinned…..God lost the whole creation. (Romans 8:22)

Mankind died. Adam was a murderer of millions of his children…from generation to generation…through his sin.

God lost the beautiful, fruitful creation….made to be a garden, where men and animals lived together in peaceful harmony….it gave thorns and thistles instead.

But mankind lost the most….as the song says…..”endless loss” is our portion on this earth, without the salvation that comes through Jesus Christ.

This loss is seen and felt by all. For so many people are “looking for something” to satisfy and to give their life meaning.

But without Christ…..our life is just living a lie. We try and cover our “endless loss” by doing, and going, and keeping, and accumulating, and seeking…..but when we are in the quiet moments…..we know that our hearts grow older, but are not satisfied.

Ephesians 2:1 “And you hath He quickened (made alive), who were dead in trespasses and sins;”

[This second chapter in Ephesians stresses the death that we were and had because of Adam’s sin, again and again:

……we were dead in trespasses and sins (verse 1)….we walked according to this world as children of disobedience (verse 2)….we were children of wrath (verse 3)….we were dead in sins (verse 5)….we had no hope (verse 12)….we were far off (verse 13)….we were strangers and foreigners (verse 19).

All of these stress an impassable gulf between us and God….our heart’s rest.

All these stress that though we may be alive for many, many years….though we may experience many things….we are just waiting the ultimate death,…..

………without Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

But this second chapter in Ephesians also tells us that:

Ephesians 2:4-5 “But God, Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us,

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)”.

To all those who receive Him as Lord and Savior]

Jesus Christ asked us plainly when He was here….

Luke 9:25 “For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?”

To the unsaved, Jesus asks…..

How could you better yourself, if you were made the ruler of the whole world….but then, only had endless loss of yourself….your true self in Christ…your purpose…dying day by day, away from Me….till eternal separation in Hell is your “gain”?

And the Lord Jesus spoke even to those who followed Him:

How could you gain anything more from the world? Beware lest you lose your way and become useless in your life’s purpose.

The answer to man’s “loss” is of course believing on Jesus Christ….following Him….and continuing to follow Him.

For with every step we take with Christ…….we find….

….we find everlasting life….He quickens us (Eph.2:5)…

….we find that we belong to the family of God….

Ephesians 2:19 “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God;”

….we find our walk, and a work…and are molded into HIs character….and how much we “find” in Him in this!

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained (made provision for) that we should walk in them.”

…..we find the Spirit of God indwelling us, giving us the blessings of His love worked in us….HIs joy and peace in many situations….His goodness, etc. (Galatians 5:22-23)

…..we find Him….more and more of Him satisfying every part of us.

Ephesians 3:18-19 “May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.”

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

Jesus never said there would not be a cost to follow Him…..only that life is what He is offering….eternal life with Him, here through this world’s scene….and on, into eternity.

Eternal life? Or endless loss?

Christ Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. And we are all lost to God,….till He saves us.